[MR] Copyright & photos

[Jeff Williams]

Greetings
 
I am going to try and clear up this complicated topic.  For background I have been a  News Photographer for 20 plus years and get monthly briefings from the corporate lawyers on what I can and cannot do with the pictures I take.
 
Copyright falls to who is taking the pictures or the company they work for in my case.  This is the person who owns the actual picture.  
 
Use of the photos depends upon where they were obtained.
 
There are two areas a Public and Private event.   
 
A Private event would be a wedding, model shoot, movie set, etc.  At this type of event you would need to have a waiver signed to publish a picture.  
 
A Public event is any event that the public has access to.  Photos at a museum, airport, mall, etc.  An SAC event is a Public event.  You do not have to be a member to attend and that makes it a public event which means a waiver is not required to publish the photos.  If you had to be a member then it would fall under the rules for a private event.  
 
If you videotape at an event and plan on posting video clips to the web you need to check your states rules on audio.  Most states require permission from one party of a conversation to approve its recording, some states require all party's approval.  If you record an event and just post the clip without getting permission to use the audio you can be charged with wiretapping.  
 
Common courtesy should also play a part.  If someone does not want to be in a picture or posted to the web, please respect their wishes.  
 
Hope this clears up the issue.  If you have more questions please post them and we can try and get them cleared up.  
 
Geoffrey ap Clywd