Intellectual Property And Drones: Copyright Law Considerations For Drone Services Companies

Introduction

Drones have launched into commercial popularity as a relatively low-cost and accessible way to capture videos and photographs. Wildlife scientists, filmmakers, real estate marketers, agri-businesses, college instructors and resource extraction companies have all taken advantage of camera-mounted drones to collect images for commercial distribution and use.

While so much time and effort goes into the creative process when developing marketing materials and shooting stills, sound recordings or action footage, ownership of the work product is a key issue. Ownership is determined by who possesses the intellectual property rights associated with the work product. Key among these intellectual property rights are copyright rights.