Perils of a too-perfect picture

<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8247510/">Associated Press

article</a> about photo labs refusing to print people's digital

photo files if they look too professional, fearing copyright

infringement issues.

Obviously not a problem here in New Zealand - my own stuff is routinely printed no questions asked, except sometimes, "You <i>sure</i> you want this enlarged?"

You know, it says a lot about Wal Mart when they freak out if one of their customers is not an incompetent or shows any sort of aesthetic sensitivity.

 

It's sort of like the Wal Mart executives are saying "we cater to ugly stupid people, and we think some of them are criminals as well"

This was <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CVE6">discussed in the wedding forum</a>. A number of interesting postings there on the many issues this practice/policy raises.

I think this is amusing. Perhaps it is a good reason to avoid this company.

Our local Wal-Mart refused to copy our Christmas portrait of our housekeeper with her

dogs, telling her that it was "professional."

 

Wal-Mart now offers a pamphlet which explains their policy. It includes a Customer

Acknowledgement form, to certify that:

 

-- "I am the copyright author of the pictures presented for copying." - or

 

-- "I have written permission from the copyright author authorizing copies to be made.

(Please attach a signed copyright release.)"

 

They're helping us make customers aware of the laws that protect us from financial loss.

That's good....

 

Brandon's Dad

Perhaps it would be just good that the digital files professionals take don't get in the wrong hands by not giving them out. Should be simple to implement. Of course, if printing houses are sloppy with the files, then it's more problematic.