Q re pictures taken by Disney Photographers

[mmmcq]

Has anyone had a photo taken while on vacation at Disney World by Disney Photographers (i.e. Hoop De Doo or on Main Street, etc) and tried using these pictures for Christmas cards, etc.? We had several family photos taken this past August and they came out fantastic. I asked my local photo studio where I do all my business if she could reproduce it. There are no copyright notes on the photos or on the back side, but she said ethically since she knows they were taken by Disney photographers (and one contains visible Disney landmarks) she couldn't reproduce it without permission. That's understandable.

I called DVC, they referred me to Legal. I then listened to the recordings and discovered that it takes 6-8 weeks to get such permission IF it is granted. I talked to a live person in Legal who said this is not an unusual request, but wouldn't tell me if this kind of request is commonly granted.

So I'll send the request in by fax today, but certainly I can't wait 6-8 weeks. I won't be able to get the pictures done in time for Christmas.

Anyone ever try this to do this? Anyone ever successful in getting permission? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Kodak Picture makers? I've been told by the "operator/clerk" both that as long as it doesn't have the watermark you can make copies, and by others that if done by a professional photographer they are not allowed to do it. My local pharmacy (CVS) has a Kodak Picture maker and it gives nice options for pictures if your clerk allows it.

I am in no way condoning the unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material. Besides what ability do you have at this point to get reprints made at WDW? I suspect pretty limited depending on when the photos were originally taken. I don't know how long they keep photos/negatives on file but that might be an argument to be made if I were inclined to do it.

 

[mmmcq]

I can't remember the period of time they keep the negatives, but it's something like 3 weeks. That question came up because in packing to go to Vero from the Yacht Club and then in packing twice at Vero (because of a forced move and then to go home) we lost some pictures taken at Roll N'Rollercoaster that we loved. By the time I realized they were missing it was too late. And we never would have been able to have found them from this distance anyway.