"It is illegal to use a photo that you don't have the copyright for. Lawsuits can and have been made for copyright infringement."

True, but there's a world of difference (ethically if not legally) between printing off 10,000 copies of someone's photo to sell on eBay and printing off a single copy of a picture to send to the person on the photo with a letter asking them very nicely if they would sign it so that you can keep it in an album and not flog it on eBay. I'm very lucky to have a local supermarket where the nice lady who does the photos has the brains and self-confidence to be able to discern the difference.

If the famous people in question considered it to be a big deal then they wouldn't sign the things.

I think that the OP has been singularly unfortunate in coming up against a load of frightented little British jobsworths, probably living in fear of some jumped up twerp who has been given some job title with the word manager or supervisor who read about copyright somewhere but hasn't learned the art of engaging one's brain. I used to work in a university among MBA students. 99% of them were there to learn about the art of management primarily because they had no social skills whatsoever and had to have them explained in words of one syllable or less. Until you've experienced a class of British management students for yourself it is utterly impossible to understand why British businesses operate in the way they do.

(I make an obvious exception for anyone with the good taste to be resident on these boards, or my good lady wife, who I met while she was studying to be an MBA, and my good friend Mick, who was also in her year.)

Personally, if I'd had that reaction three times but was still determined, I'd do them by mail order online - those processing them in some massive outsourced photo plant will be so overworked, underpaid and high on fumes that they are not likely to even look at what they are printing off and sending.

downtoearth wrote:I've run into copyright issues a lot. I have one picture I love that I printed out on my very nice personal printer on letter-sized photo paper, but I want it in its full size and I have no idea who'd print it for me. I bet it would come out to about 12 x 16 US (I'm not sure what size that would be to Europeans, but the picture is actually European so they'd know the correct size.)

Does anyone know if this would be possible? And has anyone actually contacted the photographer of the work to get permission to print it?

(Though one of my next planned autographs is on a picture I took myself, so I was able to get it printed out huge without copyright infringement. It's obnoxiously large.)

It is illegal to use a photo that you don't have the copyright for. Lawsuits can and have been made for copyright infringement. I have tried contacting people to obtain permission to use a picture, without success thus far - I simply haven't received a reply, rather than having recieved a 'no'.

To avoid this problem, I've started sending out record cards (usually with the actor/acresses name, and my favourite films they've been printed at the foot); I'm happy to get these back, and sometimes the stars also send me their own picture signed, which is very nice of them! I've also bought photos to send out if I really want an autograph on a photo.

Now, I use my professional photo printer, the inks are quite cheap so it works out fine for me.

I've had my local tesco print off photos for me before, they didn't seem too bothered.

Other times, I've gone into boots, used their express kodak machines and printed 8x6's and 6x4's from there (they're usually very expensive, 79p for an 8x6, 39p for a 6x4).

If neither of those work for you, just stick with snapfish, I used to use them for all of the photos I was sending off, nobody cared, They do literally just turn a blind eye to it, and good on them.

Photo printers aren't that expensive (if you get a cheap all-in-one). You can get one with photo printing capabilities for £40, which isn't bad. I find it's the stamps which have broken my bank xD. My local post office has just grown to know me now, they just smile every time I come in as if they're thinking (woo, he's back for more) lol.

Anyway, a home photo printer is your best bet, paper is cheaper, snapfish charge £1.20 plus P&P for an A4 (8x12), by using photo paper (20 A4 sheets for £2) I saved a bundle, and believe Me, the inks are CHEAP.

Best of luck.

I've run into copyright issues a lot. I have one picture I love that I printed out on my very nice personal printer on letter-sized photo paper, but I want it in its full size and I have no idea who'd print it for me. I bet it would come out to about 12 x 16 US (I'm not sure what size that would be to Europeans, but the picture is actually European so they'd know the correct size.)

Does anyone know if this would be possible? And has anyone actually contacted the photographer of the work to get permission to print it?

(Though one of my next planned autographs is on a picture I took myself, so I was able to get it printed out huge without copyright infringement. It's obnoxiously large.)

KennethECoker wrote:Well, quite frankly, you are infringing on a someone's work.

Any business that prints it for you with the knowledge of that is risking litigation.

lol most of the Goole images that are large enough to print are from publicity photo shoots and a bunch from television shows (normally the ones with white backgrounds perfect for signing on) were never even used. I am pretty sure that copyright laws are not intended for people getting pictures for autographs. If u were getting them made to sell that would be a different story.

Where exactly could I find a glossy photo to send to an actor on a television show that is NOT copyrighted? Seriously I used to buy photos off Creation but they are pretty limited so if theres a site that sells these I would be interested.

To the original post I suggest Adoramapix its around $1.10 for a real glossy 8x10.

Most kodak shops should have an express machine and if they don't can't you can order online. Also I'm sorry but the only price I can remember right now is for 8x10 (as they are the only size I print) and they cost £3 per print. Smaller sizes are oubviously less.

Hey, how much per print on a 'Kodak Express' machine, and does every Kodak have an Express machine?

Near where I live there is a Kodak photo shop were you can get photos printed and they have these machines where you can plug a USB device in and print photos from there. I have used these machines loads of times for printing photos and the man behind the counter has never once said I couldn't print them due to copyright. I guess it just depends where you get your photos done.
I would recomend finding out if there is a Kodak shop near you that have Kodak express machines and going there as they allow you to make great quality prints at a good price.

While it is illegal, a lot of photo printing sites (like Snapfish, as mentioned) will turn a blind eye to it. Some sites are even automated to the point where no one really checks your photos.

Printers are quite expensive, and with the cut of the UK's EMA, It looks doubtful I'll ever get one, unless I get out the house and into the newsagents for a paper round!

Yeah, I don't 'like' disobeying copyright, but other then this method, I can't contact some lesser known celebrities I like the most.
And when you DO find a quality photo of a celebrity in a shop, they charge you a FORTUNE!

As for music, people have been avoiding buying it for years; recoding from the radio with your tape recorder, Burning with a CD and now music download sites.

Anyway, ordered 20 pictures off SnapFish, for 99p! (Postage, you get 20 free for signing up)
I'm just expecting some sort of message from them saying about copyright, as it's what I've come to expect I'm afraid
But if all goes well, snapfish will be getting my custom allot over the years.

Thanks for the responses!
Let's hope my pictures will actually get signed