Instructions to Copyright Photos

Photographs can be copyrighted by applying through the U.S. Copyright Office.

By U.S. law, a photograph you take is automatically copyrighted without you having to fill out an application or declare copyright. You can choose to copyright a photograph if you fear there will be a dispute about who took the photograph. This will allow you to legally defend a dispute where someone is using your image without your permission or claiming it as his own.

Instructions

1. Access the U.S. Copyright Office website and click on "Form VA" to download a Visual Arts copyright form. (See Resources)

2. Fill out the form completely and accurately. This includes a title, author, creation, claimant, previous registration (if you've applied before), derivative work (if this is a variation of earlier work), fee, correspondence, certification and return address.

3. Attach a copy of the photograph to the application and mail them to the U.S. Copyright Office:

   101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC, 20559-6000

Tips & Warnings

• You can't copyright an idea for a photograph. Therefore, you can't keep someone from repeating the same idea and taking his own photograph.

References

• Photo Secrets: How to Copyright a Photo

Resources

• Copyright.gov: U.S. Copyright Office Forms