For computer-savvy people, “IP” is their computer’s Internet Protocol address. For lawyerly types, IP refers to intellectual property. But to the average person, IP means invisible property – something that’s free for the taking because they think it doesn’t really exist.
Since the year 2000, April 26 has been World Intellectual Property Day. This annual event was created by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to raise awareness of intellectual property and how it can spur creativity and innovation.
Some people think that only silly or greedy photographers care about copyright. But we live in an information age and information is worth money. Ask Google.
Photographers, writers, painters, musicians, songwriters, designers, illustrators, filmmakers, software companies, performers, and any business that creates almost anything, all use copyright to help earn a living.
Privacy, for example, is intangible and invisible yet everyone knows its importance and value. Copyright is also intangible and invisible and it also has importance and value.
Copyright and other forms of intellectual property are a valuable business asset. There’s no reason why a photographer or any other business or individual should give it away for free.
Without copyright ownership, photographs have only sentimental value.
– author unknown
