What's the copyright status of a photograph taken by someone else using my camera?
Example A:
I gave the camera to
the_child and she took it on a field trip. Those are her photos, unambiguously. If I am going to reproduce them, I seek her permission.Example B:
I am out with friends. I gave the camera to
kenscholes to take a picture of me and bravado111 on my behalf. Generally I know who took the picture, and can secure a permission if needed. Say, because I have placed the photo in Locus or something.Example C:
I am out with friends. I gave the camera to a waitperson to take a picture of the group of us on my behalf. I never get the photographer's name or contact info. Do I have any right to reproduce that photo under copyright law? It can't be work for hire, because I didn't pay them for the photo. The implicit ownership of the photo is clear: it's my equipment and the photo was taken at my request. But the copyright status is unclear to me.
Thoughts? Experiences?