Assignment #3 Copyright

Question: Lara Jade Coton was just starting out as a professional photographer when she
discovered an adult film company lifted a self-portrait from her Deviant Art profile and used it as
a DVD cover. Did they commit a copyright infringement by doing this activity? Why or why
not?
Answer:
Yes, they have committed a copyright infringement by using Lara Jade Coton’s Deviant
art profile, they didn’t ask her permission in using it. For photography, it is a general rule that the
photographer has the ownership of the photos unless he/she transferred the copyright. It is better
if a person has registered his or her copyright, it is not required but there are advantages, some
advantages of it is, you may file a suit if infringement occurs, it can also put your ownership in
public, in that way it is easier to negate defense for the infringers. In Lara Jade’s situation, she
just discovered that an adult film company used her self-portrait Deviant Art profile in a DVD
cover, so she may complain in the company because they did not ask her permission and she did
not authorize them to use her photo.