I thought reposting a picture with credit in the caption was enough, then a photographer sent me a $750 bill | Copyright Cop Shop - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals
I thought reposting a picture with credit in the caption was enough, then a photographer sent me a $750 bill
For about two years I ran a small shop page and whenever I shared someone else's photo I just threw "credit: @theirname" in the caption and figured that counted as fair use. Then last March a photographer in Phoenix mailed me an invoice for $750 over one picture I had posted back in 2022, and he pointed out that a caption credit does nothing without written permission. Side A says that's just how the law works, you need a license no matter how small the account is. Side B says it's a shakedown, since most of these letters are aimed at folks who would have paid $20 happily if anyone had asked. I've since started using only my own shots or ones from free stock sites, but I still wonder if the blame should sit on me for not knowing or on the person who waits years to send the bill. Where do you all land on this, should a simple ask come before a demand letter?