A question for designers or anyone who understands copyright issues: I have been reading some discussions about problems some have had printing their digi pages at some retail photo finishers. It seems some companies have gone to the far end of being careful and have refused to print scrapbook pages because they think they look professional, and therefore copyrighted, or might be sold commercially. (Pages that contained song lyrics or quotes, etc....)

As a scrapbooker who uses digi kits and elements, for PERSONAL USE, I asked my DH if he has run into these issues at work. He is in management locally for a large national photo processing company. I intend to have him print several of my pages at work, for me to put into my personal albums. So that is how the topic came up.... He was not aware of issues but said he has not seen many scrapbookers printing pages locally with his company. He talked with his boss about it, telling him about pages I have done, and they started talking about how they could serve more scrapbookers with their printing needs if they market the idea specifically to scrapbookers in their company newsletter, which goes out to customers.

So, now my DH is talking about the possibility of me putting something together for their next newsletter, with sample photos of pages I make or something. I have just been getting into the digi scrapping area in the last couple of months. I use kits and elements I find online, like many of us do. I know the ettiquette is to credit the designers if you are publishing, or uploading a page, etc.....

So the question is: Would it be in violation of copyright if I made a couple sample pages, with my photos, using kits and elements created by other designers, giving credit of course to the designers and websites, to be printed in a RETAIL PHOTO FINISHING COMPANY NEWSLETTER? I know we all post things on websites, most of them selling product, so is this similar since I am not creating pages or modifying elements to sell? It would be for the purpose of advertising to customers of this company that the company will print their personal digi pages. The whole "commercial use" idea has me wondering if this falls into that or not.

Thanks for any insights....

Lisa

IMO this would be a commercial use as your husband's company will be making $ off of the advertising. I suggest you contact each designer individually and ask them for their permission. Most will be willing.

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fran

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Oh yes that counts as commercial use and you should follow the guidelines for each individual designer. Great opportunity for you!

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DianneRigdon.com

Thanks so much for your responses ladies! That is what my gut was telling me. I will definately contact individual designers to ask their permission before doing anything and see if it will still be possible. Otherwise, I need to start learning how to do some of my own stuff evidently.

Lisa

Lisa, I PM'd you

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