I think there is a huge problem with some of the photo libraries eg Flight/ Aeroplane/ Boeing in so far as the fees that they charge for their photos for publication are so high that people like myself who write articles for aviation magazines, simply can not afford to use them. The cost of two photos would often be more that the fee paid for the article. As anyone would know we don’t do it for the money but we can’t do it for nothing..
Sadly some individual photographers are also culpable. I was once quoted £200 for the use of a photo to accompany my recent RF-4C article. Needless to say I didn’t bother!

We need to be able to rely on one another. I for one have no hesitation in sharing photos with other enthusiasts and writers
Finally on a positive note: What a joy to discover that the BAe photo archives don’t charge for reproduction.

Although I’m not an aviation writer, I fully understand and support your post. Charging for pictures in this category means that they might never reach a researcher who could use it to complete his/her work. The whole idea of intellectual property and copyright has taken a ridicules turn, where everyone think their work represent a value and that they might be missing out on big bucks.

The truth is that apart from the original picture (either the negative or a paper version) which are traded and sold between collectors, pictures don’t really represent a value.

Personally I have uploaded my limited collection of aviation pictures to both Flickr and Wikimedia Commons as public domain. I would be delighted if anyone found some use for it commercial or non-commercial. If someone actually makes a few bucks writing an article/book and include my picture, I would think my percentage would be staggeringly small, maybe even infinitely small, and they would be more than welcome to keep it.