The Copyright Alliance has informed me of this welcome invitation from the Obama Administration to share my thoughts on my rights as a creator. As a professional photographer my livelihood and my career depend on unique images and intellectual property. My ability to receive income and control the use of my images has a direct impact on the success or failure of my business. I cannot succeed as a photographer if my images and other creative products (videos, multimedia slide shows) are copied, distributed or sold without my permission or knowledge.

With the growth of the internet over the last few years theft of my images has become rampant. Is there a way to stop this from happening? Yes, with your help. We need to strengthen copyright protections for visual artists and maintain or even increase penalties for unauthorized use. It’s a dangerous line we are walking and the boundaries must be clearly defined so that artists and content producers are capable of artistic integrity and financial survival. The unauthorized copying, sale, and distribution of my intellectual property directly impacts my ability to control the use of my own creativity, not to mention my ability to receive income that I have earned from my labor. This is true for all artists and therefore impacts U.S. employment and the economy, and our nation’s ability to compete globally.

Imagine the example where photographers can’t license their images because they are immediately stolen upon publication. The day rates paid by clients are not sufficient to keep a photographer in business. We must have substantial protection of our images because the ability to re-sell our images is a necessity to stay in business. These protections must be updated to protect against theft and unauthorized usage in the digital age. This includes protections against blogs and even search engines like Google.

Sincerely,

Chantel Hansen
Photographer
Blaine, MN