A GREAT VICTORY FOR CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS
OTTAWA, November 7, 2012: At last, Canadian photographers own their copyright.

The Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators (CAPIC) would like to congratulate all Canadian photographers in Canada on this important date and pivotal achievement in the photographic industry. As of today, Canadian photographers now officially own the copyright to all of their work whether the photograph is commissioned or not, thanks to the new Copyright law.

The principle of protecting photographers’ ownership rights started 65 years ago by Henri Cartier-Bresson, who founded Magnum with Robert Capa and David Seymour. Magnum assured that a photographer’s image belonged to the photographer and not to the commissioner of the work.

In Canada, all other artists have already owned the copyrights to their work and thanks to this new law, Canadian photographers, albeit the last in the industrialized world, now have all legal rights to their images.

CAPIC has been working towards this monumental achievement in Canada for more than 20 years through lobbying efforts and could not have achieved this truly important mission without the support of its members, who have contributed financially, morally and offered countless volunteer hours towards this major effort led by CAPIC National Copyright Chair, Andre Cornellier.

The Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) were a valuable partner in this achievement as well as the lobbying firm Temple Scott Associates for their work in Ottawa.

”I would like to thank the team that worked so patiently and for so long,” commented Cornellier. ”Finally we have won a right due to us as artists. Thank you to Canadian photographers across the country for your support and patience and to André Amyot and Brian Boyle of PPOC for your work. It has been worth it.”

CAPIC will be providing more information on the direct effects of the law for Canadian photographers in the week to come as we celebrate this important Canadian achievement.

For more information:
André Cornellier
Copyright Chair
CAPIC, The Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators
andre@cornellierphoto.com

http://www.capic.org/photographer-and-illustrator-news

You can see images that were posted to the Flicker group here and Facebook group here. We’ve also posted a few pics in the Photography.ca forum in the thread that inspired this celebration of our photography rights.

People should also feel free to post images they took right here in this blog if they want to.

Here’s one from the walk I did in Montreal.

Thanks again!
Marko

The months have flown by and the Publicphotography.org shoot is THIS Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Just to recap, in order to participate, all you have to do is go out on September 11 (in whatever city you live in) and take pictures of things in public. People, buildings, landmarks – It is your right to photograph these things in public in most countries.

Then please post your pics on your own blog if you have one AND in our Facebook group and Flickr group.

WHY are we even doing this? Because many photographers are being treated like criminals these days. Photographers in countries like the USA, Canada, England and other countries are being questioned, detained and in some cases even arrested (under the guise of national security) for merely taking photographs in public. It COULD happen to you, and that’s why we are doing this.

Thanks everyone!
Marko

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