How would you go about getting......

**WV_mom_of2** · 01-26-2010, 08:38 AM

a copyright release from a photo studio that doesn't exist anymore?

On the graduation announcment I am ordering for dd you can put two pictures. One is a large senior pic and the other is a small baby pic. She was very close to my grandma and grandma made sock monkeys. For dd's first birthday I took her to Kmart and had her pictures done with her monkey. She loves that picture and wants to use it on her announcements as a kind of tribute to my grandma.

Kmart no longer has it's own studio. It's now an Olen Mills studio. How on earth would I go about getting a copyright release for the picture so we can use it?

**Ceashels** · 01-26-2010, 08:49 AM

Do you need one? You're using it for personal use not to publish it and make a profit.

**WV_mom_of2** · 01-26-2010, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

Do you need one? You're using it for personal use not to publish it and make a profit.

Yes, you can't copy any copyrighted picture without permission. Walmart won't allow you to copy one on their machines without a release from the photographer, etc.

The order form says we must have one.

**Neeley** · 01-26-2010, 08:56 AM

Here is a link to the Olan Mills website. According to what I have read, you can purchase a copyright release directly from them. I did not read it in great detail, just skimmed the surface. So I am not 100% sure of all the details involved. Hope this is what you are looking for.
Olan Mills website

**Neeley** · 01-26-2010, 09:02 AM

In the event Kmart did not buy the rights to the Olan Mills photographs, I would try contacting Kmart's main office. You cannot be the first person needing a release. I am sure this has come up before and somewhere there is someone in their company who can handle this for you. Good luck.

**WV_mom_of2** · 01-26-2010, 09:11 AM

Ok I FINALLY got an answer(I hope). I tried to call the Olan Mills studio in our Kmart.....closed on Monday and Tuesday. so I called the front desk and the hateful snot who answered the phone informed me "honey this is an Olan Mills studio in here not a Kmart studio!" Hello, did you not just listen to what I asked you??? Geez

Anyway after she got over the hateful stupid act and finally listened to me she told me that no Kmart has their own studio anymore so any copyright would be voided now. I asked her if she would sign a form saying that and she said "I can't but maybe a manager will".

So I called the print shop and she told me if there is no copyright on the back of the picture(and there isn't) and no studio anymore they will use it.

Thanks for the advice!

**Neeley** · 01-26-2010, 09:13 AM

That was quick and easy!!! Glad it looks like it is working out for you.

**WV_mom_of2** · 01-26-2010, 09:24 AM

Here is an announcement kind of like what we are ordering(from a different company). The one we are getting is vertical instead of horizontal like this one though. The senior pic goes on the top flap with the baby picture up in a corner of that. The bottom flap is empty on the one we are ordering and the writing goes in the middle. The whole thing is in black and white.

http://grad-announcements.com/ap4109.html

Crap, I just realized that they are cheaper to order from this site LOL. May have her take a look at this one again since it's cheaper. Might just have to order from the site instead! I tell ya, between graduation and prom I may have a nervous breakdown!

**Neeley** · 01-26-2010, 09:54 AM

Those are precious! I really like them. I'm going to show them to DD. She will be graduating next year and will be in the market for all of these goodies for her.