06/07/2025
Your Rights as a Photographer
1. You own the copyright to every photo you take the moment you press the shutter.
• No need to register it (though registration helps if you want to sue).
• Copyright gives you the exclusive right to:
• Reproduce your photo (copy it, print it, post it online)
• Distribute it
• Display it publicly
• Make derivative works (edits, collages, etc.)
2. When Other People Can’t Use Your Photos
Other people can’t legally:
• Post your photo online without credit or permission
• Use it in their business, social media, or ads
• Sell it
• Claim it as their own work
• Edit or alter it without your okay
Even if your photo is online, it’s not automatically “free to use.” That’s a big myth.
3. When Other People Can Use Your Photos
They need:
• Your permission (e.g. written license or terms allowing use)
• Or they must prove it’s:
• Fair use (very limited and context-specific, e.g. commentary, criticism, news reporting, education)
• In the public domain
• Released under a Creative Commons license you set (e.g. CC BY)
What To Do If Someone Uses Your Photo Without Permission
1. Document it.
• Screenshot the post or website
• Note the date, platform, and user
2. Check how they’re using it.
• Commercial or personal?
• Credit given?
• Altered or used as-is?
3. Send a polite message.
• Often people remove the photo if asked nicely.
4. Issue a DMCA takedown notice.
• Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube let you report copyright infringement.
5. Seek legal help if:
• The use is commercial
• It caused financial damage
• They refuse to remove it
In the Philippines
• Intellectual Property Code (RA 8293) protects your photographs automatically as copyrighted works.
• Copyright lasts your lifetime + 50 years after death.
• You can claim damages or file criminal charges for copyright infringement.
Tips to Protect Your Work
âś… Watermark your photos
âś… Post lower-res images online
âś… Include copyright info in file metadata (EXIF)
âś… Register your photos if possible (locally or via international copyright offices)
Bottom line:
• Your photos are your property.
• Others need your permission to use them.
• You have legal tools to protect your work.
