Using pics of public buildings etc

Local city halls, high schools etc

[Absolutely]

I'm working on a main website populated by a number of local cities-by name. I was thinking of spending a day out on the road photographing city halls, schools, main streets in each city to give the web page for each city a little personal feel/touch.

Other than the notion anyone can take you to court for any-thing..before I burn up all those gallons of gas taking pics in those communities I'd like some opinions as to whether I might get communication from some of these places insisting I do not use their buildings on my website? And whether they'd have a legal leg to stand on.

The website is classifieds oriented to a degree. Nothing nasty or obviously 'bad'.

[LifeinAsia]

I'd say that if you get any nasty-grams from anyone, tell them they need to take their buildings out of the public domain by moving the entire building to a secluded area behind a very high gate with armed renta-cops and put a huge tarp over the entire area to prevent showing up on Google Earth.

If you're taking your own pictures, I don't see any problem. I've been doing something similar for years- taking pictures of historical places for travel-related sites. Unless there is a posted "no photography" sign, if it's out in public, it should be fair game.

But I'm not a lawyer, so don't blame me if you get sued anyway. :)

[Mr Bo Jangles]

A non-issue surely.

[hunderdown]

If it's private property, then you can run into problems, from what I've read. But public buildings?

[zCat]

Do watch out if you're in Chicago though: [onthecommons.org...]

[monkeythumpa]

Ask them for a picture, it will save you the trip, supplies, etc. Most City Halls have them. Its good PR.

[Syzygy]

USA? My understanding is that if the building is in a public place then you can photograph it. Copyright applies to buildings erected after 1 December 1990, but even then, if the building is in a public place or is visible from a public place, then it may be photographed.

If in doubt, have a good trawl for legal resources and more authoritative advice via your favourite search engine, and/or consult a legal practitioner.

Usual disclaimer applies: I am not a qualified legal counsel, this is not advice, blah, blah, blah...

Syzygy

[edited by: Syzygy at 9:51 am (utc) on July 11, 2006]

[buckworks]

In journalism studies (in Canada) we were taught that as long as you yourself were standing on public property when you took the picture, anything was fair game for a "news" picture. Different standards apply for ordinary commercial photography, though, in particular the issue of model releases if there are people in your photos.

Check the laws in your jurisdiction to be sure, and when in doubt, get permission.

Keep in mind that some areas where the public are welcome to come and go are not in fact public property ... inside a shopping mall, for example.