Re: [Digital BW] model-release form
2003-07-09 by Anthony Atkielski
K. writes: > this would be a form the model signs to > relinquish any ownership/monetary interest > in the photograph. FWIW, models do not have ownership or monetary interests in the photograph to begin with. They only have control over the use of their own image, and in many jurisdictions this control is limited to commercial use (advertising, works of fiction, things like that), although a release is always a good idea. So you need a model's permission to use his or her image for something like an advertising poster, but under no circumstances does a model ever own the photograph or have any monetary interest in it. You can pay a model for a release, which makes it (almost) irrevocable, but you are paying for permission to use his or her likeness, not for any kind of ownership of the image. The distinction is subtle but important. Unless you are working with some sort of supermodel, any compensation you provide in exchange for the release will be a one-time thing (models do not collect royalties on the use of their likenesses).