Topic: A Victory for Canadian Photographers!

[Francois]

Yes, finally some good news... albeit a bit late (it was made official nine days ago)
Canadian photographers have finally the rights to their own work as soon as they click the shutter.

Here's a quote from the Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators' website (www.capic.org)

November 7, 2012

A GREAT VICTORY FOR CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS
OTTAWA, November 7, 2012: At last, Canadian photographers own their copyright.

The Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators (CAPIC) would like to congratulate all Canadian photographers in Canada on this important date and pivotal achievement in the photographic industry. As of today, Canadian photographers now officially own the copyright to all of their work whether the photograph is commissioned or not, thanks to the new Copyright law.

The principle of protecting photographers' ownership rights started 65 years ago by Henri Cartier-Bresson, who founded Magnum with Robert Capa and David Seymour. Magnum assured that a photographer's image belonged to the photographer and not to the commissioner of the work.

In Canada, all other artists have already owned the copyrights to their work and thanks to this new law, Canadian photographers, albeit the last in the industrialized world, now have all legal rights to their images.

CAPIC has been working towards this monumental achievement in Canada for more than 20 years through lobbying efforts and could not have achieved this truly important mission without the support of its members, who have contributed financially, morally and offered countless volunteer hours towards this major effort led by CAPIC National Copyright Chair, Andre Cornellier.

The Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) were a valuable partner in this achievement as well as the lobbying firm Temple Scott Associates for their work in Ottawa.

''I would like to thank the team that worked so patiently and for so long,'' commented Cornellier. ''Finally we have won a right due to us as artists. Thank you to Canadian photographers across the country for your support and patience and to André Amyot and Brian Boyle of PPOC for your work. It has been worth it.''

CAPIC will be providing more information on the direct effects of the law for Canadian photographers in the week to come as we celebrate this important Canadian achievement.

[Ezzie]

Congratulations 

[Francois]

Thank you
It just took us what? 65 years to get to the same point as the rest of the world on this topic...
We just have to wait some more for the Provincial rule that prevents the publishing of somebody's picture taken on the street to be overturned... maybe in 50 more years...

[Ezzie]

We have a similar rule here in Norway. Take an identifiable picture of someone one the street, parades and gatherings excluded, you need the subject's prior permission to post on the web. I wonder if all the teens on facebook know this  The press however have no such limitations. 

[jojonas~]

congrats all photographers in canada!

We have a similar rule here in Norway. Take an identifiable picture of someone one the street, parades and gatherings excluded, you need the subject's prior permission to post on the web. I wonder if all the teens on facebook know this  The press however have no such limitations. 

yeah, spreading through print and through the web is two different things here aswell. for example on the web you can't include a picture of the thing you are critizing on your blog but if you print it in a magazine, it's fine.

[Francois]

Here, it's pretty much the opposite... or at least a bit of both.
The sleeping lawmakers decided that if you take a picture of someone outdoors, it's their own image you're stealing.
If it's someone in a parade, you're automatically taking a shot of the parade so it's OK.
If someone is famous, they automatically give away the right to their image.
If someone is in a car, they're in a private place...
But if they're sticking their head out the window, they're in a public place.

When news photographers take a picture of a schoolyard, they take pictures that cup off the heads.
When they show pictures of a hospital ward or classroom, they come from a stock agency.

Very logical...