Comments on: Wal-Mart Photo Copyright Policy http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: 537 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68823 537 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:13:37 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68823 Yeah most professinals do not use wal-mart or walgreens. The thing is you are correct, alot of amature or former pros use them. They are just protecting the studio, photographer, and themselves. If you a DSLR camera majority of the time you will be asked to sign a consent form. Believe it or not people lie and will say they took it or a friend did. Photo Labs can not disprove unless there is a stamp or watermark on it. Even then most photographers do not stamp the photos and even some studios do not. I mean who wants a photography stamp or water mark on their wedding pics. Studios actually give you a copyright in some form if you buy a cd from them and most professinals do also. If you don't need one why do they give you one? Hassel, not really, funny, maybe. Photo labs get sued and close or the employees get fired even if they didn't let the copyright get sold.Its a percaution and if other places let you copy its on that company. Nobody realizes that they are just doing their jobs and I am sure you all havr policies to follow. Its a shame that you dont care if you put someone out of a job cause they are doing their job. Yeah most professinals do not use wal-mart or walgreens. The thing is you are correct, alot of amature or former pros use them. They are just protecting the studio, photographer, and themselves. If you a DSLR camera majority of the time you will be asked to sign a consent form. Believe it or not people lie and will say they took it or a friend did. Photo Labs can not disprove unless there is a stamp or watermark on it. Even then most photographers do not stamp the photos and even some studios do not. I mean who wants a photography stamp or water mark on their wedding pics. Studios actually give you a copyright in some form if you buy a cd from them and most professinals do also. If you don't need one why do they give you one? Hassel, not really, funny, maybe. Photo labs get sued and close or the employees get fired even if they didn't let the copyright get sold.Its a percaution and if other places let you copy its on that company. Nobody realizes that they are just doing their jobs and I am sure you all havr policies to follow. Its a shame that you dont care if you put someone out of a job cause they are doing their job.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68543 Elizabeth Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:32:29 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68543 James, that should be the case.. It's been hit or miss with me, and I'm a professional photographer. I just show them my business card and that helps me. Good luck! ;) James, that should be the case.. It's been hit or miss with me, and I'm a professional photographer. I just show them my business card and that helps me. Good luck! ;)

]]> By: James http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68535 James Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:46:39 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68535 I purchased a high dollar camera and some photo software because all my friends are into photography and I wanted to join them. I have no studio, no training but I am pretty good on computers so between the tutorials on YouTube, my friends advice, and my playing I have gotten pretty good adjusting my pictures. I usually order them from a site online that has a pro and amateur side. I use the amateur side due to the fact I do not have a studio or business. I took some formal pictures of my son but was not happy with the background so I created one and placed the picture on it. I thought it looked pretty good but before I ordered them on line I decided to have one done at Wal-Mart to look at it. I was told it was a professional picture and they would not develop it. Well it made me feel good they thought I was a pro but ticked me off when I could not get MY picture developed. So to avoid this problem in the future I understand that all I need to do is print off the copyright form someone has posted on this site and take it with me. Is this correct? I purchased a high dollar camera and some photo software because all my friends are into photography and I wanted to join them. I have no studio, no training but I am pretty good on computers so between the tutorials on YouTube, my friends advice, and my playing I have gotten pretty good adjusting my pictures. I usually order them from a site online that has a pro and amateur side. I use the amateur side due to the fact I do not have a studio or business. I took some formal pictures of my son but was not happy with the background so I created one and placed the picture on it. I thought it looked pretty good but before I ordered them on line I decided to have one done at Wal-Mart to look at it. I was told it was a professional picture and they would not develop it. Well it made me feel good they thought I was a pro but ticked me off when I could not get MY picture developed. So to avoid this problem in the future I understand that all I need to do is print off the copyright form someone has posted on this site and take it with me. Is this correct?

]]> By: Dominic http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68248 Dominic Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:38:02 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68248 Rebecca...nobody cares if I go to Wallmart....really? I would guess wallmart might care if all of us CUSTOMERS didn't go there someone at Wallmart might notice. More Wallmart ignorance. Rebecca...nobody cares if I go to Wallmart....really? I would guess wallmart might care if all of us CUSTOMERS didn't go there someone at Wallmart might notice. More Wallmart ignorance.

]]> By: Ditto http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68244 Ditto Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:08:49 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-68244 I don't have a problem with people doing their job. In this economy you wouldn't want anyone to do anything that might get them fired when there is a simple way to resolve the problem. BUT... if you have someone who is going out of their way to be ignorant or cause a problem, I'm all for making a mountain out of a molehill. I had a photo tech "assist" me with the one hour photo kiosk in a Wal-Mart. This guy watched me take the memory card out of my camera and insert it into the kiosk machine. He saw the photos as they were uploaded (different images with different people in and out of the photos as we were each taking pictures of ourselves at my sisters wedding, at the reception and at theme parks). I waited at the Wal-Mart walking around for a little over an hour. Go back to the photo lab and same guy that assisted me with the kiosk would not sell me my own images because they looked professional. Dude! You watched me take the card out of the camera, put the pics up, spent over 20 minutes with as I made funny cards on the kiosk machine. He knew I took those photos! I had one of him in the darn Wal-Mart!!! Common sense people. Common sense. Oh, and for those here who work at Wal-Mart and say just sign the release. I would have, in front of Mr. Twerp, only he claimed he didn't have any release forms, and I have to go home (20 minute drive) and print the form from my computer, sign it and return it to him. I went down to Target, took a picture of the tech, did the same thing (took memory card out, printed and kiosk) and they sold me MY photos. Guess where I take my business now. It's not the following of the rules I have a problem with, it's the horrible customer service and the inate brainlessness of that particular Wal-Mart photo tech. I don't have a problem with people doing their job. In this economy you wouldn't want anyone to do anything that might get them fired when there is a simple way to resolve the problem. BUT... if you have someone who is going out of their way to be ignorant or cause a problem, I'm all for making a mountain out of a molehill.

I had a photo tech "assist" me with the one hour photo kiosk in a Wal-Mart. This guy watched me take the memory card out of my camera and insert it into the kiosk machine. He saw the photos as they were uploaded (different images with different people in and out of the photos as we were each taking pictures of ourselves at my sisters wedding, at the reception and at theme parks). I waited at the Wal-Mart walking around for a little over an hour. Go back to the photo lab and same guy that assisted me with the kiosk would not sell me my own images because they looked professional. Dude! You watched me take the card out of the camera, put the pics up, spent over 20 minutes with as I made funny cards on the kiosk machine. He knew I took those photos! I had one of him in the darn Wal-Mart!!! Common sense people. Common sense. Oh, and for those here who work at Wal-Mart and say just sign the release. I would have, in front of Mr. Twerp, only he claimed he didn't have any release forms, and I have to go home (20 minute drive) and print the form from my computer, sign it and return it to him. I went down to Target, took a picture of the tech, did the same thing (took memory card out, printed and kiosk) and they sold me MY photos. Guess where I take my business now. It's not the following of the rules I have a problem with, it's the horrible customer service and the inate brainlessness of that particular Wal-Mart photo tech.

]]> By: Dominic http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67928 Dominic Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:51:40 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67928 Still missing the point. The point is I drove 40 minutes one way to male these copies, I worked these prints for an hour fixing these "proffessional" photos, while some person behind the counter watched me print them then tell me I can't have them. Why didn't they say that before I wasted my time? Before I ever attempted printing them. I deserve to be compensated for my time. Furthermore whoever said "what does walmart care if you buy from them" last time I checked sweetpea other people like me are the reason Walmart exists. We are called customers. Let's see what walmart does without them. Still missing the point. The point is I drove 40 minutes one way to male these copies, I worked these prints for an hour fixing these "proffessional" photos, while some person behind the counter watched me print them then tell me I can't have them. Why didn't they say that before I wasted my time? Before I ever attempted printing them. I deserve to be compensated for my time. Furthermore whoever said "what does walmart care if you buy from them" last time I checked sweetpea other people like me are the reason Walmart exists. We are called customers. Let's see what walmart does without them.

]]> By: Ben http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67871 Ben Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:58:46 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67871 Actually, most folks have no idea what exif info is, and I only just found out by accident when I got the free viewer Irfanview (And the free add-ons pack) and started poking about. So, although I would have been polite, I wouldn't have known of what you were speaking. I doubt this is in the training, and if it is, it may be passed over quickly in order to get the Clerk to the lab, working and productive. Actually, most folks have no idea what exif info is, and I only just found out by accident when I got the free viewer Irfanview (And the free add-ons pack) and started poking about. So, although I would have been polite, I wouldn't have known of what you were speaking. I doubt this is in the training, and if it is, it may be passed over quickly in order to get the Clerk to the lab, working and productive.

]]> By: Ben http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67870 Ben Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:53:10 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67870 Dominic, Please go look up the draconian measures that the Millennium Digital Copyrights Act has for violations and violators. Wal-Mart is wise to protect themselves and their clerks. You WERE treated rude. We get that, we really do. But the very idea that you would resign a job to argue about this on a web forum, is a little out of line. Our society is VERY litigious, (i.e. lawsuit-happy) so when the stakes are high, you protect yourself. (and I'd think I would call $ 100,000.00 per print, high stakes indeed!) If the customer wishes to purport to be the owner, then the CLERK and Wal-Mart BOTH are off the hook! The photographer then has recourse to sue the consumer who stole his work. But NOT the Clerk or the Store! SO: 1) Wal-Mart. promise you will educate your clerks in the use of the release form and have some available at every photo counter, out and plainly visible (And Clerks, replenish these as needed). 2) Consumers, when dealing with Wal-Mart, accept that this will happen especially with newer cameras that, even though they may only cost $100.00 or so, can take pictures light years ahead of instamatics we so recently had, and so be ready to "sign your life away" to get your pics, 3) Let's be nicer to each other! All this could have been avoided with proper communication, even when the best answer is "I don't know why, let me get the boss." (Or for Managers, "I don't know, I will have to speak to someone in Bentonville, let me have your number and I'll give you a call back.") "We're from the Government, and we're here to help!" Dominic,

Please go look up the draconian measures that the Millennium Digital Copyrights Act has for violations and violators. Wal-Mart is wise to protect themselves and their clerks.

You WERE treated rude. We get that, we really do. But the very idea that you would resign a job to argue about this on a web forum, is a little out of line. Our society is VERY litigious, (i.e. lawsuit-happy) so when the stakes are high, you protect yourself. (and I'd think I would call $ 100,000.00 per print, high stakes indeed!) If the customer wishes to purport to be the owner, then the CLERK and Wal-Mart BOTH are off the hook! The photographer then has recourse to sue the consumer who stole his work. But NOT the Clerk or the Store!

SO:

1) Wal-Mart. promise you will educate your clerks in the use of the release form and have some available at every photo counter, out and plainly visible (And Clerks, replenish these as needed).

2) Consumers, when dealing with Wal-Mart, accept that this will happen especially with newer cameras that, even though they may only cost $100.00 or so, can take pictures light years ahead of instamatics we so recently had, and so be ready to "sign your life away" to get your pics,

3) Let's be nicer to each other! All this could have been avoided with proper communication, even when the best answer is "I don't know why, let me get the boss." (Or for Managers, "I don't know, I will have to speak to someone in Bentonville, let me have your number and I'll give you a call back.")

"We're from the Government, and we're here to help!"

]]> By: Ben http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67867 Ben Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:45:40 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67867 Please look at ANY professionally-taken and printed photo. There, as a watermark along the side or the bottom is the name of the PHOTOGRAPHER. Since the photographer performs the work, he gets the copyright, unless it was surrendered to the model or subject (rarely, if ever) However, if the photo is going to be used in the commercial realm, a MODEL RELEASE must be obtained from the model or subject, and maintained by the PHOTOGRAPHER! The model release protects the Photographer. Now we begin to see the confusing morass of laws Wal-Mart's clerks are trying to protect themselves from. Remember the oft quoted sarcasm, "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help!" Please look at ANY professionally-taken and printed photo. There, as a watermark along the side or the bottom is the name of the PHOTOGRAPHER. Since the photographer performs the work, he gets the copyright, unless it was surrendered to the model or subject (rarely, if ever) However, if the photo is going to be used in the commercial realm, a MODEL RELEASE must be obtained from the model or subject, and maintained by the PHOTOGRAPHER! The model release protects the Photographer. Now we begin to see the confusing morass of laws Wal-Mart's clerks are trying to protect themselves from.

Remember the oft quoted sarcasm, "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help!"

]]> By: Dominic http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67860 Dominic Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:30:50 +0000 http://nslog.com/2008/11/17/wal-mart_photo_copyright_policy#comment-67860 Lets think about this another way. A Walmart eployee knocks a box off the top shelf and hits me the customer. Walmart is responsible for the actions of its employees. Im sure Walmart has policies against injuring customers. Not every employee damages every customer. Walmart is still responsible. I have been damaged by a Walmart employee. Just by the fact that I have been on this website tells you I have been damaged and I should be compensated for my loss. At the very least I wasted an hour of my time sorting, editing and printing the photos. Any other reputable business would do something to make it right. If you buy something at Home Depot or Lowes or Target they go out of their way to make it right. You don;y get the smart ass attitude that you get from Walmart and its employees. Lets think about this another way. A Walmart eployee knocks a box off the top shelf and hits me the customer. Walmart is responsible for the actions of its employees. Im sure Walmart has policies against injuring customers. Not every employee damages every customer. Walmart is still responsible. I have been damaged by a Walmart employee. Just by the fact that I have been on this website tells you I have been damaged and I should be compensated for my loss. At the very least I wasted an hour of my time sorting, editing and printing the photos. Any other reputable business would do something to make it right. If you buy something at Home Depot or Lowes or Target they go out of their way to make it right. You don;y get the smart ass attitude that you get from Walmart and its employees.

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