Photography and Media Media, Publishing & Copyright

Question 1

What is a 'model release' in photography?

Accepted Answer

A legal document signed by a photographed person granting permission for commercial use of their image

Answer

A camera firmware update

Answer

A release date for a new camera model

Answer

A document releasing a photographer from liability

Question 2

Under US copyright law, who typically owns the copyright in a photograph?

Accepted Answer

The photographer who created the image, from the moment of creation

Answer

The subject of the photograph

Answer

The publication that publishes the image

Answer

The manufacturer of the camera used

Question 3

What is 'editorial use' of a photograph, as distinct from 'commercial use'?

Accepted Answer

Use in news, educational, or informational contexts without implying endorsement, vs. use to sell products/services

Answer

Use in a photography magazine only

Answer

Use by photo editors in post-processing

Answer

Use of photos taken by newspaper editors

Question 4

What is a 'Creative Commons' license for photographs?

Accepted Answer

A standardized public license allowing creators to grant specific reuse rights while retaining copyright

Answer

A paid subscription service for stock photos

Answer

A photography community forum

Answer

A license required for commercial photography in the US

Question 5

What is 'EXIF data' in a digital photograph?

Accepted Answer

Metadata embedded in the image file containing camera settings, GPS, timestamp, and other technical information

Answer

A type of image compression format

Answer

An image export format used by professional photographers

Answer

A file-naming convention for digital assets

Question 6

What does 'rights managed' (RM) mean for stock photography?

Accepted Answer

A licensing model where usage rights are specified and fees vary based on use, exclusivity, duration, and territory

Answer

The photographer retains all rights and won't license the image

Answer

The image is free for any use after a fee

Answer

An image that has been registered with the US Copyright Office