Questions tagged [legal]

Questions about law/legal issues affecting photographers. Question should state the relevant jurisdiction.

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Should individual participant portraits and event photography services be considered separate invoices?

I recently worked with a dance studio taking individual & group dance portraits for their students and also shooting photo & video for their recital. We agreed to sell photo products to the ...
Favored Focus Media's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
177 views

Would this be commercial usage of a photo?

I am on the board of a 501 (c)(7) social club in the US. The club organizes events where members and non-members pay to attend, and if you don't pay, you're not attending (IE closed to the public in ...
Peter M's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
101 views

Can I prosecute newspaper for photographing me without my consent? [closed]

I accompanied someone to court who was charged and we were snapped by a journalist upon leaving. The photo is obvious to any who know of me locally even though my face was obscured! Neighbours ...
Teresa Lynch's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
408 views

Can I be sued for using someone else’s picture of my dog?

An ex-friend of mine and I were trying to sell my puppies so she took a couple photos for us to post online. We also used to live together. A falling out occurred and now she wants me to remove the ...
Amanda's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
1 answer
220 views

Does a photo copyright have an expiration date?

The term of a new patent is 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States. Is there something like that to photo copyright?
zewill's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
582 views

I took a photo of a guitar. Do I need a property release to sell it as a stock image?

I recently took a photo of a guitar. The logo of the company that makes the guitar is not shown in the photo. Do I need a property release from the manufacturer or the owner to sell it as a stock ...
ainnnmanir's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
155 views

What is a photography release form? Do I need them for group shots?

I'm an amateur photographer trying to build my portfolio, most so far with just family or animals. I sometimes post my shots on Facebook. I've been asked to photograph a band in a couple of weeks at ...
gator's user avatar
  • 101
2 votes
1 answer
228 views

Signature logo on photos by hired photograph

In Canada, if an event organizer hires a photographer for a private event, can the organizer ask to get the photos with exlusive publishing rights without a signature logo? Thus denying the ...
Jonathan Rioux's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
788 views

Taking Photographs of People in a Restaurant - UK

I have a question about taking photographs of customers in a restaurant situation - where I've asked them and they've given permission. I've been asked to shoot a restaurant in London, and will be ...
Richard's user avatar
  • 19
1 vote
3 answers
328 views

What are my model rights about paid photos?

If I pay a photographer for a photoshoot and all images taken and edited of me, do I need their permission to use it for Magazine articles or promotional purposes including event flyers? Do I still ...
Nicole Wagner's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
474 views

Is using image found on google (without watermark) and turning it into pixel art with some filter would be illegal?

I'm working on AI collage generator with multiple png images from the internet (using google images search) and I wonder would my program break the law or not. Program checks for watermark and omits ...
idchlife's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
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Can I prevent a landscaping contractor from publishing photos of the work they performed in my yard? [duplicate]

A landscaping contractor is using photos of my yard on their website as part of its portfolio of services. Nothing in my legal agreement speaks to whether it is okay for the contractor to do so. I ...
Sam's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
2 answers
182 views

Door step photography photo rights release

I am looking to do some door step photography. As photographer I would like to retain the rights as I am making the photo. I do not want to ask for permission as in the UK, permission can be revoked. ...
PriceCheaperton's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
959 views

Can vs can't of street photography in New Zealand

Let's say a photographer takes some street photography and sells the prints in a gallery. What is ok vs not ok regarding people being in the photos, that are taken in NZ? Let's assume the photographer ...
DarcyThomas's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
185 views

Charging for a picture taken from a company cosplayer

Last weekend I went to an event to take some cosplay pictures and I published them in my twitter account, previous cosplayers' authorization. Today, I got a DM from one of them, which seems to be a ...
Roberto Maldonado's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
153 views

Unauthorized use of minor child's photo? [closed]

My son, at age 12, was photographed while visiting someone I know. She did not tell me until AFTER she published a cookbook, that she used multiple photos of my son in the book. I told her she did not ...
Starr Martin's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
370 views

Do I need a property release to sell a stock image of an object when the location is not identifiable?

Can I sell a stock image taken on private property for which I don't have a property release but of which is not recognizable and has been edited? Nobody on the property has technically told me I ...
Quin's user avatar
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1 vote
3 answers
2k views

Can I take pictures of the outside of someone's house without consent?

Can I take pictures of the outside of someone's house without consent? What if nobody owns the house and it is on sale?
Krish's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
1 answer
104 views

Where can I find information about what things require property releases and what don't?

In order to license pictures to stock photography providers, one needs to include a model or property release when needed. For instance, in EyeEm.com they claim that: The Eiffel tower by day does not ...
A. Arredondo's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
672 views

Can I edit editorial photos? [closed]

Is it allowed to edit images marked as editorial on stock photography sites? The main content of the photo is a building and I just want to remove distracting elements like drainage wells and ...
user86327's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
221 views

What is considered as "unpublished" on usual photo contest rules?

On many photo contest rules, we find the condition that photos must be unpublished to take part on them. That was quite a simple rule when our only way to show our work on public was trough exhibitons ...
Lisan's user avatar
  • 429
2 votes
3 answers
354 views

Is it legal to download Darktable in European countries? [closed]

The functionality of Darktable is very good so I thought I would switch from Lightroom to Darktable. Can I download it in Germany or any other European countries which have strict legal standards for ...
Ryka's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
217 views

Can someone claim ownership by publishing old photos given to a historical society by various families?

Someone who had access to photos given to a historical society of 100+ yr old photos wrote a book. And in this book he used the photos donated to the historical society. He published his book and ...
Thibits's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
114 views

Portfolio release for photographing children under 18?

I will be photographing a school's events and it's students for a week. However, I am not sure if the standard portfolio release will suffice given the age of the subjects. Important background: I ...
HelloWorld's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Do I need permission to use images of real estate properties we manage?

Hi I work for a property management company and we'd like to use images of the properties which we manage within our portfolio on our website and social media/marketing materials. They are just ...
Helen's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
348 views

Can I sell a photo as a Limited Edition print if I have sold it as an open edition in the past?

Can I sell a photo as a Limited Edition print if I have sold it as an open edition in the past? I want to start selling some of my prints as "limited editions". However, some of them that I want to ...
Mike O'Shell's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do camera sellers ever fraudulently reset shutter counts?

Has anyone ever heard of a camera seller resetting shutter counts to make a camera appear newer than it actually is? Or change the shutter count to lie about it being replaced or refurbished? It ...
WClarke's user avatar
  • 325
4 votes
2 answers
280 views

Can a tripod be used on the grounds of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich?

It was raining, so I set my tripod up under a covered part [outside] at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, by the main vista only to told that tripods are not allowed on Observatory grounds; you have ...
Paul Noakes's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
297 views

Can I sell a calendar made from images of TV casts I found online? [closed]

I want to make a monthly calendar and the images I want to use are cast members of CW show One Tree Hill. Can I use cast images I find online and put a quote on them and sell the calendar? Is that ...
Rachel's user avatar
  • 9
-1 votes
1 answer
68 views

Does "not in purview to provide authorization" mean I can post the picture to an editorial? [closed]

I have recently contacted a shopping mall in Singapore to ask if I could post pictures in published based editorial on their grounds: Can I use pictures with shop windows in editorial? My original ...
Mederic's user avatar
  • 131
17 votes
8 answers
16k views

Do I have the copyrights to post a picture I took of someone on instagram?

A girl messaged me on Instagram to take boudoir pictures of her at her house. I went to her house, took her pictures. I went home, edited, and sent them. She said she loved them, but she asked me not ...
neal's user avatar
  • 213
2 votes
2 answers
128 views

Corporate model objection instead of model release

Firstly, we require every person to fill out a model release. We now have hundreds of model releases on file. It's getting a bit out of hand. Instead, what we'd like to do is include verbiage in the ...
KarryAlexander's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
640 views

Can a photo of a page of a copyrighted book be used commercially?

Can a photo of a page of a copyrighted book be used commercially or released into the public domain for reuse?
ChristisLord2018's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
244 views

Can I use pictures with shop windows in editorial?

Currently taking my photography hobby more seriously I started doing moodboards for editorials I want to create and would love to submit to magazines at one point. I work a lot in places like street, ...
Mederic's user avatar
  • 131
2 votes
2 answers
525 views

Ethics of publishing a photo of someone right before their death

I know that this is a delicate question so I hope it is ok to ask here. Let's say you are doing street photography and you happen to coincidentally capture a scene in which someone is right about the ...
asquared's user avatar
  • 249
5 votes
1 answer
628 views

Whose permission do I need to feature photographs for analysis on my web site?

Original Post : 25th July 2018 Edit : 26th July 2018: I own a website which aims to give details about various photo sets which are posted on sites like DeviantArt, Flickr, Twitter, etc. I gather ...
W.H.'s user avatar
  • 69
2 votes
2 answers
345 views

Copyright for photos I took whilst “self employed” UK

Total newbie here, having some trouble from a ex-boss. I’m a dog walker in the UK I “worked” for someone else’s business as self employed. No contract, they give me a rota of dogs to walk, I invoice ...
Sian Tarrant's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
516 views

UK freelancers and Enhanced DBS Check

I'm a freelance social-documentary photographer working in the UK. I'm currently commissioned by a third-sector organisation to photograph other third-sector organisations at work. Typically for ...
mooie's user avatar
  • 1,290
14 votes
3 answers
8k views

A photo of my wife has been used in a website article without her permission. What can we do?

The satrical "news" site, The Onion, has photoshopped my wife into an image for one of their articles. I was wondering what rights we have to get it removed from the site. Notes about the image: It ...
Paul's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes
2 answers
724 views

Do I need a permit to take pictures on UK university ground I'm a student at?

Today light was delightful and I went taking some photographs on my university campus. I like urban and industrial pictures and so I was shooting buildings and back alleys. After about 20 minutes I ...
Three Diag's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
98 views

Does the release have precedence over the license?

My client would like an exclusive web-usage license for the commissioned pictures. This led me to feel a bit confused as most model-releases give the photographer the rights to: Take the pictures. ...
HelloWorld's user avatar
  • 1,135
2 votes
4 answers
143 views

Does an animal breeder need to provide a model release for his own animals?

In a shoot that is an assigned-type project, I am being paid to create pictures for the client's website. The models are his own/his friend's animals. To my understanding, in the case of a human model,...
HelloWorld's user avatar
  • 1,135
5 votes
3 answers
520 views

If i took a picture of a city landmark in Dubai and put it on my website, do I need to get a copyright for my image?

I am running a small business consulting firm in Dubai. I am updating my website with a genuine image, so I took an image of the city with my own camera, a landmark without any people or logos of ...
Mohammed Rizwan's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
583 views

Do you need a release form when photographing employees on behalf of their employer?

I'll be undertaking a photography project which involves photographing employees of a small company who are producing a food product using an artisanal process. The photographs will be used on the ...
BeeOnRope's user avatar
  • 131
8 votes
2 answers
15k views

Can I sell photos of public property?

Do I need a legal release to sell photos of things such as railroad tracks and plants/animals that are in public property? If I do need a legal release, who do I get it from if it's public property? ...
NerdOfLinux's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
897 views

Using pinterest photos?

Reading the Pinterest terms, I'm not sure if I can use Pinterest photos. Assume I've done due diligence and verified that the photographer is really the copyright owner of the photos, since the photos ...
Dev Girl's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
215 views

Visitor from event asked for money and removal of editorial content

I got written permission to photograph an public event (it had tickets but the event was open to the general population). The responsible persons for the event knew I was going to submit the photos to ...
membio's user avatar
  • 71
24 votes
7 answers
10k views

My grandfather gave me a box full of negatives. Does it implicitly give the copyright to the pictures?

My grandfather, who lives in Cuba, gave me a box full of family picture negatives that he shot in Cuba from around 1940's to 1970's. Some of these pictures are very interesting and I think could sell ...
Marcos's user avatar
  • 342
2 votes
2 answers
4k views

Am I legally allowed to publish my own photos of commercial products on my website and social media?

I am a freelance fashion & wedding photographer from India, and now have started product photography. I have done a lot of test shoots at my home studio using brands like Coke, perfumes, beauty ...
Dipin's user avatar
  • 37
1 vote
1 answer
640 views

Do I deserve credit for photos I took for work?

I work full time for a company where I perform several different roles. About a year ago they recognized my photographic skills and began to have me contribute photos to their social media campaign. ...
Daniel Noonan's user avatar