Reproduction fees
Encyclopedia
Reproduction fees are charged by image collections for the right to reproduce images in publications. This is not the same as a copyright fee, but is charged separately, as is the cost of the provision of the image. It can be charged where an image is out of copyright, and reflects the possession of the image by a collection.
Image collection charges vary according to the media (books, magazines, TV, Internet etc.), and print run. Some charge a lower fee for not-for-profit publications. In the case of the Web, none appear to grant use in perpetuity, but for small blocks of time — 3 months, 6 months, etc. Some institutions employ specialist firms to administer their copyrights and reproduction fees.
In recent years the money asked per image can be so great as to make the publication of limited-market topics un-viable, by the time the other production costs are factored in. This is likely to have a deleterious effect on the future health of specialist academic publishing world-wide. The expansion of public domain
image resources appear to be the way of overcoming this problem.
On the other hand the fees can help a collection to balance its finances.
Image collection charges vary according to the media (books, magazines, TV, Internet etc.), and print run. Some charge a lower fee for not-for-profit publications. In the case of the Web, none appear to grant use in perpetuity, but for small blocks of time — 3 months, 6 months, etc. Some institutions employ specialist firms to administer their copyrights and reproduction fees.
In recent years the money asked per image can be so great as to make the publication of limited-market topics un-viable, by the time the other production costs are factored in. This is likely to have a deleterious effect on the future health of specialist academic publishing world-wide. The expansion of public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
image resources appear to be the way of overcoming this problem.
On the other hand the fees can help a collection to balance its finances.
See also
- The court case Bridgeman Art Library Ltd. v. Corel Corporation established that exact photographic copies of public domainPublic domainWorks are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
works of art are not copyrightCopyrightCopyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
able under United States law.
External links
- Elaine M. Stainton Photo Reproduction Fees and Designations: Three Modest Proposals (concerning fine art reproduction fees)