Question

Wedding Photos. Bobby took a number of wedding photos at Jill's wedding. He was paid as the photographer. On all of the photographs, he appropriately noted in the bottom right corner the necessary information showing that he was claiming copyright protection. Jill came to see Bobby three years after the initial photographs were taken and requested that he grant her permission to make as many copies as she wanted at the local photo shop from the pictures that she initially purchased. The photo shop had refused to reproduce the photographs without his permission. When he refused to give her permission to do so, Jill started a heated argument. She told Bobby that photographs are not entitled to copyright protection. She also told him that even if he was correct that there was some copyright protection, she was engaged in fair use, and in any event, damages for copyright infringement are unavailable. If Bobby decides to register the photographs under copyright law, how would he go about doing so

Answer 1

Bobby, as a photographer, can register his wedding photos with the U.S. Copyright Office to secure copyright protection. Jill's claims about copyright not applying to photographs and fair use are incorrect, and Bobby has a right to enforce his copyrights and seek damages for infringement.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a photographer, Bobby has rights under the law to his original works of authorship, which include the wedding photos he took and subsequently marked with copyright notice. To register the photographs for copyright protection, Bobby should submit an application to the U.S. Copyright Office, pay the required fee, and provide copies of the photographs. This can be done online through the Copyright Office's electronic registration system, or by mailing in a paper form. Once registered, the copyright provides Bobby exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on his photographs, and it lasts for his lifetime plus 70 years.

Jill's assertion that the photographs are not entitled to copyright protection is incorrect. Copyright protection applies to pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, which includes photography. Additionally, her claim of fair use is unfounded without an analysis of the fair use factors, and copyright holders are indeed entitled to seek damages for unauthorized use of their copyrighted material.

Answer 2

He would register merely by affixing the appropriate symbol at the bottom of the photograph followed by first date of publication and his name.

Step-by-step explanation:

Wedding Photos. Bobby took a number of wedding photos at Jill's wedding. He was paid as the photographer. On all of the photographs, he appropriately noted in the bottom right corner the necessary information showing that he was claiming copyright protection. Jill came to see Bobby three years after the initial photographs were taken and requested that he grant her permission to make as many copies as she wanted at the local photoshop from the pictures that she initially purchased. Photoshop had refused to reproduce the photographs without his permission. When he refused to give her permission to do so, Jill started a heated argument. She told Bobby that photographs are not entitled to copyright protection. She also told him that even if he was correct that there was some copyright protection, she was engaged in fair use, and in any event, damages for copyright infringement are unavailable. If Bobby decides to register the photographs under copyright law, He would register merely by affixing the appropriate symbol at the bottom of the photograph followed by the first date of publication and his name.