Know-How Exchange : Social Media

Any photos you use for commercial gain should have photo release forms filled out and signed. The forms should provide appropriate restrictions on how the photos will be used. Just google to get the forms.

Steve's in the US and will know the local situation a lot better than I do.

I took a photograph at my local railway station for commercial purposes. My guess is that any one of those people could sue me if they wished - only would they ever see my picture? What would it cost them to bring the action, and in truth, would it be worth their while?

To be honest, I could imagine them smiling that they were on film.

Perhaps Steve has some indications on possible disclaimers you could use if you just posted the picture?

There is a copyright clause about fair use. In public, at a public event, there can be little expectation of privacy if one does not know their photograph is being taken. Each day, millions of people have their photographs taken by closed circuit TV systems.

You, as the originator of the image, need to take all reasonable steps to contact people you tale photographs of IF you intend to use those images in promotional material over which the people in the images have no say until such time as those images are published.

If images are taken at an event to which an admission fee is charged, or for which there is published promotional material that's publicly circulated, one way to cover your self is to include wording to the effect on the flyers etc that states by attending the event, attendees agree to having their likeness photographed or recorded with audio visual equipment, the results of which may be used for promotional purposes.