LEGAL question about club photos, can you sell the images?

I'm gonna have to keep an eye on this thread as well. I've been trying my hand at club photography, though I haven't shot a party since I got my 580ex. I'd stoked to give it a try. Eventually I'd like to sell my pictures, and I'd love to know what I can and can't do.

This is a very interesting thread! I will definitely keep my eyes on this one...

I have a similiar issue.... However, it's not a company that wants the images, is someone I know (create his personal scrapbook). He also knows most of the people in the clubnite pictures. So, i will get everyone to sign a release form.

The whole area of copyright is extremely complex. There are so many possibilities that probably the best one can do is to follow what you perceive to be proper for your situation. Usually courts look for previous rulings to help make decisions, but even then, just a single different circumstance can render prior decisions worthless.

And even when you think you have done everything by the book, there is no way of stopping someone of suing or bringing a lawsuit your way. To be honest, the only way to proceed in these matters is go by what you know and have been advised is okay, and then, if need be, let a court rule as to what is legal or not.

If you think you might be doing this a lot or something similiar, spend an hour with a copyright attorney, and see what he/she advises. You'll feel more comfortable in the long run.

Tiesse wrote in post #3363044
I had a similar situation regarding copyright. I take pictures at an ice hockey team's home games & was approached by an over zealous previous member of the supporters club telling me that I would be infringing copyright by publishing my images online or otherwise.

In the U.S., as I understand it, you can photograph and post/publish just about anything, as long as it's not explicitly prohibited by law (very, very few of these exist) and as long as the subject does not have a 'resonable expectation of privacy' (such as shooting thru an office or home window with a telephoto lens).

Now, selling the photo for commercial use is another matter.