sandra_halverstadt

<p>The owner of a local organization that puts on sports races has left me a message saying that I am infringing on his business by selling photos on my photography website, to racers in the event, that I have taken of sports events organized by his business. These races are in the public view. I want to know where I stand before I return his call. This organization hires a photographer to sell photos on their website as well and that I am infringing on his business. <br>

Thank you for your input.<br>

I might add that some of my photos show the start and finish line banner which has the name and business logo of the orgnanizer. I also have megatags and SEOs that have the title of the race and the organizations name in them. So am I infringing by selling photos of the races at all or by having the name of the organization and logos in the photos that I am selling? Otherwise my photos are of cycling or running racers running through the mountain side.</p>

<p>If you paid by credit card, call the credit card company and tell them you want to file a dispute. They will give you instructions about how to do that. If you have notes you made during calls and who you talked to when you complained will help a lot. You will have to fax them the info and documents you have. The lens seller has 45 days to dispute you. If they do not respond to your dispute in 45 days, your credit card company should give you back the money you paid the company you bought the lens from. If they do respond you can still dispute what they say. If you win out, the credit card company should give you a refund on your statement and charge the seller to get the money back. It happened to me on a $2,400 purchase and I got it all back. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." Don't give up!</p>

<p>I want to put photos for sale on my website that I have taken of sporting events and public special events over the summer. These photos include racers, people attending the public events and some children at these events. Is it legal for me to sell these photos on my website without signed releases from the individuals in the photos or from the parents of the children attending these public events?<br>

Also, if a race goes through US government land like the Forest Service or BLM land, where the public has been allowed to tred during the event, can I sell those photos taken without a permit from these government agencies? I would not be using the photos in an advertisement of any kind, but I would be making a profit on them. I live in the state of Colorado.</p>