topic Setting copyright on M50 in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Setting copyright on M50

SophM — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 06:14:30 GMT

I've heard that it's a good idea to copyright ones pictures before posting them online. I've looked up tutorials on how to do it on a M50, but Imdon't seem to have that option on my camera. The tutorials show the option under tab 5 of Function Settings, but I only have 4 tabs on my camera. Am I missing somthing?

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 07:01:12 GMT

@SophM wrote:
I've heard that it's a good idea to copyright ones pictures before posting them online. I've looked up tutorials on how to do it on a M50, but Imdon't seem to have that option on my camera. The tutorials show the option under tab 5 of Function Settings, but I only have 4 tabs on my camera. Am I missing somthing?

I would suggest putting the camera in M mode and try again. You get access to way more settings under that function.

I always set a copyright for every camera I use, you want to protect your images!

Re: Setting copyright on M50

BurnUnit — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:22:47 GMT

My 60D allowed me to enter an owner name and copyright information directly from the camera. But I believe my older G5 required the installation of Canon's Camera Connect software and a USB connection to my desktop to enter this info into the camera. I wonder if the M50 also requires a similar connection.

It's also a good idea to enter this information for a little added security if the camera is ever lost or stolen. Another nice feature of the G5 was that you could also load up your own photo to the camera for use as the start-up screen display. The perfect place to add a photo showing your name, address, phone number, email addy or other information.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:26:23 GMT

Just by taking a photo, you have certain rights to that image, even if you don't add a copyright symbol. The copyright symbol can serve as a reminder to others not to steal your photos but that's all.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:33:53 GMT

Further about copyright, your work must be registered. Registered work is eligible to obtain statutory damages of up to $150K. Not registered work (most of us) can still win a copyright lawsuit, but you are only entitled to actual damages, which you'll need to prove in court. Registration is about $35 per photo and can take a year to complete. Been there done that!

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:55:00 GMT

Over here in NZ our laws are a bit different, but I was surprised to see a couple of my photos included (without reference to me) in an article about paddle boarding. It was obvious that someone had take them from the site of the paddle boarding group to which my partner belongs. I immediately contacted the publisher and sent my own copies of the images, clearly showing my copyright, and within a minute they had referenced me as the photographer. I was ok for them to use the photos as it supported the group, which is for cancer sufferers.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 19:49:13 GMT

"...within a minute they had referenced me as the photographer."

That still does not make it legal or give them the right to use your work, at least not here in the US. They need written permission to use them.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 20:39:47 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"...within a minute they had referenced me as the photographer."

That still does not make it legal or give them the right to use your work, at least not here in the US. They need written permission to use them.

Well, since I emailed them and said in the email that I was OK for them to use the images for this article, I think they were on safe ground. The paddle group for cancer sufferers is something I am very happy to support. My understanding is that they got the images from the paddle boarding site and the EXIF data was not on the images - likely the result of how they were put on the site to begin with - so with the site's permission they went ahead.

This is part of the problem of putting images on the web - the images can be forwarded, copied and stripped of their EXIF data and so become annonymous. I am, however, writing to my contact at the paddle board site and asking that they include a note with any of my images assigning the copyright to me.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

SophM — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 02:49:42 GMT

Thanks!

Re: Setting copyright on M50

RobertTheFat — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:22:16 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Just by taking a photo, you have certain rights to that image, even if you don't add a copyright symbol. The copyright symbol can serve as a reminder to others not to steal your photos but that's all.

But some (all?) of the Canon cameras I've owned don't let you include the copyright symbol as part of the text. Go figure.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:53:03 GMT

Just to be clear to Trevor and Robert the lack of any copyright info including the symbol does not abate your rights as the owner and copyright holder of the work. It may, might, probably does limit your ability to recover monetary damages, in US law anyway.

If you did email the web site the photos it would probably lessen even more any ability to recover any monetary damage. However, even that does not diminish your ownership unless you specifically said go ahead and use them (that is written permission) but put my name on them.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:41:11 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
Just by taking a photo, you have certain rights to that image, even if you don't add a copyright symbol. The copyright symbol can serve as a reminder to others not to steal your photos but that's all.
But some (all?) of the Canon cameras I've owned don't let you include the copyright symbol as part of the text. Go figure.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

RobertTheFat — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 19:57:17 GMT

@Tronhard wrote:
@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:
Just by taking a photo, you have certain rights to that image, even if you don't add a copyright symbol. The copyright symbol can serve as a reminder to others not to steal your photos but that's all.
But some (all?) of the Canon cameras I've owned don't let you include the copyright symbol as part of the text. Go figure.
I just use: (c) Copyright... All Rights Reserved.

Yeah, that's what we did back in the old days when most computers had a more limited characyer set. But it seems tacky in this day and age.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 20:43:30 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
@Tronhard wrote:
I just use: (c) Copyright... All Rights Reserved.
Yeah, that's what we did back in the old days when most computers had a more limited characyer set. But it seems tacky in this day and age.

Well, as long as it's clear and they get the message!

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 21:10:49 GMT

There is a proper and legal way to do it. The legal way here in the US.

You can use the lower-case letter "c" with a parenthesis on either side forming this "(c)." You may also use the word "Copyright."

Insert a space after the "(c)" symbol and put in the current year in numerals, as in "2019." Insert a space after the current year and type in your legal name. Your final copyright notice should appear in this format: "(c) 2019 R. E. Biggs." You may add the phrase "All rights reserved" to your copyright notice although this phrase is no longer legally required. It is protected without it.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 21:16:58 GMT

Hi Ernie
Yep that sounds about right - I think it's pretty international. Since I put almost nothing on the web - those few photos are my only ones to a website other than this or CiC. I was pretty relaxed about it. I am not one to deface my photos by putting a watermark across them for example as I know some do.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 21:23:41 GMT

Not knowing how it is done down under, I wanted to make sure I stated how it is in the US. Yeah, there is one guy here that seems pretty proud of his work but whatever.

Since I write music plus do photos I am completely aware of the copyright laws. Plus working for a company that had a bank of lawyers that did nothing but copyright issues.

I am sure some of those publications you have done need copyright protection. It is a great amount of work for sure.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

Tronhard — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 21:29:49 GMT

ah... the issue is low on my priority scale right now - other, bigger issues to worry about, as you know.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

ebiggs1 — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:07:38 GMT

All the best, Trevor.

Re: Setting copyright on M50

RobertTheFat — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 18:16:02 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
All the best, Trevor.

˄˄What Ernie said!