sjackal said:
While many photogs are more than willing to shoot free or even pay to shoot, very few lawyers will work for free, that's why they are so much in demand and more respected for their speciality.Depends lah, I had a lawyer wrote my main contract but in reality every client negotiate terms differently, the situation is always a bit different each time, and you might do several genres of work from lifestyles to commercial to editorial where your contract will not be applicable. If every job's agreement I need a lawyer to write, then I'll be broke before I earn any money since a junior lawyer's rates may be more than a senior photog's. And I would had lost many clients if I did not response fast and flexible enough with my terms.Most CSers will give you a politically correct and safe answer, and some are blinding leading blind, a lot are hobbyists with limited exposures.Copyright 70 years thing, pls go read yourself, its written clearly and easily accessible, am surprised so many post down you still haven't read. The spoon stops here.
Thanks again for responding. Believed that I have mentioned that I had read the Singapore law thus I am asking CSers here out of confusion. Let my copy and paste here from the Singapore copyright act:
"Duration of copyright in original works
28. —(1) This section shall have effect subject to sections 27 (2) and 29.
(2) Subject to this section, where, by virtue of this Part, copyright subsists in a literary, dramatic or musical work, or in an artistic work other than a photograph <<<---- LOOK HERE, I AM TRYING TO CLARIFY THIS!!! --->>>, that copyright shall continue to subsist until the expiration of 70 years after the expiration of the calendar year in which the author of the work died.
[21/2004]
(3) If, before the death of the author of a literary, dramatic or musical work —
(a) the work had not been published;
(b) the work had not been performed in public;
(c) the work had not been broadcast;
(d) the work had not been included in a cable programme; and
(e) records of the work had not been offered or exposed for sale to the public,
the copyright in the work shall continue to subsist until the expiration of 70 years after the expiration of the calendar year in which the work is first published, performed in public, or broadcast, or included in a cable programme, or records of the work are first offered or exposed for sale to the public, whichever is the earliest of those events to happen.
[21/2004]
(4) A reference in subsection (3) to the doing of an act in relation to a work shall be read as including a reference to the doing of that act in relation to an adaptation of the work.
(5) If, before the death of the author of an engraving, the engraving had not been published, the copyright in the engraving shall continue to subsist until the expiration of 70 years after the expiration of the calendar year in which the engraving is first published.
[21/2004]
(6) Copyright subsisting in a photograph by virtue of this Part shall continue to subsist until the expiration of 70 years after the expiration of the calendar year in which the photograph is first published.
[21/2004]
[Aust. 1968, s. 33]"
Look for the CAPS in the quote, sorry I capped them so it will stand out, I am not "shouting" or anything (don't want any misunderstandings)
In case u can't notice the caps, here it is again the shorter abstract "copyright subsists in a literary, dramatic or musical work, or in an artistic work other than a photograph "
It says here, "other than a photograph". And yes I know in general copyright last 70years because I have read the law before starting the thread. I am just trying to clarify, why it says "other than a photograph" but everyone here keeps telling me 70years and even suggested that I have not read it. I keep reading it and I see that same phase "copyright subsists in a literary, dramatic or musical work, or in an artistic work other than a photograph".
Perhaps my English proficiency isn't as great as I thought and have misinterpreted the meaning of the act. If so please enlighten me.
PS: felt insulted about your comment and the smiley face doesn't help elevate it.