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Nov 29 2016

Just ASK – Making Photo-Legal Groundwork Add Up

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There are few mediums which can universally capture the hearts and minds of people like the perfect photo.  When updating your website, blogging or developing ads for your business, the hunt is always on for the images that say it all.  Just don’t be tempted to turn a blind eye to the origins of those perfect images and the conditions for copying them, in case you find yourself exposed because of a copyright violation.

Your exposure is no less just because you may have relied on someone else to put your website, blog content or ad together and get those little copyright details right. Your business is your business and you have the responsibility to make sure it is not threatened by wasted investment, a senseless tarnishing of its reputation and in some cases, litigation that bleeds your time and your profits. Taking the time to find photo perfection may mean digging around a bit, but in the end the effort will help you and your business stand tall above the rest.

Let’s start from the obvious – the mantra everyone knows – just because a photo can be downloaded from the internet does not mean it is free to use.

Okay, great, so you know that, but what about stock photos?  You may have paid for them, but you still have to read the fine print.  Not all stock photos can be used for any purpose, or come with permission for indefinite usage.  Similarly, accessing images under a Creative Commons license (e.g. through Flickr) is still a license and has terms that have to be respected to stay on the right side of the law. These are issues you have to educate yourself about, either through your own research or by asking the professional who helps you put your ad together.

And what about those photos you commission? Again, there are questions you need to ask to be sure you can put them to the uses you are contemplating to market your business:

  • If there are models in the photos, were model release forms executed?
  • Will you own the copyright in those photos? This is a question to discuss with the photographer in advance.
  • If the photographer won’t assign to you their copyrights in the photos taken for the benefit of your business, do you have a solid agreement (license) that you can rely on to use the photos the way you want to?

When it comes to getting the ‘pics’ you want for your business use, you always have to be prepared to assess your resources, seek the appropriate rights to use them and be prepared to adapt if too many unknowns are left unanswered. While it may feel like only one image can say it all, remember that neither you nor your business is one, or even two dimensional – there is more than one photo waiting to be snapped, or out there, to help capture the brilliance of your enterprise and message.

In summary, your photo-legal groundwork boils down to a simple practice – Just ASK:

Approach, get consent and acknowledge the original source of the images you use.

Substitute with other images, if in doubt about making copies of your first choice ‘pics’.

Know your options because today there are many, and there is really no reason you can’t be efficient finding the imagery you want without jeopardizing the integrity of your enterprise.

 

Ariadni Athanassiadis is the lead attorney of Kyma Professional Corporation, which provides intellectual property (IP) legal services to help your business develop and benefit from the creative efforts and assets that make it distinctive. Whether it is your brand, product, services, designs, technology or business processes, Ariadni can help design IP legal solutions which let you make the most of what you give to your business.

———————————

Ariadni Athanassiadis

Kyma Professional Corporation

T: 613-327-7245

E: ariadni@kymalaw.com

W: www.kymalaw.com

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Ariadni Athanassiadis · Tagged: approach, Ariadni Athanassiadis, blog, business, copyright, just ask, know, Kyma Professional Corporation, legal, license, perfect picture, photo, substitute, website

Oct 13 2016

Business Startup 101: 10 Steps to Startup Success

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Starting a business can be a daunting process for some.  These steps will help you take make your idea a reality. All you need is an idea and motivation.  Now dive in!

  • Review your business idea and see what problem it solves. You want to ensure that it is a business that is not saturated in your market.  If there are an abundance of businesses of your type, you need to address how you will market your business so that it stands out from others in your business plan.  That brings us to our next step – the Business Plan.
  • Make a Business Plan: I usually get a lot of flack for this because a lot of potential entrepreneurs do not see the value in preparing a business plan.  Your business plan doesn’t have to be 20 pages long, a simple 2 page plan can be just as effective.  You essentially need to have your business goal, marketing plan, and your financial plan in order and the rest will come into play.
  • Register your business:
    • Determine your business type. This is a good place to consult with your accountant or your tax advisor.  They can help you determine with pros and cons for each business type and how it will affect you and your finances.
  • Business Name: your business name is VERY important. The worst thing to me is having a business that does not tell your potential clients anything about your business.  Don’t get me wrong, if you have a very large marketing budget and you have a plan type that solves a huge industry problem, people will get to know who you are.  Choose a name that will help your business propel
  • Logo: Not essential, but it does help with your branding
  • Online presence: ensure that your name or handle is available on all platforms. Try to understand the importance of online presence, Google ranking and SEO.
    • Website Domain
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
  • Licenses and Permits: If this applies
  • Set your launch date and start planning getting the buzz going
  • Find partners who have similar target audiences and develop strategies that can benefit both your business’
  • Business Development Plan: most small businesses forget this stage.  Having a successful business requires constant development.  As a business owner, you must figure out ways that can keep your business relevant.  A part of your development should involve polling your audience to see what their needs are and figuring out how to satisfy those needs.

Have start-up questions?  As us.

Dwania is the Founder and Executive Director of Canadian Small Business Women Contact Canadian Small Business Women:

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Website

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Canadian Small Business Women · Tagged: 10 steps to startup success, business development, business name, business plan, business startup, Canadian Small Business Women, Dwania Peele, Facebook, Instagram, license, Linkedin, logo, permits, Pinterest, Problem Solving, register, success, Twitter

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