Have you ever been refused to have your photos printed?

philipfirth1983

philipfirth1983

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Name
Philip Firth
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Yes
I took some photo's to be printed last friday to Asda where I get them printed most of the time. The photo were from a shoot with my two sons and my niece and were for my mum's birthday. Also they didn't have any watermarks or copyright on them.

I loaded all my images into the machine and wanted the assistant to check there wouldn't be any clipping before I sent them to print. She came and looked and said straight away " As these your images? " I said "course they are" she said "Well can you prove it?, Have you got a business card?" I asked her how can I prove it? I said Ive got my camera and most off my equipment with me, why would I have a business card? I do photography for a hobby not as a profession! To which she replied "well if you can't prove there yours we can't print them, there's nothing I can do".

I was livid as you can imagine. I went to work and rung Asda and asked to speak to someone regarding a complaint. I got put through to the woman in charge of the photo department. I told her my complaint and she said she would have to investigate it and get back to me. She did ring me back 2 hours later and said that I were alright to go back and have them printed. I went back just after dinner to see her and she apologised and printed them there and then. She did make me signed a copyright release form though. She also said she would speak to the staff and if I had anymore problems to ask for her. She did advise me to get some business cards made, she said this will stop me having trouble in future.

What difference would a business card make? Anyone can make a business card! Does it mean anyone with a business card can have printed what they want? or even rip peoples images off?

Sorry for ranting on. Would love to hear you views on this.

Phil
 
Don't use Asda again would be my view mate! :thumbsdown:






EDIT: Sorry, not totally helpful I realise, but what else can you say? As you said, what difference would a business card make, you can have those made at another machine in the shop next door IYKWIM. Take your business elsewhere if they want to play silly b****rs
 
LadyLens said:
Don't use Asda again would be my view mate! :thumbsdown:
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There is only 2 places I can get them printed out. The other small camera shop can't compete with the quailty from asda and he's dearer. I am waiting for a print back from photobox. Might just use them from now on.
 
I had the same problem printing at Asda and also had to fill out a form. I think they must have been caught out in the past.
 
Another bloody stupid attitude
I bet if they were of a dog or horse you wouldn't have had a problem
BUT if they were insinuating "something" then bestiality is also still illegal I believe
rediculous!
 
It's a tough one this. Obviously they have some sort of legal obligation in that they can't print off copyrighted material so in some ways their initial response was justified but in another sense it's a big naff because they're obviously your images and you want to get them printed. I think in future they should just have people sign that release form without any questions. I do recall a few other stories on this site where people have had similar issues with other retailers.

Look at it this way, I'd take it as a compliment and just get on with it :)
 
Cobra said:
Another bloody stupid attitude
I bet if they were of a dog or horse you wouldn't have had a problem
BUT if they were insinuating "something" then bestiality is also still illegal I believe
rediculous!
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I don't think it had anything to do with child pornography.

Also are you saying that it's ridiculous that bestiality is illegal? :P
 
philipfirth1983 said:
There is only 2 places I can get them printed out. The other small camera shop can't compete with the quailty from asda and he's dearer. I am waiting for a print back from photobox. Might just use them from now on.
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Very sensible - I have ordered prints from them at 3 in the afternoon and they have arrived the following morning, without them asking me to prove they are mine!
 
LadyLens said:
Very sensible - I have ordered prints from them at 3 in the afternoon and they have arrived the following morning, without them asking me to prove they are mine!
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Im waiting for a 20X16, hopefully it should be here tomorrow:)
 
I work in Jessops, and so I know their opinions.

Basically, as I'm sure you know, when work is created by an artist, they retain the copyright to that image for 70 years after they die, unless the image's copyright is made available to the public through authorized exhibition.

When people get photos printed from a wedding photographer, for example, they don't have an understanding of the Copyrights, Designs and Patents act, so they think that they own the image, but don't understand they only own the print.

It isn't usually an issue with most of the photos we get printed, since they are mostly snapshots etc, which are owned by the people getting them printed.
But on the occasion we get people coming in with photographer's photos, wanting to get them reprinted. Unfortunately, unless they have written permission from the photographer giving them permission to get the photo's printed, or can prove the photos were taken by themselves, then we won't print the photos without the person who is printing them signs a document saying that they accept all responsibility for any breach of copyright they undertake.

Hope that clears it up a bit.
 
Ally said:
I've seen this happen a few times, personally mate I would take it as a complement ;)

They just have to protect them self's so that people are not just saving images off the net that are someones eles and get them printed.
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The thing that get me is the business card thing. What difference would it make if I had a business card or not?
 
foodpoison said:
I work in Jessops, and so I know their opinions.

Basically, as I'm sure you know, when work is created by an artist, they retain the copyright to that image for 70 years after they die, unless the image's copyright is made available to the public through authorized exhibition.

When people get photos printed from a wedding photographer, for example, they don't have an understanding of the Copyrights, Designs and Patents act, so they think that they own the image, but don't understand they only own the print.

It isn't usually an issue with most of the photos we get printed, since they are mostly snapshots etc, which are owned by the people getting them printed.
But on the occasion we get people coming in with photographer's photos, wanting to get them reprinted. Unfortunately, unless they have written permission from the photographer giving them permission to get the photo's printed, or can prove the photos were taken by themselves, then we won't print the photos without the person who is printing them signs a document saying that they accept all responsibility for any breach of copyright they undertake.

Hope that clears it up a bit.
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Thats fair enough, but why didnt the first assistant just say that and ask him to fill out the form? Its lousy customer service and/or staff training on Asdas part.
 
It's the same reason why people want letter heads on letters.
 
but how many people would sign the form without caring bout the copyright?
 
KayJay said:
I don't think it had anything to do with child pornography.
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It doesn't have to be "pornographic" for "some people" to get defensive about child images
I read it as SADA covering their own ass in todays PC society hopefully I am wrong :thumbs:

KayJay said:
Also are you saying that it's ridiculous that bestiality is illegal? :p
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:thinking:

Oh yeah I see what you mean. :lol:
live and let live I say, as long as they don't make it compulsory :D
 
@ fletch - lets be honest.. Asda don't care about who owns the copyright, they only care who will get sued.. if they've got a signed disclaimer saying that X owns the copyright, it absolves them from responsibility.

@ the OP, I guess you have to see the other side of the coin.. if it was someone else trying to get your photos printed, you'd be pleased with asda not printing them I guess :shrug:
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ally
I've seen this happen a few times, personally mate I would take it as a complement

They just have to protect them self's so that people are not just saving images off the net that are someones eles and get them printed.

The thing that get me is the business card thing. What difference would it make if I had a business card or not?
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To show that you at least have a company or that you are a pro tog. Most of these places don't know anything about photography but are always happy to help.
 
LadyLens said:
Thats fair enough, but why didnt the first assistant just say that and ask him to fill out the form? Its lousy customer service and/or staff training on Asdas part.
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Because I doubt the Asda staff even knew that the Copyrights, Designs and Patents act even existed :p

And Jessops have equally lousy staff training. I learned that stuff out of my own accord.
 
It's a complement - they're saying they look like pro photos.

Personally, as a pro, I'm pleased to hear that they are being so strict. :)

Get yourself some business cards, you could even start giving them to people, someday someone might want to pay you to shoot something, and who knows where that might lead ...
 
Is your name automatically entered into the exif? If so maybe next time you could get them to open one of the images on a PC and look there, then show them your driving licence. I know it's not perfect (and you could possibly rip stuff off like that) but I would think it's reasonable enough. :)
 
yes...have had that problem so many times, i hate it. used to get it alot from wal-mart back in the states, i guess the asda staff are wal-mart clones too (!!!!). i can't honestly see what in the heck a stupid business card proves, i mean u can print them yourself at home or on one of those little machines at every corner (!!!!!!). seems whenever somebody has anything good or above average, one is penalized. I always print mine through online systems, i.e. tesco does a nice job, and can even collect them in store afterwards.
 
Hell, I'm going to try and get some printed at Asda now. Might print some fake business cards as well, mess with their heads :D
 
I honestly think you should give these guys a break.
They're doing their job.

I bet you wouldn't be too chuffed if someone went on to your flickr, downloaded a large sized photo out of your album, went to Asda and got 200 copies printed, framed them, and then sold them down at a market, or online, and claimed them as their own?

Sure, if people really wanted to do that, they could, through online services.
But I bet you would be having a go at Asda if they DID let someone print pictures of yours.

Its better to be safe than sorry.
 
I can see ASDA's point of view, given the current blame culture mentality we appear to have imported from the states. I am a bit mystified by the business card thing though. The ASDA nearest us has one of those 'print your own business card' machines in the foyer. It's there for anyone to use, paedos included. I just can't see how a business card would offer the company any protection against legal action...
 
foodpoison said:
But I bet you would be having a go at Asda if they DID let someone print pictures of yours.
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I wouldn't, actually. Because I'm fully aware that Asda have no REAL way of knowing. I'd be mad at the person who did it, and at myself for putting unwatermarked hi-res files online where they could be stolen.
 
On the rare occasions I get stuff printed I use the Kodak machines at 'Klick' in Nottingham.
 
I've never had photos be refused, but I did once get some negatives back where the photo developers had actually scored a great X across the negative.

I'd been travelling around Indonesia with a couple of mates, and had snapped a shot of two of the guys pretending to do slightly dubious things with a banana....we were drunk, it was funny at the time etc.etc. Thought nothing more of it, put the film in to be developed while still in Sumatra, and when it came back, the negative had been scored.

Made us laugh. Probably gave some poor muslim girl nightmares.
 
Interesting arguments.

I think today you should be able to prove you took the photos by providing a copy of the RAW file from the camera, these cannot be reproduced and thus would prove you own the images.

Stephen
 
GateKiller said:
Interesting arguments.

I think today you should be able to prove you took the photos by providing a copy of the RAW file from the camera, these cannot be reproduced and thus would prove you own the images.

Stephen
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Thats a good idea Stephen! I did have the raws files with me on the same card. There machine also showed the images from the raw file which puzzled me at the time because they say they can only print jpegs.
 
GateKiller said:
Interesting arguments.

I think today you should be able to prove you took the photos by providing a copy of the RAW file from the camera, these cannot be reproduced and thus would prove you own the images.

Stephen
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But are they going to know that? :shrug:
 
I think people are right here about ripping off copyright and Asda being good to at least check that they were yours. Bad staff training though if they didn't just get you to sign the waiver at the start and be done with it.

I did laugh a few weeks ago though to find my Dad had ripped off my copyright. Came home one weekend to find that one of the pictures of my Mum I had sent him had been printed large style, framed and put on the wall. Silly thing is if I had known I would have printed it for him for free and in better quality (from RAW not some small jpeg)!

Alex
 
Ewan said:
But are they going to know that? :shrug:
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Probably not and I guess I must agree with what most have said, that staff training is poor or non-existent and should be improved.
 
OK, so I have my wedding negs - aquired from Tog's estate in return for charity donation, and these I have scanned (@ 105MP :)) - would it be a problem getting prints of these?
 
pearce_jj said:
OK, so I have my wedding negs - aquired from Tog's estate in return for charity donation, and these I have scanned (@ 105MP :)) - would it be a problem getting prints of these?
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Foodpoison, Can you shed any light on this?
 
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