Congratulations Alex Vincent, March 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Kitchen". Alex Vincent - #906 Yvonne Raaijmakers - #909 Peter Wingfield - #902 Here's what Alex has to say: Thank you for the award of Photographer of th ...
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For those of you that have followed my articles about copyright registration or read my article where I posted the public papers from my federal copyright litigation against my area MLS, PAAR the clock is ticking.
I’m going to be brief because, a very detailed press release has been posted here with supporting documents and factual proof.
I strongly encourage you to stop reading now! Go to the link and read the full story. But for those of you that want the short version here you go.
In my opinion, as a layperson not an attorney, regardless of industry:
This is US Federal Law paraphrased into layman’s terms by a layperson, not an attorney.
George Gutenberg recently filed formal copyright litigation against Move Inc. (realtor.com)
GEORGE GUTENBERG, Plaintiff, v. MOVE, INC., Defendant.
Case No.: COMPLAINT FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
Demand for Jury Trial
A complete copy of the full complaint is available at the link above. Also available at the link above is a complete copy of the RIN Agreement and Mike Boatman’s first amended complaint. RIN stands for Realtor Information Network. A complete history of how the RIN agreement came about is provided at the link above.
If you’re a photographer that believes that once you photograph a property and delivered your images to the client, that they can do whatever they want with them, so be it. It’s your property, it’s your prerogative. In my opinion, it’s a bit shortsighted and you’re cheating yourself, but it’s your property.
If you’re a photographer that rights manages images with a contract governing usage for your clients, but you turn a blind eye to the ongoing usage beyond the terms of your contract, that’s very damaging.
You’re doing more harm than the photographer above. You are establishing what’s referred to as an implied license and an industry standard for usual and customary which affects all photographers in that industry. This is a big problem and you really need to think twice before doing this.
If you’re a photographer that rights manages images with the contract governing usage for your clients and you just learned about the ongoing usage from one of my articles, the clock is ticking. There’s a three-year statute of limitations to file formal litigation for copyright infringements starting from the discovery of the infringement.
I’ve probably buried the lead but summarizing here. If a US federal judge rules that the RIN agreement does not have the authority to grant in accordance with paragraph four of the agreement virtual perpetual unlimited usage rights to aggregators, then the foundation of the real estate business model will be ruled illegal and forced to change.
That’s the big question. Will it be a continuation of what I witnessed with George Gutenberg being blacklisted as a photographer and forcing them out of business because he said no to stealing his property?
Force a copyright ownership transfer or don’t work as is being enacted by some California MLSs?
I, for one, do not accept being bullied especially when the bully is breaking the law to do it.
I know of two other photographers whose complaints are being drafted even as I speak today and several others that are in line to follow behind them all following George Gutenberg’s example. And potentially one photographer that might follow my example.
The goal is to force a conversation seeking compromise that respects photographers, my rights and recognizes the contribution that I make to the financial benefit of the real estate industry.
If you don’t make your voices heard and establish a seat at the table to help find a compromise then you probably need to say goodbye to ownership of your copyrights if you want to work in the real estate industry.
I guess the true question comes down to, do real estate photographers care?
