Dear Photographers,

This blog is mainly aimed at professional photographers. I’m starting it to help dispel the misunderstandings and misconceptions by both photographers and their clients regarding copyright law and how it is applied to photographs or artistic works. 

About myself, I worked as a professional photographer in the music business from 1979 and I am no longer actively pursuing a photographic career as a living.  In 2014, I enrolled at the University of Law to study for a qualifying law degree – LLB(Hons), followed by a master’s degree (LLM in Entertainment Law) at the University of Westminster.  Intellectual Property law covers four disciplines – copyright, trademarks, designs, and patents.  My studies focused mainly on the law as it applies to copyright, trademarks and designs, with additional subjects in media law and mediation.

Since completing my degrees, I have built up a base of private clients consisting of photographers, musicians, and writers among others; for whom I act as a consultant and advise on all aspects of copyright with some trademark law overlapping.  In the course of these undertakings, it has become apparent that photographers, in general, have a vague understanding of copyright, what it is, and how to protect their photographs under the rights granted in the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, (CDPA 1988); what is copyright infringement and what remedies are available. 

This is a blog for sharing information and opinions and does not constitute legal advice. Viewers with specific issues and questions are advised to seek legal advice from a solicitor or barrister.  Unfortunately, I cannot give recommendations, so please do not email me for one. 

I’ve created a section headed Copyright Basics which provides information and hopefully clarity on the current law in the UK as it applies to various situations photographers may find themselves in.  Information sources are always cited and include the CDPA 1988, case law, law books, and some academic articles.  

I sincerely hope that readers who are photographers will enjoy reading the blogs and newsletters as much as I will enjoy writing them.

Yours,

George Chin LLB(Hons), LLM (Entertainment Law).