Posting photos on web site question

[KM]

Hi,
I am starting a community based web site in Maryland, USA.

Does anyone know if I am allowed to take a digital photo of the outside of a
store or restaurant (say Kmart, Target, McDonalds etc) and post the picture
to my web site without telling the business that I am doing it? It would
just be there next to the businesses listing on my community web site. No
manipulation, just a front elevation pic.

Seems to me like this is out in the public so I should be able to. Someone
else told me they thought I couldn't.

Does it make a difference if the store is inside a mall?

Thanks,
Ken

[Ric Trexell]

KM <km@km.com> wrote in message news:za-dnW1gv7fzNKeiXTWJkQ@comcast.com...

> Hi,
> I am starting a community based web site in Maryland, USA.
>
> Does anyone know if I am allowed to take a digital photo of the outside of

a

> store or restaurant (say Kmart, Target, McDonalds etc) and post the

picture

> to my web site without telling the business that I am doing it?

************************************************** ********
KM: Yes you could get in a little trouble however I have not heard of any
one getting the death penality for it. However, why do you want to be so
secret in it. Chances are if you just go to the manager and ask permission
and explain why and what you want to do, they will give you permission. As
for the mall pics, there again the best practice is to ask. They may
request that you not use a tripod as it is a tripping hazard and they are
the ones that would be sued if you tripped a little old lady that fell and
broke her bones. In this day of security conscience people, taking photos
in secret of buildings will set off alarms in the minds of some that you are
one of those genuine terrorists. The most professional way of doing any of
this is asking, preferablly in writing and in person. If they say no, then
don't. At least you will be able to sleep at night. Ric in Wisconsin.

[KM]

Thanks for the reply Ric.

The reason I'm really asking is this particular area has about 5,000
businesses.
Asking all these people would be a nightmare.

For example, you take pictures of the front of each store at a retail
outlet. Say the retail outlet has 40 stores. Then down the road a bit
there is another one. On and on.
Plus, I can see it now. You ask a manager at one of these stores and they
say they don't have the authority to sign a release. You have to contact
"corporate". Now imagine getting a release from each "corporation".

I just always thought that if I could take a snap shot from outside, that I
would be able to use it. But maybe that was wishful thinking.


"Ric Trexell" <rtrexell@vbe.com> wrote in message
news:vjlukgcn2ffvd1@corp.supernews.com...

>
> KM <km@km.com> wrote in message news:za-dnW1gv7fzNKeiXTWJkQ@comcast.com...

> > Hi,
> > I am starting a community based web site in Maryland, USA.
> >
> > Does anyone know if I am allowed to take a digital photo of the outside

of

> a

> > store or restaurant (say Kmart, Target, McDonalds etc) and post the

> picture

> > to my web site without telling the business that I am doing it?

> ************************************************** ********
> KM: Yes you could get in a little trouble however I have not heard of any
> one getting the death penality for it. However, why do you want to be so
> secret in it. Chances are if you just go to the manager and ask

permission

> and explain why and what you want to do, they will give you permission.

As

> for the mall pics, there again the best practice is to ask. They may
> request that you not use a tripod as it is a tripping hazard and they are
> the ones that would be sued if you tripped a little old lady that fell and
> broke her bones. In this day of security conscience people, taking photos
> in secret of buildings will set off alarms in the minds of some that you

are

> one of those genuine terrorists. The most professional way of doing any

of

> this is asking, preferablly in writing and in person. If they say no,

then

> don't. At least you will be able to sleep at night. Ric in Wisconsin.
>
>

[Mads Pedersen]

You may find this useful: [url]http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm[/url]

All the best,

// Mads
----------------------------------
..: [url]http://www.madspedersen.com[/url]

> From: "KM" <km@km.com>
> Newsgroups: alt.photography
> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 17:16:32 -0400
> Subject: Posting photos on web site question
>
> Hi,
> I am starting a community based web site in Maryland, USA.
>
> Does anyone know if I am allowed to take a digital photo of the outside of a
> store or restaurant (say Kmart, Target, McDonalds etc) and post the picture
> to my web site without telling the business that I am doing it? It would
> just be there next to the businesses listing on my community web site. No
> manipulation, just a front elevation pic.
>
> Seems to me like this is out in the public so I should be able to. Someone
> else told me they thought I couldn't.
>
> Does it make a difference if the store is inside a mall?
>
> Thanks,
> Ken
>
>