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Photography / Image Rights — client reselling my photography

Started by asking_for_friend_homeowner_help · Sep 28, 2022 · 3,989 views · 13 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
AF
asking_for_friend_homeowner_help OP

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.

client reselling my photography. I've been dealing with this for about 7 months now and the situation isn't improving.

This involves software/code I developed over the past 28 months. I do have documentation proving my ownership and timeline.

What are my legal options here? Is it worth pursuing?

WB
worried_buyer_OH

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

NR
newbie_renter_2025

NAL, but from what I've read, you should file a complaint. That said, definitely get a lawyer to look at the specifics.

PJ
Paralegal_Jen

I went through almost the exact same thing.

What worked for me was escalating to a supervisor/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

TS
throwaway_seller_NC

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

PJ
Paralegal_Jen

I went through almost the exact same thing.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.

TS
throwaway_seller_question

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.

DB
desperate_business_owner_2024

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

FK
FreelancerKate

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.

JC
just_curious_driver_advice

I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.

WF
worried_freelancer_today

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

TL
Mod_TermsLaw Moderator

I specialize in this area of law. Here's my take on the legal issues.

This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under the DMCA safe harbor provisions, compliant with notice requirements.

One important thing — there are strict deadlines for filing these claims. Don't wait too long.

NT
newbie_tenant_NY

Following this thread — I'm in a very similar situation. Would love to hear how it turns out.

SM
SeniorDevMike_PDX

I've dealt with this before.

I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

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