BetterPhoto Q&A
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- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery		Model Release Form Japanese Hi! I was wondering if anyone had a Model Release Form in Japanese and English. Also, was wondering how that works. Can you send a Model Release Form in Japanese to a Western stock agency? If so, would you send both the Japanese along with an English translation, and if so, would both need to be signed? Thanks for any help some kind soul can give! To love this question, log in above April 04, 2009

Nobu Nagase		Susan, About the Japanese Model Release: If you are uploading to a Western stock agency, there is no need to send a Japanese version. Most likely, they will not be able to read the Japanese version. Send only the English version. If you are sending to a Japanese stock agency, either a Japanese version or a English version will do. They will be able to read both English and Japanese. There is a Japanese version of a model release (PDF format) at http://www.photos.jp/txt/model_release.pdf For an English version, Google for "photo model release". You will see many hits. Take a look at one of stock agency's like istockphoto.com. To love this comment, log in above April 06, 2009

- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery		Thanks so much, Nobi! My main concern, actually, was the reaction of the Japanese person who I might want to sign such a model release and might be hesitant to sign an English document they don't understand. So, I thought perhaps the important thing is that the English and the Japanese versions are the same, so that I would have them sign the English version and they could see the Japanese version for clarification. Actually, I just read the one that I found on BetterPhoto and it sounds so alarming, I think it would scare most people away! Is this Japanese model release form a rather direct translation of that? And is there one for minors? Actually, a professional photographer friend in Tokyo told me that this wasn't really an issue in Japan itself in regards to things published in Japan and that it isn't taken seriously. To love this comment, log in above April 06, 2009

Nobu Nagase		Susan, The model release is basically same as any other. It's pretty comprehensive and spells out just about everything the photographer may do to the photo he has the copyright to. In another words, the model must release all of these rights to the photographer. And the photographer can do all of these things to market the photos or whatever he wishes to do with them. I agree, it's alarming and very intimidating for the model to sign such rights away. The model release is a legal document, must be legally binding if it is brought in the court action. It is to protect photographers and/or stock agency when it has to come to that point. This Japanese version is a very close translation of one you see in the English version. You may be right about the level of seriousness in the issue in Japan at current time, but they (Japanese) are starting to think "Privacy Issues" very seriously. If you are sending your photos to Western stock agency, it is required with photos that include any recognizable person or people in them. Therefore, if you have to have a Japanese model sign one, have it in two languages but have him/her sign the English version to send in. And you should make a copy of each for your own record. To love this comment, log in above April 07, 2009

- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery		Thanks, Nobi, for your time and thoughtful answers, as well as for the Model release form in Japanese. To love this comment, log in above April 08, 2009

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