Threat to Photography

I Simonius

I hope its OK to post this here?

The UK currently has legislation pending that could severely constrain the rights of photographers

https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-save-the-freedom-of-photography-savefop-europarl-en?recruiter=293430649&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

Richard

I Simonius wrote: »

I hope its OK to post this here?

The UK currently has legislation pending that could severely constrain the rights of photographers

https://www.change.org/p/european-parliament-save-the-freedom-of-photography-savefop-europarl-en?recruiter=293430649&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

It's not only of concern in the UK--it affects all EU countries that have signed the Freedom of Panorama agreement.

My understanding is a little bit different, though, of what's at stake. The change to the existing legislation would mean that only non-commercial photography is protected in public spaces. Commercial photographers would (potentially) be out of luck and out of business as well in the worst case. I suspect that this will be completely unworkable in practice, but nevertheless it's an unwelcome development and I hope that it is rejected by the European Parliament.

More info here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Panorama_in_Europe_in_2015/Learn_more

I Simonius

Richard wrote: »

It's not only of concern in the UK--it affects all EU countries that have signed the Freedom of Panorama agreement.

My understanding is a little bit different, though, of what's at stake. The change to the existing legislation would mean that only non-commercial photography is protected in public spaces. Commercial photographers would (potentially) be out of luck and out of business as well in the worst case. I suspect that this will be completely unworkable in practice, but nevertheless it's an unwelcome development and I hope that it is rejected by the European Parliament.

More info here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Panorama_in_Europe_in_2015/Learn_more

but this would also mean that we can't sell ANY shots that happen to have one of these protected properties etc in it

Richard

I Simonius wrote: »

but this would also mean that we can't sell ANY shots that happen to have one of these protected properties etc in it

Yes, that's correct--no commercial use. It's so absurd that it's hard to believe it could really happen. Enforcement would likely be left to copyright trolls after-the-fact, as one can't imagine any other way of it happening.

I Simonius

the best we can hope for is that people actually sign the petition