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Commentary
This is a repeat from last month, but there's more on the subject:
City Church Warning
by Patrick Rice
In recent months, I have photographed weddings in several Cleveland churches
and noticed an increased number of "suspicious" individuals hanging out at
the back of some of these churches. As all of us who have been in the
business for several years know, photographers have been the victims of
equipment theft at some churches. It is actually a very simple theft
in many cases. The unsuspecting photographer has his/her camera case
in the back of the church, and when he/she moves toward the front of these
large churches to photograph the exchange of rings, the thief grabs the case
and walks out the door. Even if you suddenly noticed the theft
occurring, what can you do at that moment?
My advice is to be very vigilant when you are at some churches. Look
for people who look "out of place" or not dressed properly to be attending a
wedding ceremony. If the church has security, alert the guard to watch
over your equipment cases. I did exactly this on my last wedding and
the suspicious individual was escorted from the church. In a large
downtown church, he chose to sit in the one pew that just happened to have
my camera cases.
Crime increases as economic conditions deteriorate. Don't be a victim to a
devastating loss.
Here's More on the Subject
http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=18845@ktvt.dayport.com&cid=7
And some recent letters from PPA: 
Dear PPA Member,
Magicians dazzle their audience using the proverbial smoke and mirrors to
enhance their tricks; some associations want to deceive you with the same.
But these smoke and mirrors do not disguise fun, harmless tricks, they cover
up a truth that is essential to photographers' livelihoods: copyright.
We often have to cut through the smoke and mirrors that proponents of "Fair
Use = Free Use" use to disguise their objectives (changing the public's
understanding of copyright and rewriting the law to reduce a copyright
owner's rights). Those who profit from reducing copyright protection
try to convince the public and lawmakers that copyright is somehow outdated
in the digital or Internet age. See the following two examples of how
these organizations disguise their objectives:
Last week the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
released a study claiming that Fair Use was critical to one-sixth of the US
GDP. This study was part of an effort to push the boundaries of Fair
Use. PPA did its homework and was able to reveal how CCIA inflated the
totals in their own study.
Jennifer Granick, Civil Liberties Director at the Electronic Freedom
Foundation, used an article entitled "Free Speech Sometimes Trumps
Copyright" (posted on Wired), commenting on a very narrow court case
regarding the copyrights of foreign-made works prior to 1994. She used
the article to push the idea that it should be okay to use any creative work
when it is "prohibitively expensive to find" the copyright owner.
Fortunately, PPA and its allies in the Copyright Alliance are keeping their
eyes and ears open for you. Find out more about protecting your own
rights by reviewing the just-updated Copyright Kit in the Members-Only area
at www.ppa.com.
To see PPA's response to this latest barrage,
click here.
Copyrights are important to our members, which makes them important to PPA.
Together we will remind Congress that theft is theft, stealing is stealing
and wrong is wrong…no matter how it is labeled or disguised.
Sincerely,
Al Hopper
Director of Membership, Copyright & Government Affairs
Dear PPA Member,
"Can you believe that a client called and told me about copying their
family photo?"
Similar calls are often made to our Copyright & Government Affairs
Department. In fact, we received many last week, reminding me again
that many consumers just don't understand. Perhaps they simply don't
connect the wonderful photos you created with US Copyright Law protection.
Many clients don't understand that your images are protected from
reproduction…even if there is a clause in your contract (see the sample
contracts in the Members Only area of
www.ppa.com).
Protecting your rights often means supplying some client education.
And we can help with that!
Make sure your photos have a visible copyright notice, including your own
contact information. A good notice might include:©
ABC Studio 2007
Anytown, USA
Images are protected by US Federal Copyright Law.
It is illegal to copy, scan or reproduce without
the permission of ABC Studio
phone number email address/web site
Use PPA's Copyright Inserts (available from the Service
Center) as an enclosure with previews, albums and other finished work.
As a PPA member, you can download a copy and reproduce it yourself at
http://www.ppa.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=65 (Members Only Download
area), or our Service Center will be happy to send you a sample package.
Check out additional ideas and information in the Copyright section of the
Members Only Download area.
Here's some more good news: the Copyright Alliance, of which PPA is an
active member, is rolling out public educational materials to increase
copyright awareness.
As always, we stand ready to assist you, our member, if your work is
infringed. From dealing with clients to contacting a copyright
infringer, PPA will be there on your side. It comes with membership.
Sincerely,
Al Hopper
Director of Membership, Copyright & Government Affairs
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