Respecting copyright, regardless of the source

We should all be vigilant about protecting our copyright, but not to the extent that it paralyzes us and keeps us from showing art online in its best light.

An article in yesterday’s Washington Post shows how ordinary people (not really calling themselves artists) are getting ripped off by giant corporations. Companies like Fox and Microsoft are swiping and using photographs from amateur photographers they find online. If you’re an artist, you might be safe. Seems these big companies think they can get away with it by using works by amateurs.

Lesson for artists: Respect others’ copyrights just as you expect them to do for you. This goes for music, authored works, photographs, other fine art, films, and all the rest. And, yes,  you might have to register to access the article on the Washington Post–because it’s copyrighted!