Question about possible legal issues

[awagner]

Hi Everyone,

I own a Canon G2 since the last 2 years. Just happen to fall on an excellent deal to by a Drebel.(had to by it :lol: )As you can guess, Im the happiest guy on the surface of this planet. :D Ive been taking pictures like crazy, until someone remind me about the legal issues of posting people faces online.

To my knowledge, if its taken in a public place, in a public activity its okay.

Anyone can bring me up to speed on that. Or maybe forward me a link of official paper releasing my from possible legal problems :?:

Heres some of my pics. (yes i know 2 of them are missing , they involved me and the passangers of the aircraft, did nt want to take any chances)

http://pages.infinit.net/awphoto/

Alex

[robertwgross]

Alex, your laws in Canada may be different from down here in the States.

If I take a photo of some ordinary strangers and then sell the images, they could sue me unless I get them to sign a model release. If I take the same photo of them, but I don't attempt to sell them commercially, I don't need any permission or release. You will notice that there is a lot of gray area in between.

If the strangers are under the legal age, then the model release must be signed by a parent instead.

If I take a photo of ordinary strangers in a private place like a locker room, then the police would be after me and I would likely end up in jail.

If they are celebrity figures and they are out in public, then there is no requirement for a model release. On the other hand, if they are celebrity figures and they are on their own private property when you shot it, then they will simply have their bodyguards rip out your film, smash your memory card, or worse.
---Bob Gross---

[SnJPhoto]

Generally the issue comes down to "expectation of privacy" type terms. Generally, there is no expectation of privacy in public parks, but that hasn't stop some from arguing the issue.

There are lots of threads discussing this already. your best bet is check the local laws, I noticed you are in Canada, so many of the laws from here would not help.

I assume you are doing this (posting pics) for private use and not for profit.


Good luck.

Scott

[cmM]

http://www.popphoto.com/assets/download/57200311838.pdf

A lot of info in there.

[Bruce Hamilton]

To my knowledge, if its taken in a public place, in a public activity its okay.

That may be if you're taking the picture from behind and can't see the subject's face. If you post a picture of someone online, there is always the possibility that the subject will either find it themselves, or someone they know will find it.

When in doubt, get a signed release. :)

[awagner]

Thx a million guys....


Im impressed on the short amount of time for the replies.

the www actualy works :wink:

Alex




(should be posting my gear here?!..... 8) )

[robertwgross]

Yes, the world wide web actually works!

I realized this for the first time in 1996. I had gone to a third-world country for a mountain climbing expedition. We were successful, and I did a bunch of photography (all film in those days, then scanned).

Late that year, in one of the Internet newsgroups, a fellow from Germany announced that he was going to the same mountain, and he didn't know how or where to get the necessary permit in the provincial capital city. He was leaving in two or three days.

I read his message and sent him an email with two attachments. One was a JPEG street map of the city showing where the permit office was. One was a photo of the front of the permit office.

He received that all before he left home, and he was a happy camper.

---Bob Gross---