Bruce Butler, Photographer

Violators of the copyright will be vigorously pursued. Please contact Bruce Butler, Photographer to obtain a license for any public or commercial use of the images.

Our Notice: All rights reserved. Reproduction of images (or any parts of an image) on this web site by any means (including electronic, mechanical, recording by an information storage and retrevial system, derivative art and artistic rendering) is prohibited. The use of any image on this web site for any purpose* requires the express permission in writing (a license) by Bruce Butler, Photographer.

* Bruce Butler, Photographer does allow some limited, personal use of the images on this site. Please refer to the "FAQ about Copyright" (below) for more information on copyright and personal uses that are allowed without written permission or a license from us.

Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright.

Are the images on Bruce Butler, Photographer Web site protected by copyright?

YES. Bruce Butler, Photographer holds copyrights to the images available online. We include a copyright notice on all images to protect our copyright to the digital files that we create. Ideally, we wouldn't have to detract from the viewing experience by adding a copyright notice at all, but protection of intellectual property in a networked environment is uncertain right now, and we don't want to take chances.

How can I use the images I see?

Viewers of the Bruce Butler, Photographer Web site are allowed to browse and download images, but only for personal use. Any other use (e.g., making multiple copies, displaying images publicly, redistributing files electronically or using images for personal or corporate gain) requires permission from Bruce Butler, Photographer. Commercial use of any Bruce Butler, Photographer image without permission would constitute copyright infringement and might infringe other rights.

I know I can browse through the image directories and download images, but can I print them?

YES. As long as your printout is for personal, non-commercial use.

Can I send images or image files to others?

NO. You can browse, download, or print images for personal, non-commercial use, but you cannot distribute copies of images or image files to anyone else for any reason.

Can I make multiple copies of an image?

NO. You can browse, download, or print images for personal, non-commercial use, but making multiple copies of an image would constitute infringement.

Can I play with the images; can I alter them?

YES, but only for personal, non-commercial use.

What is non-commercial use?

Generally, non-commercial use means a use in which nothing of value changes hands between you and someone else.

If I send images to my friends for free, there's no money involved. Why can't I do that?

First, you are providing them with something of value. Second, the use must be both non-commercial and personal. If you distribute images to others, the use is no longer personal. Third, you would be making multiple copies of the images, which is not allowed.

Can I put images on a T-shirt but don't sell the shirt, that would be non-commercial. Is it personal? Is it OK?

NO. First, to make a T-shirt you would have to make multiple copies of an image, which is not allowed. Second, if you wore the shirt you would be displaying a Bruce Butler, Photographer image publicly, which is not personal and not allowed.

Is scholarly research non-commercial? Can I use images in my research paper?

YES, but only if there is no commercial component to the research and only if the resulting research is not published, reproduced or distributed to anyone. So you could incorporate an image into a research paper prepared for school, but not if the paper were going to be published or archived or microfilmed or distributed in any way.

Can I use images in my comps (layout presentations)?

YES. We encourage the use of our online, low-resolution images for comps. But use in any final product requires a license from Bruce Butler, Photographer. We also have larger comp images available for making higher quality comp presentations. Visit our price and order information page, and go to the "Online Pricing" area. This gives information on how to order a larger comp image.

How can Bruce Butler, Photographer claim a copyright in old photographs that are in the public domain?

It can't. Bruce Butler, Photographer does not claim rights in underlying photographs that are in the public domain. We include a copyright notice on all images, however, to protect our copyright to the digital files that we create.

I want to make commercial use of an image; what do I need to do?

Visit our price and order information page. You may also call or e-mail (see below) to discuss licensing possibilities.

A lobbying group in Washington recently released "The Netsurfer's Simple Guide To Copyrights," which distills U.S. copyright law into five maxims:

If you didn't create a written work, art, photograph, or music, or obtain distribution rights to it, you don't own it.
If you don't own it, you can't copy or distribute it.
The author or owner must explicitly relinquish rights for a work to be placed in the public domain.
Fair use allows copying of small portions of a work without the owner's permission, but only for criticism, education, and news reporting.
When in doubt, ask for permission to use a work.

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Bruce Butler, Owner
Bruce Butler Photographer
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 USA
Phone: 949 400-7827

E-mail us: Bruce.B@mindspring.com