[SML] photo rights

[Pat Kight]

Jerry Durand via Stagecraft wrote:
> A friend said there is a car commercial being filmed down the street
> from him.  When he went outside to see what all the noise was (catering
> generator started at 0-dark-hundred) they were unloading the 2016 cars
> for the shoot and warned him he's not allowed to take pictures.
>
> Assuming there aren't any police officers in the scene, is there any
> reason he can't take pictures of a public street in front of his house?
> He didn't sign any contract.

It's likely the production company has a location permit from the city 
including language prohibiting photos within the area covered by the 
permit. It's also likely that the permit covers enough area to make it 
effectively impossible to get a clear shot of the new cars.

Whether that permit would hold up in court is an open question, but I'm 
sure the producers and their lawyers could make life miserable - and 
expensive - for your friend in the meantime.

What would *really* be interesting is if the cars were clearly visible 
from, say, an upstairs window in your friend's house/apartment. IANA 
lawyer, but I'd be very surprised if they could prevent someone from 
shooting photos from inside their own home.

-- 
Pat Kight
kightp at peak.org