rights to my own image.

S

stuart anthony

Messages
140
Name
Stuart
Edit My Images
No
I am a 'gas safe registered engineer' (as well a photographer)
And I am listed on the gas safe register web site. but they are now using photos of all the engineers next to our names, for what reason is unclear, they may say its to help eliminate cowboy installers.

Anyway a few questions here.
1. do i own the copyright or the photobooth company were it was taken. dont know if the machine retains a copy.
2. is the photo being used for commercial use or editorial. i have not signed a model release.
3. is there some other law or ruling allowing these images to be published because they are in the publics interest.

website here www.gassaferegister.co.uk do a postcode search and click on "view engineers."

any other thoughts or comments welcome.

Stuart
 
1. No idea if it was shot by an automated machine in a photobooth. Did you just go in a random post office or boots and use their machine? If so, in my non-legally binding opinion, as the operator of the machine at the time the images of you were taken I'd say you own it.
2. Model releases are not legall required in the UK
3. From where did they get the image in the first place?

If it was a machine owned and operated by the gas safe register, then I'd say they might own the image (or at least, they might claim they do). If it's an image you submitted yourself, simply for an ID badge or whatever, I'd say they don't have any rights to use it on their site at all if you haven't specified they can use it.

Do you have a "gas safe register" contract or anything that says anything you submit to them they can use for ID badges, websites, etc?
 
Last edited:
Model releases are not a legal requirment unless you want to protect your images in any way, shape or form - from the person / persons in said photograph.

Images taken in a photobooth generally dont really have any kind of copyright on them as there is no human interaction between the point in which you press the button to when it is printed. its an automated process *might be wrong but thats what i understand*
 
Kaouthia said:
Do you have a "gas safe register" contract or anything that says anything you submit to them they can use for ID badges, websites, etc?
Click to expand...

this.

There's a possible challenge under the Data Protection Act. When you submitted your registration document, there should have been a section outlining the purposes for which your personal data (including your photograph) was being gathered. Check it and see if it matches the use on their web site.

There may have been other contractual waivers which you signed when making your registration application.

There was a bit of a stink about the Information Commissioner's Office suggesting that photographs could be classified as personal data under the DPA earlier this year - it was going to 'outlaw street photography'. This is exactly the type of context which the ICO was talking about.
 
stuart anthony said:
I am a 'gas safe registered engineer' (as well a photographer)
And I am listed on the gas safe register web site. but they are now using photos of all the engineers next to our names, for what reason is unclear, they may say its to help eliminate cowboy installers.

Anyway a few questions here.
1. do i own the copyright or the photobooth company were it was taken. dont know if the machine retains a copy.
2. is the photo being used for commercial use or editorial. i have not signed a model release.
3. is there some other law or ruling allowing these images to be published because they are in the publics interest.

website here www.gassaferegister.co.uk do a postcode search and click on "view engineers."

any other thoughts or comments welcome.

Stuart
Click to expand...

The reason is quite obvious. So people can check if you are who you say you are.
 
stuart anthony said:
I am a 'gas safe registered engineer' (as well a photographer)
And I am listed on the gas safe register web site. but they are now using photos of all the engineers next to our names, for what reason is unclear, they may say its to help eliminate cowboy installers.

Anyway a few questions here.
1. do i own the copyright or the photobooth company were it was taken. dont know if the machine retains a copy.
2. is the photo being used for commercial use or editorial. i have not signed a model release.
3. is there some other law or ruling allowing these images to be published because they are in the publics interest.

website here www.gassaferegister.co.uk do a postcode search and click on "view engineers."

any other thoughts or comments welcome.

Stuart
Click to expand...

As pointed out it's so that potential customers can verify the identity of the person doing safety critical work.

Unless you think they're going to put your pic on the front page of 'Hello' I don't see there's an issue here?
 
thanks for replies.
points to clarify. i am self employed and used a post office photo booth. so i presume i own the rights. the photo was originally intended for id card use and no mention of publishing on a web site. i need to check the small print when i submitted my registration.

good point about the data protection act as they also list addresses and phone numbers of all engineers in the uk. Although i dont really mind my phone number as it is advertising my business. just not keen on my image being used.

Stuart
 
GAS SAFE REGISTER PRIVACY POLICY ( engineers.gassaferegister.co.uk web site for gas engineers to register, not the one for the public to use)

Gas Safe Register said:
WHAT PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CUSTOMERS DOES GASSAFEREGISTER.CO.UK GATHER?
Gas Safe Register will not sell, share, transfer or rent the information collected on this site other than as disclosed in this statement. Gas Safe Register will use such information for:

  • Sending you information about services or technical information by any means, including by email;
  • Keeping you informed of new content on the site by way of email alert, or to follow up on the interest you have shown;
  • Managing and maintaining installer’s registration accounts and payments;
  • Notifying and communicating with installers about their accounts;
  • Use in the ‘Find an Installer’ and ‘Check an Installer’ functions on the consumer facing site;
  • The purposes of gas safety, which might include (but not be limited to):
  • liaison with relevant government agencies and departments, or other parties, in promoting and demonstrating gas safety; and
  • determining one or more risk models and inspection regimes to be applied by Gas Safe Register, other bodies, or industry generally.
This information may also be used to improve the service provided via our website, prevent or detect fraud or abuses of our website or the register, and to enable third parties to carry out technical, logistical or other functions on our behalf.
Click to expand...

Gas Safe Register Terms of Use

Gas Safe Register said:
DEFINITIONS
...

Rights: copyright and all other proprietary and intellectual property rights to and in the Information whether together or separately, unless stated otherwise;

...

2. Information Rights and Ownership
2.1. The Site is owned by Us. Unless explicitly agreed, the use and ownership of Information and Rights are and shall remain Our property, or those of third parties, and no licence or transfer of ownership shall be implied. All Rights in the Information are reserved.

2.2 Should any new Rights be created through the use of the Site, either alone or in conjunction with any other information or idea, then those rights shall belong to Us to the full extent allowed by law. In the event that any new Rights are found not to belong to Us, You undertake to grant or procure a perpetual, unfettered and free licence to Us to use those new Rights.
Click to expand...

[emphasis added]

Looks like they have it tied up.

Though I'm slightly confused by 2.3

Gas Safe Register said:
2.3. You may copy, download, adapt or print off copies of the materials, information, data and other content included on the Site for non-commercial use only, including personal use. You will need to obtain permission in writing from us for any further use of Site content.
Click to expand...

Surely the whole point of the site is for you to use it for commercial purposes? :thinking: :)
 
Last edited:
The question you have to ask your self is do you want to work legally or not?

If you get the Gas Safety Register to remove your picture from there website you can kiss good by to your registration and will no longer be able to work legally.

The Gas Safety Register was bought in to replace the Corgi system which was no longer fit for purpose.

The idea was to make it safer and easier for people to check that the person in front of them was competent and legally allowed to work on there gas installation

So when you present your Gas Safety Register ID they can check to see you are who you present yourself to be and without a picture to compare, as well as the name and registration number, you could be anyone and the system used to check if you are competent and legally allowed to work on gas installations would be worthless and no better than the corgi system it replaced
 
Is there an issue with the picture you sent in? Does it misrepresent you or do you think a gas fitter would be selected on looks rather than picking the nearest person?

It's interesting as we take head & shoulder photo's at work of the staff to use on the staff badges, put them in the company address book so you know who you're talking to. I'm also know to persuade people into the studio when we need 'model' for a a product shoot and these images appear on our website, documentation etc.

I've not had any issues yet.
 
if its true the person or object that presses the shutter release own the copyright. that being true the photobooth you used owns it. in the terms of the gassafe image , was there a clause in that said something like images may me used on selected websites.

i am guessing but i would guess that you have to register to use there site and view the images.

Cheers Steve
 
How can an inanimate object own copyright Steve?
 
it was just a joke?:)

i would check the term of the organisation , for terms and conditions on use of photographs

if you want the benefits of being a registered gas safe person , the i see no problem your photograph
being used for the purpose it has been, if the were selling it commerially then that would be wrong

cheers Steve
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top