Dear PPA Member,

Did you know that PPA is the only photographic organization that has a full-time Copyright & Government Affairs staff? We are serious about defending the rights of photographers on Capitol Hill, especially when it comes to copyright. Your images, much like an author's words, a songwriter's music or a moviemaker's film, need to be protected because--let's face it--if you give your work away, you're not making money. And it's worse when someone steals it.

That's why PPA works hard to provide members with resources to help when copyright infringement happens. This week's Vital Signs delves a little deeper into what you need to do, what your options are and how to determine what you can do. (Here's a hint: We recommend registering your images and immediately downloading the PPA Copyright Kit, which can answer a lot of your questions.)

You can't be everywhere, but if you understand what you can do--and what you can do to prevent copyright infringement--you may be able to reach a speedy resolution if it does happen to you.

Cheers!
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience