Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is a complicated question. If you are positioned on public property such as a road ROW or even your own property then you have a large degree of freedom. Areas that would cause difficulty are invading the privacy of individuals who could logically claim that they had implied privacy. An example would be shooting in the window of a changing room. It is possible that an individual could also claim privacy rights just by being inside a store or restaurant. A good lawyer could claim that someone sitting in a restaurant could assume some degree of privacy from the street. Areas to definitely be careful of are placing your self on private property that is not yours. Frequently in commercial areas the commercial property owner owns the property to the street and sometimes into a turn lane that leads into the property. There is an easement to allow the free passage of people and/or vehicles, but the property owner still maintains the right to control most other activities on his/her property. In almost all cases you would be advised to ask and receive permission to shoot on private property as most people will agree if you present yourself openly and your reasons are logical and not detrimental to the owner. Exceptions would be journalistic in nature and even then you can be thrown off the property and or arrested if warned. In some localities, the local law maintains that shopping malls for example are semi-public areas and therefore taking pictures is legal. What you have to understand is that if the security folks claim that some citizen (young and female no doubt) felt harassed by your images you could well find your equipment confiscated for an unknown period of time while your images are examined. If in fact there are images of the complainer on film or contained within the memory card then you should find some very good legal council or be able to write a fairly large check. I hope this helps explain a very complicated area. Don dorysrus@mindspring.com -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+dorysrus=mindspring.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Martin Krieger Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 4:18 PM To: lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] OK to take pictures of the inside of a store, from a public street, through an open door?? What are the legalities of taking pictures of the insides of a retail store, when you are standing on the public street and looking in through an open door (ordinary or wide angle lens, no telephoto)? My reading of the photojournalist advice lists is that it is ok in general, without permission. Is this correct? Martin Krieger krieger@usc.edu _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information