Copyright Lawsuits on the Rise

Georgia REALTORS® should be aware that copyright lawsuits are on the rise. Photographers are taking pictures, copyrighting their photos, and embedding software in the photo that alerts the photographer when the image is downloaded. When this happens, the photographers have their attorneys draft demand letters threatening to sue under federal copyright laws. These demands are often settled for thousands of dollars, which are not covered by most E&O carriers.

     REALTORS® need to be cautious to not fall victim to these lawsuits. Always use caution when downloading or using photos that you did not take yourself. Before using someone else’s photographs, be sure that you have the consent of the owner of the photograph. If consent is difficult to obtain, REALTORS® should not use the photograph, and should take their own.