Photo Copyrights

Someone please explain something to me. How can the Picture People and other studios like them justify claiming a copyright on pictures taken by their staff? And, how can Wal-Mart justify confiscating a Picture People print from someone attempting to scan a photo at their store?

Are these pictures artistic? No.

Did they have us sign a release like a normal model? No.

Did we pay them for the image? Yes.

So, how the hell do they expect to tell people they own it?

Our country is so ridiculously wrapped up in so-called "intellectual property" that we'll eventually sue ourselves into destruction. If I pay someone to take a picture of my child or my family, I damn well expect to own the rights to that image. If the law contradicts that premise, then the law is wrong and should be changed. Our elected officials (or should I say money grubbing whores) need to stop acting like proxies for big business financial interests and start doing the "right thing".