Copyright Issue

Note: Names have been removed at the request of those involved. I apologize for my mistake of posting your names before.

Last year I was hired to do a shoot and a website for two musicians. I specifically made a point to explain copyright to N over the phone when we first started thinking about working together, explaining how it works much like for music. I also agreed to an incredibly low price of $300 for a photoshoot AND a website.

The shoot was complicated right from the start, with many mis-communications, mind-changing, etc. along the way. We had planned to shoot on location but last minute they decided then just wanted to shoot at O's apartment. It was all very complicated, more complicated than what I can go into here. To sum it up, it ended badly, they wanted full rights for all the photos and so we ended up calling it off.

From my point of view, there were mistakes made on both parts that directly affected the end outcome of the project. I didn't get them to sign a contract before the shoot. (I trusted their word!) But I was willing to compromise to accommodate for my mistakes, and they just kept pushing until I had to admit that we would never get anywhere. I learned a lot from this experience, and it looks like I'll be learning some more...

Yesterday I found out they have been using the comps I emailed to them for promotion, but they never paid me for the shoot.

I'm trying to figure out what I should do about this. Obviously I don't want to have to sue them, but who knows how long they've been using my photos without permission and credit. The LEAST they could have done was give me credit! If they had, I wouldn't be as mad about the whole thing...

Here's a link to the email strand (beginning with the most recent).

Any suggestions?