Photographers are working together to combat a more modern form of copyright theft. H&H speaks to snappers and gets legal advice on the issue
PHOTOGRAPHERS who feel the battle against rider copyright theft is starting to succeed have noticed a worrying trend in companies’ illegally using their pictures.
H&H has reported previously on the issue of riders’ taking images from photographers’ websites , as screen grabs or pictures on their own phones, without buying them, which is in breach of copyright law, and theft.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
An equestrian photographer has spoken out about the “huge problem” of copyright theft of images, which he fears has become
Library image.
Library image.
The update covers children, helpers and dressage sheets, plus further guidance on staying safe when staying overnight at an event
Equestrians returning from major French events after 4am Saturday (15 August) must fulfil certain criteria or quarantine for 14 days
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
H&H news editor
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
