‘Bright Bike STOLEN!’
courtesy of ‘mandiberg’
Well so much for any chance of my attending any of the Crystal Couture events in Crystal City this week. If I want someone to mug me for my art I’m sure I can find a way to do it that doesn’t demand I help by bundling up my stuff and handing it over.
It’s a shame, really. I enjoyed it last year and got some fun shots. I guess the Crystal City BID liked some of the pictures taken last year as well, given their mass-grab strategy. The linked page above says the following:
Outside photographers are welcome at the event. Please see a staff member to fill out a photographer waiver.
What’s on the waiver? A pretty reasonable request that you give priority to official staff photographers, then some pretty unreasonable stuff. “Photographer must: Supply the Crystal City BID with a copy of high resolution images taken during event at no charge on CD within two weeks of event” and “The Crystal City BID is: Free to use images for advertising and media.”
They don’t give themselves the right to reproduce the images “for resale or profit,” though I wonder how comforting that would be if they decided to put your work in advertising without paying you a dime.
Almost as offensive as this blatant grab is the opening paragraph claiming the justification for stealing your work. “To ensure the privacy and safety of the Crystal Couture Designers and Models,” is silly on its face. The models, having not signed any over-reaching waivers granting me free reign to use their likeness, continue to be protected under the law. Were I to use images of them in advertising without a release I could be sued into next week.
If you were thinking of going to the events to take some pictures, stay home.
Well I used to say something in my profile about not quite being a “tinker, tailor, soldier, or spy” but Tom stole that for our about us page, so I guess I’ll have to find another way to express that I am a man of many interests.
Hmm, guess I just did.
My tastes run the gamut from sophomoric to Shakespeare and in my “professional” life I’ve sold things, served beer, written software, and carried heavy objects… sometimes at the same place. It’s that range of loves and activities that makes it so easy for me to love DC – we’ve got it all.
