How do I copyright photos?

[Helen]

Hi,
What would be the easiest way to get my name on my own orchid photos I have taken? There are many that I don't want copies made online, if that is at all possible. I see a lot of you have your name on your photos.
Thanks!
Helen

[RosieC]

I've not done it, but basically I think people use a photo editing package (paintshop pro, or photoshop or something like that). Most of those have a text tool that allows you to add text.

[Bud]

Do not worry. All pictures you post belongs to you. The software here marks every picture you post as marked belonging to you. If anyone downloads it, the software here imbeds it with your ID on it. I dont know, but I did that on one of my pic and it did have an ID coming from here
* it is time consuming but you may right click on the picture, go to properties and go to details...fill it up with your infos, then save...you will have to do this on every picture you want

[silken]

In the U.S. and Canada too I believe, if it is your photo, you own copyright of it and it is illegal for anyone else to reproduce it. However, actually protecting it is easier said than done. If you wanted to hire a lawyer and pursue it thru the court system, you would win, but who wants to do that. Many cameras have a place in the options to embed your name as copyright holder. You need to know your camera's options or read the manual. Also just by putting your name and the copyright symbol on the photo is an obvious way of claiming ownership. But I have seen someone's photo from this forum with the name cropped off and used on E-Bay. So again if you put it on the web, there is a chance it will be stolen. If you make a low enough resolution and small enough file, it won't be good for enlarging and printing or anything like that at least.

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

All photos posted to Flikr have a copyright, automatically. I steal them all of the time.
Really good pics and I contact the copyright holder, out of respect for their work.I've yet to be refused as long as I credit them.

[Ray]

While the comments about "automatic" copyrighting are correct, it still doesn't stop people from stealing them.

I use a freeware program called "Picture-Shark" which adds a copyright info, like in this image:



Basically, I keep the large, "pure" image locally only, create a smaller one for posting, and add the copyright info to that.

Granted, one could still copy and crop that image above, but it's something of a deterrent - better than nothing at all.

[silken]

Some people put the copyright info on watermark right across the photo which is harder to clean off. I saw a gorgeous photo that I recognized from OB with the name of the plant in the first line left on and the photographers name and copyright symbol cropped off. They didn't even bother to re-write the name of the plant themselves. Ray, I could remove your info in a moment if I wanted to-but NEVER would do such a thing

[Helen]

Wow! Excellent info from everyone, thanks! Exactly what I wanted to know. I LOVE our Forum so much! Everyone is always so helpful, all the time!
Helen