Walmart & copyrights

Beth@pointseven · #1 04/03/06, 01:48 PM

A while back there was thread on someone that went to Walmart to have prints made and walmart refused to give them the prints. I think it was lost in the crash. We just had the same thing happen today. This was a photography student trying to have her photo project printed. Here is the best part, my boss is the owner of a commercial photography studio and tried to explain to the walmart manager what copyright is and they refused to listen.
I don't remember how things turned out for the people here and was wondering if someone else would remember.
Guess the moral of the story is don't use Walmart to make photo prints!
Thanks
Beth

just_sawing · #2 04/03/06, 01:59 PM

I am a Professional Photographer and I went to Walmart's manager at my location explained what I was going to do produced my bussiness card with my name the same as embossed on the pictures and have had very little problem since. I am happy that they are willing to do this. We over hear conversations at the Horse affairs" Just by one and I'll scan it for free" They scanned me into charging triple to the honest people to make do.

wy_white_wolf · #3 04/03/06, 02:01 PM

The moral of the story is don't go to Walmart for anything.

Boleyz · #4 04/03/06, 06:14 PM

My wife is a professional photographer who has thus far refused to jump from film to digital.

She used to give people a copy of their proofs, expecting them to return later to order their enlargements and packages. Turns out most of them simply took the proofs to Wal-Mart, scanned them and made low-quality prints and enlargements there. Every one of her proofs had her copyright on the backside, but that never stopped anyone from making copies at Wal-mart.

2 problems with this:
1. My wife didn't make any money on the deal, and they got professional-quality proofs, although the enlargements all look like crap from wal-mart.

2. The low-quality enlargements with their fuzzy, slightly off focus look, were then displayed in people's homes, and when asked, who took them, the customers gave my wife the "Credit" for it. Thus making it appear that her work is shoddy.

Her solution has been a lap-top and Buckeye photo lab in Ohio. They will develop the film, then scan the proofs with high quality scanners and send her a CD. She calls the customer in, and they look at their proofs on the computer screen and order their packages and enlargements. They don't walk out with ANYTHING, unless they buy a minimum order from her. The CD is NEVER sold to a customer, and remains the property of my wife. If they ever decide they want another Good print, they have to come back to her...as it should be.

rambler · #5 04/03/06, 06:46 PM

Walmart (and the other stores) has to uphold the copywrite laws and provide a cheap photo process service at the same time.

This is often handled by folks who aren't making big wages - a judgement call on what is going on.

Seems there is a better explination of why this is happening in this thread, compared to the thread that was lost.

Needs to be some give & take, & better communications between the photo dept & the customer.

Not to highjack the thread, but what happens with those real old pics, like my great-gandxxxx wedding pics, where the studio no longer exists? How is copyright handled there, family wants more pics, no real way to go back to the original studio? Or for the person here, what happens when you retire, & folks want more of these momento pics?

--->Paul

x_xbirdie · #6 04/03/06, 07:20 PM

I personally believe walmart is no place to go for processing photos. My neice is a model for flyers and such for little girl's clothing. My sister took some headshots and the like (she has photo skills from highschool, not the best, but good enough for a toddler's portfolio). We went to go get them developed at Walmart because the person who usually develops them was out of town and she needed the prints. Because of a photo of my 10 month old neice in a bath tub full of bubbles with a few rubber ducks, they confincasted it as kiddie porn. They wouldn't even give her the film back. So she goes home (should've seen the tizzy she had!) and tells my brother-in-law, who calls a lawyer. Well a week later she had her prints and a written apology from Walmart with a 100 dollar gift card. She still hasn't used it.

Brighid1971 · #7 04/03/06, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Not to highjack the thread, but what happens with those real old pics, like my great-gandxxxx wedding pics, where the studio no longer exists? How is copyright handled there, family wants more pics, no real way to go back to the original studio? Or for the person here, what happens when you retire, & folks want more of these momento pics?

--->Paul

A good question...I have my great grandparents wedding photo from the EARLY 1900's in Poland. Do I have to have some sort of copyright clearence for it? It does seem a little far fetched, but nothing would surprise me anymore...

ace admirer · #8 04/03/06, 10:30 PM

Yeah, it was me with the copyright problem,,,,the real problem was with the "com-manager" shaking the photos in my face and walking off with them...any way, talking head on phone said they would write up the co-manger..yada....yada.. anyway....the next week the same walmart cought a guy printing nude pictures of children so i think my "problem" is overshowded by current events.

moral of story (for him and me) get a good photo quality scanner/printer and let walmart go to hewl.

ChickenTracy · #9 04/03/06, 11:24 PM

That's why I only use a digital camera & do my own editing & printing. Cheaper than having it done elsewhere & no hassles.

BaronsMom · #10 04/03/06, 11:34 PM

On the historical photo - I believe you are free and clear with the family photo.

I'm a bit concerned now. I took some outdoor photos of my son to supplement his senior photo package. They turned out better than what the professional did

I was told to take a CD into Wal-Mart for prints but now I hesitate. How do I prove I took the photos????????

ChickenTracy · #11 04/03/06, 11:47 PM

BaronsMom, I think you can go to walmart online & upload your photos from the CD & pick up later at a specified walmart photo center. This way they never have your actual CD. If you have a good quality printer & software you can make your own copies.

Wags · #12 04/03/06, 11:53 PM

Walmart isn't the only one that can try to stop really good non-professional prints from being made.

There are a lot of places now that let you upload to their site and then pick up in person. I think Snapfish lets you pick up at Target. And I know Walgreesn offers that option too (although they are really expensive!) If you do it frequently enough (like I do) at the same place the staff gets aquainted with you and your work and don't hassle you about it anymore.

donsgal · #13 04/03/06, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beth@pointseven

A while back there was thread on someone that went to Walmart to have prints made and walmart refused to give them the prints. I think it was lost in the crash. We just had the same thing happen today. This was a photography student trying to have her photo project printed. Here is the best part, my boss is the owner of a commercial photography studio and tried to explain to the walmart manager what copyright is and they refused to listen.
I don't remember how things turned out for the people here and was wondering if someone else would remember.
Guess the moral of the story is don't use Walmart to make photo prints!
Thanks
Beth

I had the same problem at the FedEx Store (formerly Mailboxes, etc.) And the guy was total jerk about it. SO it isn't JUST Wal*Mart.

donsgal

donsgal · #14 04/03/06, 11:56 PM

If you google "copyrightrelease.pdf" (with quotes), you will find some pretty impressive documents full of all sorts of legal-ese that you could "present" at Wal*Mart (or elsewhere) along with the pictures to see if that would do the trick.

Donsgal