Copyright Information

We are here to help you. Copyright laws can be long and complicated, but we are here to help you through the process, while protecting you, the author, and our company.
Rowe Photo respects the copyright law and we will not complete any service involving potentially copyrighted images without a written copyright release on file.

What is the Copyright law?
The U.S. Constitution and the Federal Copyright Act gives "copyright" protection to "authors" for their "original works" such as photographs and art work. Among the protections that copyright owners have are the exclusive right to:

• make copies of the work
• prepare other works based on the original
• distribute copies of the work to the public for sale, rental, lease or lending
• publicly perform and display the work
• These rights are protected by laws which provide for damage and criminal penalties for violations. Both the customer and the lab are subject this law.

Who owns what?
The law says the "author" is the owner of the copyright. The author of a photo or image is usually the person who snapped the shutter or created the image. If you took the photo, you own the copyright. If a professional photographer took the photo for you, then he or she owns the copyright.

Why all the fuss?
The primary reason is economic. Photographers feel that they invest a lot of time and creative energy in capturing the experience; setting the camera, pose, lighting, background and extra images photographed to get the right shot. They generally price their services by taking into account the fact that customers will purchase their prints If the prints are obtained elsewhere, the photographer loses the opportunity to recover their investment.

How can I get copies made?
If you have copyrighted images you need to return to the "author," or ask them if they will give Rowe Photo written permission (a copyright release) so that we can legally make the copies for you. We have found most professional photographers to be very cooperative and will do their best to see that your needs are met.

Are there any exception?
Generally, no. But, we will gather information, investigate to the extent necessary to see if permission can be obtained, and make a decision based on our best judgement of how the law applies to your request.