...Should I - or any photographer- put the copyright symbol? does this imply that we have filed some type of legal document. (I have put the symbol on publications I have authored, but was told I did not need to file any "official" documents)
Thanks
Speaking from personal experience, the instant you take a valid picture, it is copyrighted in your name. The US Copyright Office (
U.S. Copyright Office) has all the info if you want to look it up. Neither filing for a copyright or watermarking your works is an absolute, but both can deter re-use, and the former provides legal ownership.
Caveats... if someone pays you to take pictures for them, they can file for the copyright as well since your work ultimately belongs to them unless agreed upon otherwise... (get it in writing either way.) For the "valid" statement... it's just as it sounds... you must have permission to take the picture. Generally this isn't a problem as most pictures are in public places, are of people that have given you permission (family, guests in your house, etc.,) are of people that aren't easily recognized or are of inanimate objects or animals.
In addition to the (c) you must also include the date. The year is sufficient for most purposes. Names and any other identifying marks are optional as they tend to get in the way... generally on a tangible picture, they would be put on the back... on digital pictures, information can actually be hidden in the metadata portion of the file.
The key to keeping your particular work safe is not letting the original out in the wild before you alter it in some way... this way, you have the only copy that can make more "copies." If you have a place to publish a website, put up thumbnails and dates of all your pictures to establish ownership.
Ken
