Via MicroStock Group:
Photographer SLP writes:
My attention has been drawn to the use of one of my stock images in a somewhat controversial context. Apparently, in Ireland they’re having a referendum on same sex marriage.
My stock image, of a happy mum, dad and baby, is being used by the NO Campaigners on a poster saying …‘Children deserve a Mother and a Father – Vote NO’.
The poster includes the statement ‘Persons depicted in this image are models and content is for illustrative purposes only’
Obviously, the ‘models’ signed model releases, but they are real parents with a real baby. I’m sure these parents will be quite upset to see the image used in this manner.
The image was with all the usual top/middle tier agencies. Having a keep look over the Licensing T&C’s at a couple of these agencies, I notice the following …Shutterstock: Restrictions of Use …. ‘You May Not Use Visual Content ….c) as endorsing a political party, candidate, elected official, or opinion.
However, at Istockphoto, regarding prohibited uses…“If any Content featuring a model or property is used in connection with a subject that would be unflattering or unduly controversial to a reasonable person, you must accompany each such use with a statement adjacent to the Content that indicates that: (i) the Content is being used for illustrative purposes only; and (ii) any person depicted in the Content, if any, is a model,
So, I guess it depends from whom they licensed the image! Would you take any action on this? I suppose I could ask the organisation who published, where they licensed the image from, but it feels like somewhat of a lost cause already.
Thanks Seamus White
Meanwhile…
There that’s fixed.
Thanks Aidan