When a fashion model is hired to do pictures, who owns the photographs?

If you are reading this blog, you are probably facing copyright issues as either a model who feels that their copyrights were infringed by a photographer who hired you or a photographer who feels that a model is using your work with other photographers, infringing on your copyright.

Under federal copyright law, the author of a work has initial ownership of the works and the copyrights. If a fashion model is hired by a photographer, typically, the photographer is considered to be the author and owns all of the rights in the copyright.

The only time that this is not the case is when the parties have expressly agreed otherwise. Such an agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Consequently, unless you have a written agreement transferring all or some of the rights of the copyright to you, the photographer that hired you owns all of the rights.

As the rise of #influencers on social media continues to grow, it’s important that you become aware of the regulations for copyrights and content ownership. When in doubt, you should always ask for permission from the artist. If you’re unclear as to how copyrights work in a social media age, our experienced attorneys are here to answer your questions. Call us to schedule a consultation at (786) 837-6787 or email us at info@epgdlaw.com.

*Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns. Contacting us through our website does not establish an attorney-client relationship.*

EPGD Business Law is located in beautiful Coral Gables, West Palm Beach and historic Washington D.C. Call us at (786) 837-6787, or contact us through the website to schedule a consultation.

*Disclaimer: this blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns. Contacting us through our website does not establish an attorney-client relationship.*

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Eric Gros-Dubois

Eric P. Gros-Dubois founded EPGD Business Law in 2013 and is the current head of the firm’s corporate, estate planning, and tax practice, and manages the firm’s Washington D.C. office. With a JD and MBA, and a specialization in finance, Eric is able to step back and view the legal world through a commercial lens while also acting as a trusted business advisor for his clients. He does his best to be solutions oriented, and tries to think like a business owner, not just a lawyer.

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*The following comments are not intended to be treated as legal advice. The answer to your question is limited to the basic facts presented. Additional details may heavily alter our assessment and change the answer provided. For a more thorough review of your question please contact our office for a consultation.

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