Can a theater require me to delete photos from my phone?
Asked 12/21/2013
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2 answers
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I took a photo of the stage during intermission at a theater in the US and a staff member told me photography was not allowed. After I put my phone away, they asked me to show that I had deleted any stage photos.
On private property such as a theater, can staff require me to delete photos I already took? Can they require me to show them the photos on my phone, or is their main remedy simply to make me leave if I refuse?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
1
it's a grey area but (based on experience in UK) the theatre is private property so you will need permission to photograph there.
Are you legally required to delete the photos you have taken:
Yes and No, technically you have already broken one law but by deleting the photos you are essentially agreeing that if you delete the evidence then no further action will be taken
Do you have to prove to the person that these photos have been deleted:
No, but it relates to the 'agreement above'. If you don't the staff member/manager could eject you from their property, contact the police, have you equipment seized and held in evidence.
It's unlikely to come to that but would you want to take the risk?
Originally by user24908. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user24908
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Generally, a theater can set and enforce a no-photography policy because it is private property. If you break that policy, staff can usually require you to stop and may eject you if you refuse to comply.
Based on the community answers, they typically cannot directly force you to delete photos or force you to show them your phone on the spot. Their practical leverage is that refusal may lead to removal from the venue, and in some cases they may involve police or rely on terms printed on the ticket.
The staff member’s mention of “copyright” is probably not the main issue; venue rules and ticket terms are the more relevant concerns. Fine print on the ticket may include restrictions you agreed to when attending.
So the likely answer is: they can enforce their policy and remove you, but not personally compel deletion or a phone search. If you are concerned about the exact legal position in your state or the ticket terms, this is really a legal question rather than a photography one.
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