Setting copyright on M50

[SophM]

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?

[Tronhard]

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@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?

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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!

[BurnUnit]

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.

[ebiggs1]

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.

[ebiggs1]

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!

[Tronhard]

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.

[ebiggs1]

"...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.

[Tronhard]

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@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.

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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.

[SophM]

Thanks!

[RobertTheFat]

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@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.

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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.