Friends, I need your help on this.

My girlfriend is a collage artist. I recently encouraged her to use Photoshop more and more. She is now getting more serious about her art and people have started to ask for special requests.

She doesn't use her work for advertisement or mass production; she does single pieces for individuals. Nevertheless, she has started to get concerned about copyrights and using other people's work.

Can any fellow artists or person working in the industry help shed some light on the copyright matter about collages. Links to relevant information would also be appreciated.

I will myself look for links on the Internet proving that it is ok to use other people's work on collages, because that has always been my view on this matter.

Here is an example to illustrate her work :



Thanks for all the help.

since the images she's using are copyrighted (i assume) therefore the rules of copyright apply.

what i mean is there is no difference between a digital and a manual chop.

supa is correct. even though its not the entire picture, its still copyrighted. there are sites that she can get non-copyrighted photos at, also she should ask the people that are wanting pictures done, to provide their own pictures for her to do. There are plenty of sites out there also where she can get quality images that would be copyright free for a fee. that should be included into her 'cost' for doing said work.
and now for a blatent advertisement for one of said places.
http://www.shutterstock.com

my stuff there
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery.mhtml?id=4169

anyone wishing to join with their own photos to make some $$ too use this reference code
http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=4169


as for the free site...
I love this one
http://www.imageafter.com/

this is very good too[url] sxc.hu[/url]

Does that mean Andy Warhol had to pay Campbell's royalties?

no because Andy could run quite quickly

you know Michel i was thinking more about this, just so long as she isnt getting paid, and its just for friends who wont be selling these on E-bay, I would let her worry too much about copyright, now if she starts her own company and charges for her work, then start worrying about the big ©

An interesting bit :


Is it legal for an artist to cut a photograph out of a magazine and use it in a collage?

The answer is, it depends who you ask.

According to Santa Fe attorney Saul Cohen, a national expert in copyright law and the arts, it's no problem at all.

"I've never heard of someone getting in trouble for using something in collage," he said.

Collage is a recognized art form, Cohen said, which couldn't be created without appropriating the images of others.

"I totally disagree," said attorney James N. Talbott of Malibu, Calif., who specializes in legal issues related to visual arts and the Internet. "Collage is a derivative work. You can't use images without a license or permission. Technically, it's an infringement, but is there likely to be a claim? Probably not."

http://ipmall.info/news_activities/news_press/field_981002.asp

that is a painting tho, not a collage

Well, TheShaman, that's my whole point, she has no plan of mass producing these things, all she does is single copy.

She does want to get paid for her time though.

I think if shes just doing it for fun and friends, and isnt setting up a website/company, theres no real way that anyone is really going to know, other than the two parties involved... your girlfriend, and the one she does the work for.... and theres nothing wrong for being paid for your time.... Hell I've painted tigger and pooh bear on the walls of my friends kids room (and got paid cash) was it copyrighted? yeah... did I care? no not really, cause I dont have a business doing that, I just do it freelance for friends and family.... now would I show that room to a potential client outside my friends and family, I guess it depends on the person that I was potentially doing work for.... know what I mean.

BTW, tell your 'girlfriend', that piece you showed us is very cool!


I dont know why I said sister need my meds apparently

Ewww...

lol my bad

good catch Azionite