Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

biketourist · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Central California

I have found several cases where my photo has been used to illustrate an article. The author gave me credit and I was paid the 38 cents.

Fine.

But then the article was picked up and used on perhaps five or six other web newspapers, blogs,or what have you, including my photo. Probably, the original author gave the other users permission to reprint the work.

What about the image? Should the reprinter pay for use of the photo? Obtain a new license? I'm a little unclear about rights in such a case.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:16 am

The purchase of a license is not transferable as specified in the buyers TOS.

http://www.shutterstock.com/licensing.mhtml

There are a lot of unknowns with your question because you are not sure of just what happened once the image was purchased. Has the image had more than one sale? Could the other users have bought it as well? Is the shot on another stock site and could have been purchased there?

I suggest that you contact the section of support that handles things like this and give them all the information.

infringementclaims@shutterstock.com

biketourist · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 177 Location: Central California

Thanks, Dave. My question is really just one of fact and not anything I would want to pursue. I've discovered just three or four situations like I described. It could be the second or third tier users did, in fact, make the appropriate purchase.

I remember the "good old days" where, if an agency sold (or, rather rented) use of your transparency, you would get at least a tear sheet along with a fistful of money. You knew exactly where and how it was used in printed media.

But, retired in the digital age, I have no complaints!