The AIA is working with the American Society of Media Photographers to clarify issues arising from a revision of the Institute’s photo-release form. AIA representatives hope to sit down with ASMP counterparts in the weeks ahead to hear their concerns and reaffirm the Institute’s good-faith intentions.

A misunderstanding of the agreement has raised worries among ASMP and its members that the release expands the AIA’s rights to submitted images. The goal of the form, however, is to better define proposed uses in specific terms. The new form seeks to secure limited rights to images supplied with AIA award-program nominations. These rights include use in all reporting and promoting of the programs themselves and as part of program-based educational resources for its members. The form does not allow for the sale of images to third parties for reproduction, nor does it allow for use of the images in AIA’s own third-party agreements, such as book publishing.

Photographers’ concerns focus on two key areas: the parameters of image use, and a requirement that the AIA not be held liable for any claims concerning the images in its use of them.

In the first case, no additional use is being sought. Image use remains confined to within the context of the awards programs as educational resources for members. While this includes use and distribution in a variety of media to document and promote the programs, it does not include use beyond that context, such as in the granting of commercial licenses or the publication of submitted images to illustrate material outside of the awards programs.

In the second, the Institute maintains, logic dictates that the AIA cannot assume liability for images that it hasn’t created and does not control. Responsibility for the work must reside with those who create and submit it.

Copyright 2003 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.