Understand the Right to Control Publication — Understand the Right to Control Publication

S. copyright law, the person or organization that owns the copyright in a photograph has the sole authority to determine whether it should be published. If the owner decides to publish the work, they also determine the specific timing, location, and manner of its first public distribution.

Photos distributed or displayed without the authorization of the copyright owner may constitute copyright infringement. Verifying whether a public-figure photo was officially released by its authorized owner is a key step in evaluating its legitimacy.