ID/Passport pictures conspiricy?

lifemagic

I'm going abroad to volunteer soon and so need a load of passport pictures. I still have two ID pics I got from a machine when I applied for my passport. So I scanned it, used software to make a sheet with the ID pictures lined up to print standard ID size at 6x4. I did this last year and printed a few at boots and it saved so much money.

This year I couldn't find the jpeg but still have one picture, so I took it to Boots, scanned it and ordered five at the overnight service = 20p a piece.

Next day it wasn't there. They're not allowed to reprint id pictures as there's no evidence who took them, so I might not own the copyright, and self-service machines don't issue receipts so I can't prove I did it myself. I asked him what I can do and he said to try Snappy Snapps.

So I went there, no problem, on the wall, it says 20p per sheet and I can see the scanner. I asked the price for five and she said 1.25 for using the scanner, plus 20p. OK, but as we talked, she meant 1.25 per picture, because the scanner was used. Even though it's only used once, you pay an extra quid per picture.

OK, so that's still much cheaper than the machine, but it winds me up because first of all, there's no reason for it other than to force people to use their expensive services. Also in Boots, while the guy was explaining it, he pointed to an id machine just feet away and said even if he sees people using that machine he's not allowed to copy those prints as a store policy.

So... I've taken a picture of my picture, now have the jpeg, and will sneak in to snappy snaps and use the instant service straight from my camera [cue evil laugh].

Pollycat

I'd rethink the title of your thread if I were you.

Conspiracy? Really? :rotfl:

peachyprice

I just take all of our ID photos myself and print them on my little photo printer. That'll fool those conspirators!

s_b

dont go abroad,its full of foreigners,trust me

xxJudexx

I think you just got a busy body in Boots! When I worked there (must be about 10 years ago now!) we just weren't allowed to reprint photos which had a copyright watermark.

Norman_Castle

http://www.idphoto4you.com/ Move to a memory stick and print in a supermaket diy photo printer. 30p for 6.

The truth is out there.

Ectophile

There is a simple legal explanation for all this: the photo printers don't want to be charged with copyright infringement.

Formal portraits are often taken by professional photographers. If you pay a professional to take photos of you, the contract usually states that they own the copyright, and you are just buying the prints off them.

So if a shop makes multiple copies of a portrait photo, there is a distinct possibility that they could be breaking the law. They could be prosecuted (unlikely), or sued by the original photographer (more likely). Since they don't want to take that risk, they won't copy professional-looking photos without evidence that you own the copyright.

Pollycat

Ectophile wrote: »

There is a simple legal explanation for all this: the photo printers don't want to be charged with copyright infringement.

Well, thank Heaven for that!

I have enough sleepless nights thinking about the JFK and Princess Di conspiracy theories without adding one about id photos.