Photography, Filming and Privacy

[barrettyman]

At an LRP event I was doing a little bit of filming for my own pleasure and some suggested that I should get permission from everyone in the room before doing so. There was also a discussion on the forums about permission regarding photographs, which set me thinking.

I am pretty sure you do not need permission to take photographs or film of a person

Comments

Re: ...

[barrettyman]

I would seriously question this, I believe that people think they have more rights in this area than they actually do, which is why I raised the issue really.

Re: ...

[barrettyman]

I think boils down to copyright of a performance. The 1996 copyright act http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19962967_en_3.htm#mdiv20 gives the following advice, which basically means to filming for private use is OK as long as you don't make it publicly available. My reading of this is Showing a film featuring a person who has not signed as disclaimer is fine as long as it is a private 'domestic' showing. Putting on the internet would be public distribution and would breach copyright in this case

[barrettyman]

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/80029--e.htm#32

[barrettyman]

I think that it refers to public interest being served by Freedom of Expression. So as long as it is an original artistic work it is Freedom of Expression and should be protected unless there is an overriding objection.

But it is quite subjective and potentially contentious which is probably why nobody has challenged it yet.

[nyarbaggytep]

I think both kneeshooter and philoko know more about this than me, so it might be worth asking them.