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Q&A Session

What you need to know about copyright, licensing and image/footage usage trends

Our panel of distinguished experts will answer questions on all aspects of sourcing, licensing and using images and footage. Expect to pick up useful tips on copyright, fair use, orphan works, royalty free, managed rights, specialist image sources, and innovative uses of imagery.

The session starts at 10am and will finish by noon. At the end of the session the exhibit floor will open and lunch will be served.

How do I register for the session?

Simply register for the image expo, and on the final page of the registration process check the box by your name and submit.

Owing to limited space, the session is strictly limited to professional image buyers. Please do not try to register if you are a photographer or student.

How do I submit a question?

To have the greatest chance of having your question answered, please submit it online beforehand (the sooner the better, so our panel can do their homework!) When you register for the session (see above), you will see a box at the bottom of the last page where you can enter your question. You can add or change your question after registering by clicking on the link in your registration confirmation email or by going back into the registration system and clicking on the link ‘Register (or check your registration) for the session.’

Questions asked to date

• Can I use a Creative Commons image for any purpose as long as it is attributed correctly?
• Is it OK to embed any fonts we own in our company website using @font-face?
• Why is RM so much more expensive than RF?
• What is the difference between fair use (free) and editorial use (not free)?
• What is a 'talent release'?
• What permissions or releases does an image need for editorial use? If an image indicates 'further permissions required', do I need to do anything?
• Could you talk about digital rights, e.g. are there special considerations we need to be aware of with using images in social media and mobile apps?
• Could you address derivative works? For instance, is ANY usage legal if a copyrighted image (in whole or part) is used as a basis for a digital painting?
• As I understand it font letterforms (art) can not be copyrighted only the "hinting" (code or kerning tables) can be copyrighted. Does that mean that a font set could be rebuilt using existing letterforms and be legal as long as kerning tables are not included in the "new" font?
• Do the terms editorial use and commercial use mean the same thing? If not, what is the difference? What impact do these terms have on photo usage when photos may be licensed "not for commercial use"?
• Pinterest discussion!
• In an age of "good enough" imagery, is it worth it for photographers to invest in high productions values such as hair ? Stylists for hair and make-up, wardrobe, props, unique locations,et.? Or will concept and content always trump style and a photographer should focus on the most current trends in content?

Our panelists

Bill McGrath, a partner at Davis McGrath LLC in Chicago, has practiced intellectual property and business law since 1976. He is nationally recognized for his work in the field of copyright law. Bill’s experience includes counseling, litigation, arbitration, and mediation. He has litigated matters at each level of the federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Bill has taught graduate courses in Copyright Law and Copyright Litigation since 1990 at The John Marshall Law School, where he serves as Associate Director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law. He is the author of numerous articles and two chapters on copyright law in the treatise Intellectual Property Law. Bill also lectures extensively on copyright law.

Doug Dawirs is best known for his work in digital asset management. He spent eight years as Director of Online Services at the Workbook, a major stock photo agency now represented by Getty Images. Doug is the original developer of the award-winning asset management application Extensis Portfolio. He is currently technical advisor to PACA and creator of PacaSearch – a multi-agency stock image index. He is also developer of the global PLUS Coalition registry. Doug is the recipient of two MacWorld Magazine World-Class Awards, MacUser Editors’ Choice Award (Eddy) and MacWorld Editors’ Choice Award.

Doug Brooks has been a leader and innovator in the picture industry for over thirty years. He and his partner, Deborah Van Kirk, produced food and still-life photography for assignment and stock licensing. Doug went on to be Director of Acquisitions and Visual Resources at one of the larger publishing houses in the United States. Today, Doug is working to extend the geographical markets of the Image Research Team, which specializes in finding and licensing beautiful and large-scale imagery for educational museum exhibitions and book publication. Doug is a National Board member of the ASPP.

Chad Newell is CEO and co-founder of Media Bakery, which represents nearly 10 million images from over 170 creative & editorial travel and lifestyle collections and offer all licensing models (macro stock, mid Stock, and micro stock). Chad has served 15 years in the stock photography industry, starting in Research at Getty when it acquired Image Bank, to Director and Operating Officer positions for various companies. Chad also serves as a guest lecturer at The Brooks Institute of Photography, reviewing portfolio work and nurturing graduate students to continuing the supply of quality images made available for license in the global market.

Roger Feldman is President of Feldman & Associates, Inc., America’s largest independent content research and permissions organization, providing photo, video, and text research and permissions services to publishers, media and businesses worldwide. For 28 years, Feldman & Associates has operated as a respected middleman in the image industry, collaborating with photographers, stock agencies, museums, libraries and other rightsholders to acquire images and rights for all manner of content. Roger is a longtime member of the ASPP and since 2004 has represented ASPP on the Multi-Industry Seat of the PLUS Coalition Board of Directors.

Kat Dalager has a diverse background as an artist’s rep, photo studio manager, creative wrangler, art producer and photo consultant, giving her a 360-degree perspective of the advertising world. She’s worked at Campbell Mithun, Carmichael Lynch, The Martin Agency, Target and Best Buy. Clients have included Famous Footwear, St. Ives, Nexxus, TREsemmé, Frontier Communications, Wrangler, Polaris, Harley-Davidson, Saab, Finlandia Vodka, American Standard, Rollerblade and Seiko. Kat has given presentations and workshops all over the country to photography professionals and students interested in learning the ins and outs of advertising.