Public display of people in photographs

[Deleted member 68495]

I was going to add this to an existing thread but they started talking professional things and I no longer thought it appropriate there.

If I take pictures of a crowd of people at a gig or sports meeting, or even the odd individual or two, where do I stand if it came to selling the pictures?

For example, let's say I'm at a match (of something) and take a picture of the crowd in which there is a particular interesting 'thing' happening -- it doesn't matter what -- and that 'thing' is saleable but the image also contains the faces of anonymous people that cannot be cropped out. Can that picture be sold and used where the general public would have access to it or where it would be printed or broadcast?

 

[HoppyUK]

I was going to add this to an existing thread but they started talking professional things and I no longer thought it appropriate there.

If I take pictures of a crowd of people at a gig or sports meeting, or even the odd individual or two, where do I stand if it came to selling the pictures?

For example, let's say I'm at a match (of something) and take a picture of the crowd in which there is a particular interesting 'thing' happening -- it doesn't matter what -- and that 'thing' is saleable but the image also contains the faces of anonymous people that cannot be cropped out. Can that picture be sold and used where the general public would have access to it or where it would be printed or broadcast?

Assuming that there are no unusual restrictions and that you are the copyright holder, then you can sell it. But that's not really what you want to know.

The question is, would anyone buy this picture from you and publish it? That's where the problems usually lie - in the publishing, not in the selling or buying. And the answer to that is, it depends on the context - the context of the photograph and the people, and the context of the publication. It can get complicated.

 

[Phil V]

... the context of the photograph and the people, and the context of the publication. It can get complicated.

This^
Newsworthy, no problem
Editorial, likewise(ish) there could feasibly be an issue with context and libel or misrepresentation.
Commercial, probably not without the permission of the subjects

 

[Deleted member 68495]

This^
Newsworthy, no problem
Editorial, likewise(ish) there could feasibly be an issue with context and libel or misrepresentation.
Commercial, probably not without the permission of the subjects

Yes, it is the commercial aspect I was thinking of. I don't actually have anything to sell, I was just curious; you never know, it might happen one day and it's good to know in advance.

Thanks people.