Permissions / Releases

[robertc]

Apologies if this the wrong forum. My question concerns permissions / releases. I take photos for a charity I am involved in and later post them onto the charities website. The events I attend to photograph usually attract large gatherings, whilst I can obtain permissions / releases for the main subjects in the photograph, how do I stand as far as the crowd who may appear in the background are concerned.
Hope this makes sense.

[Steve Parr]

Often, and especially with charities, a person who purchases a ticket to an event does so with the understanding that their likeness may be used...

[robertc]

Steve, thank you for replying so quickly. I wish it could be that easy. The events generally are in the street or in public areas and not ticketed. I hope I'm not being fussy but the last thing I want to do is get myself or the charity into any trouble.

[GilesGuthrie]

Your location says "London", so I'm going to go ahead and assume it's English law we're dealing with.

You're talking about taking candid street photography. It is not normal for English law to uphold a complaint by a member of a crowd that their likeness is in a published image. The courts are likely to view it that the plaintiff is, by being a part of that crowd, ceding all reasonable rights to privacy. And the fact that you're using the images for publicity for a charity is only more likely to make a court view your actions with sympathy.

So, it's unlikely that you would get sued, and if you were, it's unlikely that a court would uphold a claim against you. There are links to summaries of UK privacy laws and how they apply to photographers here on POTN.

[robertc]

Yes I am based in London and it is English Law. I am very grateful for you sharing your knowledge on this matter.