| Photographing without permission "In the United States, anything visible ("in plain view") from a public area can be legally photographed. This includes buildings and facilities, people, signage, notices and images. It is common for security personnel to use intimidation or other tactics to attempt to stop photography, to prevent, for example, industrial espionage. However, as long as the image being photographed is in plain view from a public area, the photographer is acting lawfully.[2] The case is basically the same in the UK, however the Home Secretary has stated that the police can "restrict or monitor photography in certain circumstances". [3] On 16th of February 2009, the UK's counter terrorism act was modified to now make it illegal to photograph either a member of the armed forces or a police officer.[4] In recent years, some building owners have claimed a copyright on the appearance of their building; such landmarks as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh's PPG Place, etc. United States copyright law, however, explicitly exempts the appearance of standing buildings from copyright protection.[5]." read more at |