Models try to stop unwanted exposure

By Catherine Caines

THE growth of men's magazines has increased demand for sexy covergirls - but models say this means an increased trade in unauthorised pictures, forcing them to fight controversial copyright laws.

A number of high-profile Sydney models have told The Sunday Telegraph they were humiliated by cover shots in popular magazines after they turned down offers to appear inthe magazines.

Zoo editor Paul Merrill said last week it was part of the magazine's strategy to run controversial covers.

"It's a weekly magazine, and we have to put girls who are being talked about on the cover. We have to break new girls, rather than rehash the same old ones."

Lara Bingle, 19, is the first model to take photographers to court over the sale of old pictures of her to Zoo.

Bingle became a household name after she presented a TV commercial in a bikini, and is again clad in a bikini to promote the Ashes cricket, but argues she is entitled to have control over her own image.

"It's an awful thing to happen, both professionally and personally. I was really angry when I saw what had been done, especially with the text they had added," she says.

The first issue of Zoo featuring Bingle on its front cover announced: "World exclusive! Bloody Hell! TV adgirl Lara Bingle's first-ever men's mag shoot."

Zoo used her image, without consent, on two other occasions.

Zoo, which sells 85,000 copies a week, is part of a broader trend. It competes with Ralph and FHM for enticing cover shots.

Home And Away star Isabel Lucas suffered a similar fate. After failing to convince the 21-year-old to appear in Ralph, editor Michael Pickering bought old images of her in a bikini.

"If I didn't run the photos, the opposition would have," Pickering explained later.

Imogen Bailey, 29, advises aspiring models and their parents to be aware there are loopholes.

"If the photographer has the power card and owns the copyright, unless it's for advertising purposes, they actually can go ahead and sell your images without your permission to magazines, newspapers, websites and whatever they want to do.

"Legal bills are expensive, so the only answer is to have an upfront contractual agreement - not just with the photographer, but with the magazine.

"Quite often, girls are lost in the aura of their first cover and forget to protect themselves with the right contract.

"I will no longer work with a photographer unless I own equal share of the copyright.

"Imogen Bailey is my business, and every picture of me that's in a magazine puts my shares up."

Erin McNaught, who nearly lost her quest for the Miss Universe title after old topless pictures of her appeared, says the controversy made her rethink her own beliefs.

"The thought of taking legal action did cross my mind, but I thought my profile wasn't big enough to warrant any action against them."

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