The current internet meme
From a photography blog:
If You Put That Picture On The Internet I�ll Call My Lawyer
This guy was on the corner of Stockton and Columbus in San Francisco yelling at a homeless man. Anger, conflict, drama � sounds like a great shot to me. I crossed the street but was unable to get anything interesting, since I only had my 50mm lens on the camera and I was just too far away.
However, Mr. Angry Overreaction Man decided that he now had a problem with me. He confronted me, demanding my camera. Of course, I refused. He got in my face and started threatening me, telling me that I cannot take his photo without his permission. I told him that yes, in fact, I can. He then walked up and bumped into me, trying to act tough. I told him that one more touch and I would call the police.
Of course, he didn�t like that very much, and at that point told me that if I put his picture on the internet, he would call his laywer. I assured him that his photo would be on the internet, and he then walked up and grabbed my camera lens. Well, that�s just not something that I will put up with, so I pulled the camera away from him and reached for my phone and started dialing. Once he saw that he turned away, still yelling threats, and continued on his way.
I felt bad for his daughter, who was with him, because she was obviously embarrassed by his antics and kept pleading with him to stop. I have a great shot showing her looking up as if saying �Oh boy, here he goes again�. But I�m not going to post that one, as she was not acting like an idiot and I don�t want to embarrass her. Mr. Angry Overreaction Man seems to do enough of that.
So, Mr. Angry Overreaction Man, your photo is now on the internet. Call your lawyer. Tell him somebody on a public sidewalk took your photo while you were on a public sidewalk. Then tell him you physically assaulted the photographer. See what he says.
Of course, the image is now cropping up all over...
As for the legal element, Attorney Bert P. Krages has a wonderful The Photographer�s Right
downloadable in PDF format.
Mr. Krages has also authored the more detailed
Legal Handbook for Photographers.
The upshot, aggressive Mr. anti-photo dude doesn't have a leg to stand on.
The 360+
comments are a fun read.
Posted by DaveH at December 31, 2009 6:11 PM