The case in summary: Photographer Preben Hunstad criticizes Åge Aleksandersen and his team for using his photos without paying for them. Hunstad had previously refused to let them use the images for free, and suggested that they could rather pay NOK 2,000 for 18 high-resolution images. Aleksandersen’s team responded negatively, claiming that they would rather credit the photographer on Aleksandersen’s Facebook page rather than pay. After the photos were published on Aleksandersen’s Facebook page, Hunstad was contacted by the team who said he could invoice them NOK 2,000 for the photo they had used. It was after Hunstad had published a Facebook post on his own page where he criticized the team. The Norwegian Photographers’ Association calls such incidents theft and a violation of the Copyright Act. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. On Monday evening, photographer and journalist in Bodø Nu, Preben Hunstad, published a Facebook post criticizing Åge Aleksandersen and his team. The reason is that they used photos he had taken of a concert Aleksandersen played in Bodø. This after Hunstad had refused them to do so, without them paying for it. Call it a matter of principle It was during a photo assignment on behalf of the newspaper Bodø Nu that Hunstad photographed Aleksandersen’s concert. Afterwards, he was contacted by Aleksandersen’s team, who would like to use the photos on social media, but without paying for them. – I said I don’t normally give out pictures for free, unless it’s a young local band that needs help getting a foothold. Åge Aleksandersen, on the other hand, I thought did not need my help, says Hunstad. Åge Aleksandersen is currently on tour with Gunnar Pedersen and a quintet from the Trondheim soloists. Photo: Kristin Agerlie The photographer wanted a relatively cheap price for the images, and suggested NOK 2,000 for 18 high-resolution images for free use. – It’s not about the money, it’s about the fact that it is a matter of principle that you should pay for photographers’ work. However, the response from Aleksandersen and his team was negative. They had said they couldn’t pay a photographer at every concert. Instead, they apparently used to credit the photographer on Aleksandersen’s Facebook page. Åge Aleksandersen and his team are criticized for not having offered payment for the photos taken at the concert in Bodø. Photo: news – If you are a young and new photographer, it can be fine, but my experience is that I do not gain anything from such exposure. Hunstad therefore declined, but nevertheless one or more of his photos must have been published on Åge Aleksandersen’s page on Facebook. – It is important to make photographers’ challenges visible – I have been contacted by small bands in the city, by young people who can barely afford lunch, who have asked if I can help them take pictures and offer payment. – There will be a strong contrast to these young people, when such a big player as Åge Aleksandersen, with one sold-out concert venue after another, is not willing to pay, says Hunstad. Åge Aleksandersen’s company, Tekst og Musikk AS, had a turnover of around NOK 19 million in 2022. They made a profit of around NOK 4 million after tax, according to Proff.no. – The question is why is Åge’s work worth more than the photographer’s?, asks Hunstad. It was at Stormen Konserthus in Bodø that the concert with Åge Aleksandersen was held. Photo: SYNNE MARIE TØMMERBERG He adds that there are many, many people who steal photos and that it is important to make photographers’ challenges visible. – Maybe it can mean that a new photographer can charge for assignment number two, instead of assignment number 20. After Hunstad’s photos were published on Aleksandersen’s Facebook page and that Hunstad himself had published criticism on his own page, he was contacted by Aleksandersen’s team on Tuesday. – Then they said that I would be happy to invoice them NOK 2,000 for the picture they had used. – Often the photographer appreciates that Press contact for Åge Aleksandersen, Kari Thorvik tells news that the team always asks for permission to use the photographer’s images in social media, in exchange for crediting the photographer. – Often the photographer appreciates it and gives consent. – Sometimes the photographer doesn’t want us to use the images, and then of course we don’t do it. In this particular case, she writes that the team was initially offered to buy 18 photos. – We declined because we don’t need so many photos from the concert, she writes in an email. – When, due to a misunderstanding internally at us, one of the images was still used, we find it most appropriate to apologize for the misunderstanding, remove the image and pay for the erroneous use this morning, says Thorvik. On Wednesday morning, Hunstad himself was called by Åge Aleksandersen, who apologized. – We had a pleasant chat and he apologized for the way it turned out. – It may well be that there have been some misunderstandings between them, I don’t know anything about that, but we have cleared things up, says Hunstad. Norwegian Photographer’s Association: – Violation of copyright law Linda Dyrnes is general manager of the Norwegian Photographer’s Association, and says that it happens far too often that photographers receive requests for free use of images, when they should actually be paid. – In a world where photographs abound, it can seem as if many people lack respect for both the photographer as a profession, and the image as an intellectual property to which someone has rights, says Dyrnes Photo: Anna Maria Solum Dyrnes says that they do not have specific figures on how many photographers have experienced having their images used without payment or permission. – But relatively often we receive inquiries from law firms with assignments from photographers in such situations. She thinks that is only the tip of the iceberg. – What do you recommend photographers do, if they are exposed to this? – It is theft and a violation of the Copyright Act. So we absolutely recommend referring to the law in such cases, says Dyrnes. She has clear advice for photographers who want to protect themselves from such incidents. – Become a member of an association such as the Norwegian Photographers’ Association. Then you get legal help and a network of experienced photographers who can contribute. Be clear that you are not doing free work, and don’t be tempted to take assignments even if they are well-known artists.
ttn-69
Åge Aleksandersen is criticized for not paying for pictures in Bodø – news Nordland
