Can't You Just Make Changes to a Picture to Get Around Copyright?

Modify, Change, Edit, Crop- Can you make copyright go away? Many art students have heard if they make "X" many changes to a work, it becomes theirs.

In truth, the Copyright act gives the copyright owner the exclusive right to reproduce or modify their work, and to exclude others from doing so. Modifying a work, say by cropping, coloring, distorting, enlarging, etc. is not a way around this law. Creating a derivative work "or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed or adapted" is an infringement. Translating to other mediums, like scanning a photo from a book and turning it into a JPEG file is also the copyright owner's exclusive right.

This is just a brief excerpt from the book "How to Use Images Legally", which will help you use and create images with more confidence. If you need public domain images you can legally use, a researcher can help. Do-it-yourselfers will enjoy reading "How to Find Free & Low-Cost Images on Almost Any Subject", a book that will pay for itself with the first visual it helps you find.

This information is provided with the understanding that the author is not a lawyer and is not engaged in rendering legal services, and makes no warranties or claims as to the accuracy or completeness of the information. This is a summary and for brevity many exceptions to the principles outlined have been left out. When working with legal issues, you should always seek experienced professional counsel.

National Press Building, Suite 296, Washington DC 20045 Phone: 202-277-8985 Fax: 202-379-1704 E-Mail: Scott.Tambert@PDimages.com

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