Can a concert venue restrict how press photographers shoot and use images?
Asked 6/29/2012
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2 answers
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I’m trying to understand the legal basics for concert photography in the US and UK. If a photographer is covering a concert as press, can the venue or promoter require limits such as shooting only the first few songs, restricting where the photographer can stand, or limiting how the photos may be used afterward? How does this differ from general photography rights in public places, especially in the UK?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
4
Caveat: I'm not an attorney, blah, blah.
Your rights with respect to the image may not be as important as your agreement with the venue. If you agree with the venue as a term of attending to behave in a certain way and you don't, then they might have an issue with you. So let's assume you attended a concert and they announced that no photography or videography of any kind is permitted during the concert (a common practice).
Now, at this concert, you decide to ignore the venue's stated rules of conduct and take some photographs. Technically, because you probably don't have property or model releases, you should be able to use the image in editorial contexts. However, because you were violating the venues request with respect to allowable activities, I can see how they might have a legitimate gripe.
Short story: If you start boycotting concerts because they don't allow photography, prepare yourself to attend fewer concerts. Lesser-known acts tend to be less picky so if concert photography is the itch you want to scratch, try them.
Originally by user5270. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5270
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
At concerts, the key issue is usually not general “photographers’ rights” but the access agreement for a private event. A ticket or press pass can be conditional: the venue/promoter may set rules such as no photography, first-three-songs only, pit-only access, or limits on later use. If you accept those terms to enter or get a press pass, those terms can control what you’re allowed to do.
That is different from ordinary photography in public places. In the UK, the general position is that photography from a public place is usually allowed unless a specific law restricts it. But that public-place principle typically does not override the rules of a private concert in a private venue.
If someone ignores the venue’s rules and shoots anyway, they may still face consequences because they breached the venue’s conditions of entry, regardless of broader copyright or editorial-use arguments.
So, for concerts: access terms matter most. For streets and other public places: general public-photography rights are broader, subject to specific exceptions. For anything critical, consult a qualified lawyer in the relevant country.
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