Copyright & Usage

Ownership of Content

All photographs, videos, and other content created by IKON Studio during a photoshoot or video production (“Content”) are the exclusive property of IKON Studio, including any intellectual property rights associated with such content, unless otherwise agreed in writing. This includes, but is not limited to, all images, video footage, audio recordings, and any associated raw or edited materials.

Copyright Protection

All photographs are afforded copyright protection under UK law, from holiday snaps to high art photography. The exact nature of that copyright depends on when the photograph was taken, as outlined below:

Photographs Taken on or After 1 August 1989: On the whole, the photographer will own the copyright in their photograph for their life plus 70 years, unless they have created the photograph in the course of employment or signed an agreement to the contrary. Where a photographer works by commission, they will own the copyright in the photograph unless they have assigned or sold it to the commissioner.
Photographs Taken Between 1 July 1912 and 31 July 1989: The person who owned the material on which the photograph was taken, such as the negative, also owned the copyright. If the photograph was taken under commission for “valuable consideration” (money or any equivalent payment), the commissioner was the copyright owner, unless otherwise agreed.
Photographs Taken Before 1 July 1912: The photographer owned the copyright in the photograph, unless it was taken under commission for “good or valuable consideration” (money or any equivalent payment). In such cases, the commissioner owned the copyright.

Duration of Copyright

Photographs Taken on or After 1 January 1996: These are automatically protected for the life of the photographer plus 70 years.
Photographs Taken on or After 1 August 1989 but Before or on 31 December 1995: Initially protected under the 1988 Act for the life of the photographer plus 50 years, these works are now protected for the life of the photographer plus 70 years under the 1995 Regulations.
Photographs Taken Between 1 June 1957 and 31 July 1989:
- (A) Photographs Published Before 1 August 1989: Copyright will expire 50 years after the first publication if the photographer died more than 20 years before publication. In all other cases, copyright will expire 70 years after the death of the photographer.
- (B) Photographs Unpublished Before 1 August 1989: If the photographer died before 1 January 1969, copyright expires on 31 December 2039. Otherwise, copyright will expire 70 years after the photographer’s death.
Photographs Made Before 1st June 1957: These were originally protected for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which they were taken. If copyright protection had expired before 1 July 1995, the photograph may still be eligible for “revival,” extending the copyright term to the photographer’s life plus 70 years.

Reviving Copyright in Old Photographs

The 1995 Regulations allowed for the revival of copyright in some old photographs if they were in copyright in the European Economic Area (EEA) as of 1 July 1995. For example, if a photograph taken in 1930 was in the public domain prior to 1995 but had copyright in a European country that protected it for life plus 70 years, the copyright could be revived.

The owner of the revived copyright will be the former owner (the person who owned the copyright immediately before it expired). If the previous owner died before 1 January 1996 or was a company that ceased to exist before that date, the revived copyright will pass to the photographer’s heirs.

License to Use Content

Upon full payment for services, IKON Studio grants the client a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Content for personal or commercial purposes, as specified in the service agreement or contract. This license is subject to the following terms:

Personal Use: Clients are allowed to use the Content for personal purposes, such as printing, sharing on social media, or displaying within their homes. Social media sharing must include proper attribution to IKON Studio (e.g., tagging @ikonstudiio).
Commercial Use: If a client intends to use the Content for commercial purposes (including marketing, advertising, merchandise, etc.), explicit written permission must be granted by IKON Studio. In some cases, additional fees may apply for commercial usage rights.

Restrictions on Use

The following actions are strictly prohibited without prior written consent from IKON Studio:

Reselling or Licensing: The client is not allowed to resell, license, or distribute the Content for profit without express written permission from IKON Studio.
Modification: The Content cannot be altered, edited, or used in a way that could damage or misrepresent IKON Studio’s work, including creating derivative works without permission.
Third-Party Usage: The client is prohibited from allowing third parties to use, distribute, or exploit the Content without prior written permission from IKON Studio.
Unauthorized Commercial Use: The Content cannot be used in any way that suggests an endorsement by IKON Studio or in violation of intellectual property laws.

Watermarking

IKON Studio may include watermarks on all photos and videos for online or unlicensed usage. Clients may request high-resolution, watermark-free versions of the Content, which will be provided upon full payment.

Social Media and Online Sharing

Clients are encouraged to share the Content on social media platforms, provided that the Content is properly attributed to IKON Studio. When sharing images or videos, the following should be included:

Tagging the official Instagram handle: @ikonstudiio
Mentioning that the Content is by IKON Studio in captions, posts, or any online platform where the Content is shared.

Model and Property Releases

If the Content includes recognizable people, properties, or trademarks, IKON Studio will ensure that the necessary model or property releases are obtained. Clients are responsible for providing the necessary information regarding model or property releases for any third-party parties appearing in the content. Without these releases, IKON Studio may be unable to provide the Content to the client.

Archiving and Access to Content

IKON Studio may retain the Content in our archives for a period of [specify duration, e.g., 6 months] after delivery. The client may request access to these archived materials, but additional fees may apply for retrieval and delivery beyond the standard post-production period. After the retention period, IKON Studio is not responsible for the preservation of any Content.

Credit for Published Work

In cases where the Content is published (in print, online, or in any other format), IKON Studio requires that proper credit be given to the photographer or videographer. This credit should appear in a prominent location, such as the caption or credits section. The specific credit line should read: “Photo/Video by IKON Studio.”

Copyright Infringement and Enforcement

If you believe that your copyright has been infringed upon by content published or shared by IKON Studio, please notify us immediately. IKON Studio will respond to all claims of copyright infringement in accordance with applicable law and take appropriate action as needed.

Cancellation of Usage Rights

If a client fails to make full payment as agreed or breaches any part of this Copyright and Usage Policy, IKON Studio reserves the right to revoke the usage license granted to the client. In this case, the client must immediately cease using the Content and return or destroy any copies of the Content, including any digital versions.

Fair Use

While clients have the right to use the Content as outlined above, it is important to note that fair use laws may apply in certain jurisdictions, and IKON Studio makes no representation as to the legality of any specific usage of the Content. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that their usage of the Content complies with applicable copyright and intellectual property laws.

Changes to the Policy

IKON Studio reserves the right to amend, update, or change this Copyright and Usage Policy at any time. Any changes to the policy will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. The client is encouraged to review this policy periodically for updates.