What's abuzz in the photography world this week?
1. PetaPixel
Photographer Larry Philpot sued Independent Journal Review for using his Creative Commons image of Ted Nugent without proper attribution. Initially, a federal judge ruled in favor of the website, citing transformative fair use. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed it, stating the use wasn't transformative and could harm the market. Despite minimal ad revenue earned by the website, the court considered the commercial use, ultimately ruling in favor of the photographer.
2. DesignTAXI
Allegations of copyright infringement have sparked tension between AI art models Midjourney and Stability AI. Stability AI is accused of stealing training data from Midjourney, leading to a 24-hour outage. The irony lies in both companies' reliance on borrowed imagery, raising questions about copyright and data ownership in AI art. Midjourney's CEO seeks investigation; Stability AI's CEO denies wrongdoing but offers aid. Resolution uncertainty prolongs discord in the AI art world.
3. Insider Monkey
Despite concerns about AI and financial instability, recent findings suggest that the photography and videography markets are thriving. Insider Monkey, in its article, has outlined the top 15 countries that pay the most for photography services. The data, sourced from the ERI Economic Research Institute, sheds light on average photographer salaries in these nations. Notably, Germany and the UK, known for their robust economies and vibrant photo communities, are absent from the list.
4. Digital Camera World
The World Photography Organisation has revealed the open category winners and shortlist for the Sony World Photography Awards 2024. From a pool of over 395,000 entries spanning 220 countries, these winners showcase exceptional global photography. Each category winner will receive Sony imaging equipment and compete for the Open Photographer of the Year title, along with a $5,000 prize. The overall winner will be announced at the London Awards Ceremony on April 18.
5. DIYPhotography
Leica's 5th Annual Women Foto Project Award winners were announced on International Women’s Day. The theme, "Perspective is Power," inspired entries reflecting reclamation, resilience, or rebirth. Chosen from the US, UK, Mexico, and Canada, winners captured powerful narratives. Karin Kaufmann, Leica Galleries' Art Director, emphasized the project's goal of amplifying diverse voices through visual storytelling. To view the remarkable winning projects, read the full article.
Would you also like to learn more about Photography Copyright? We invite you to check out the Fair Licensing Copyright Guide.
For more Photography-related content visit our Blog.
That's all for now. See you next time!