Do you need permission to shoot someone?

[Pasi Nurminen]

So, I was watching this video earlier, and it got me thinking... do you actually need someone's permission to record them on video? Is it a black and white issue, or is there some grey area?

I can obviously infer that following someone around all day and filming them like a stalker is verboten, but is simply walking around with a camera violating the rights of someone who just happens to wander into focus also verboten? What if you are just filming something inanimate, and someone walks into focus, especially deliberately?

 

[Erik Mesoy]

It's probably verboten, the way lawsuits and the DMCA and chilling effects and the MAFIAA have been hollowing out Fair Use.
In theory, though, Fair Use allows you to film most places and include people who wander into focus.

 

[Truronian]

I'd have thought you can in a public place... interesting question.

 

[Lone Wolf]

For a second I throught you meant shooting someone with a gun...

 

[Mirc]

^ Same. I was wondering if this thread is about consensual murder or something like that.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

^ Same. I was wondering if this thread is about consensual murder or something like that.

That makes three of us.

 

[punkbass2000]

Whether or not you're showing the film to others, who those others are and whether or not you're profiting from it all factor in.

 

[Bugfatty300]

So, I was watching this video earlier, and it got me thinking... do you actually need someone's permission to record them on video? Is it a black and white issue, or is there some grey area?

I can obviously infer that following someone around all day and filming them like a stalker is verboten, but is simply walking around with a camera violating the rights of someone who just happens to wander into focus also verboten? What if you are just filming something inanimate, and someone walks into focus, especially deliberately?

Stalking would be illegal but recording someone in public is not. If you were doing a TV show or making a movie, then you'd need their permission to show their face, but not to record them.

Of course putting cameras in someone's home or dressing rooms is illegal.

 

[TheDervish]

What if you take a picture as a tourist, and the picture is like "wow, look at all the tourists here!" is that OK?

 

[Bill3000]

Only in Oregon.

 

[Ansar]

That makes three of us.

Make that four.

 

[Atlas14]

I know in Latin American countries, and apparently the DPRK, you need permission. If not legally, then culturally it is expected.

 

[QuoVadisNation]

Depends on the country obviously, but if I had to venture a guess out of the blue; I'd say you would only need permission when the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Though, seems Bugfatty knows more about it

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

What about the situation in the video I linked to? Was it legal for our good friend Mark to film the three Scientologists as they confronted and harrassed him?

 

[Japanrocks12]

Make that four.

five..

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

What about the situation in the video I linked to? Was it legal for our good friend Mark to film the three Scientologists as they confronted and harrassed him?

I just watched the whole thing. That was bloody hilarious.

 

[azzaman333]

Of course putting cameras in someone's home or dressing rooms is illegal.

It is?!

 

[mdwh]

It's probably verboten, the way lawsuits and the DMCA and chilling effects and the MAFIAA have been hollowing out Fair Use.
In theory, though, Fair Use allows you to film most places and include people who wander into focus.

Copyright law and fair use has nothing to do with it - by default, the copyright belongs to the person filming, not the participants in the scene (at least, in the UK and US).

 

[Gogf]

If it were, we wouldn't have nearly so many photos and videos of celebrities floating around. I'm not a lawyer, but I suspect it's legal until the point where someone feels threatened by your behavior and brings you to court asking for a restraining order.