Copyright of photos

[babalala]

Just wondering who owns the copyright of the prewed photos we take with bridal studios?

Noticed that the contract says that the bridal studio reserves the right to the photos. But are they given the right to own the right? Haha if you know what I mean. We paid for their services and they own the photos? Like don't quite make sense to me.

 

[shuyen]

Actually, this is normal.
More specifically, it is the owner of the camera that took the photos that owns the right.
So technically if you borrowed someone else's camera and took a photo, the camera owner still owns the rights of the photo you took.

 

[babalala]

So they bridal boutiques own the rights of the photos and cause it for advertising and marketing purposes without our consent?

 

[Han2_wong]

I think most bridal will ask for permission bah. If don't have, then I think you can make reports against them? Cos they say own the rights but they never say for advertising purposes?

Best to ask to check with the bridal boutiques bah before you sign.

 

[babalala]

I've already completed my bridal shoot and all.

I saw the bridal shop using my photos for marketing purposes and I asked them why did they not ask for my permission. They said that they didn't have to. That's why I'm wondering if what they said is true.

 

[Han2_wong]

Hm... Maybe when you signed with them then have the small small term and conditions. May I know which Bridal Boutique is that? Sounds very unethical. :/

But then again on a brighter side, means your photo is really really nice and both you and your hubby looks like model.

 

[babalala]

I went to read the terms and conditions and the only relevant part was "bridal shop reserves the rights to the photos". So I'm thinking whether they have the rights to use it for marketing purposes.

 

[jkwedding308]

I went to read the terms and conditions and the only relevant part was "bridal shop reserves the rights to the photos". So I'm thinking whether they have the rights to use it for marketing purposes.

The very line that the "bridal shop reserves the rights to the photos" means that they can do literally anything with it - not just advertising it for marketing purposes but if they want to, they can even use it for photography contests or even sell it in any form (e.g. make merchandise containing the photo, auction the photo, sell it to another company that seeks good-looking wedding couple photo for whatever reason, etc). This is why T&Cs are usually in such fine print - they're so small and easily missable as they don't want you to notice it when you read it and if you decide to take legal action, the court will rule in favour with them and against you. Although I'm actually aware of a court case (not for wedding photos though) where the client actually won because the court ruled that the T&Cs were set out in prints that were way too small that it was in fact missable and misleading...

 

[babalala]

I see... No intentions to take legal action, just wondering and hoping that they had shown us some respect on this.

 

[jkwedding308]

I see... No intentions to take legal action, just wondering and hoping that they had shown us some respect on this.

Yeah, I understand what you mean... Though they're legally not wrong, it would have been a more courteous effort if they at least contact you beforehand to let you know that they're interested in using your photo...

 

[sethee]

I've already completed my bridal shoot and all.

I saw the bridal shop using my photos for marketing purposes and I asked them why did they not ask for my permission. They said that they didn't have to. That's why I'm wondering if what they said is true.

They have seek your consent. According to the IPOS factsheet (screenshot and link below), consent from customers are required for use of photos/videos even though the copyright will be owned by PG/VG.

Note that some PG/VG charge a fee for non-disclosure which is nonsensical. If they are charging a fee, they should be giving up their copyright to the photos/videos to you

Do refer to the last page of the IPOS factsheet for some important clauses to add into your contract

https://www.ipos.gov.sg/docs/default-source/resources-library/copyright/joint-factsheet-on-copyright-and-pd-in-portrait-photography.pdf