"Stock Footage" - When do you need permissions?

Jessariah67 wrote on 4/28/2003, 4:03 PM

I have a client who has some personal footage of a park that she wants to use in a commercial. Question is, when is someone "featured" in a clip? Obviously, if you can't make out the face, or you've got a sailboat in the background, etc., it's a safe bet. But what about footage that is more medium/medium-long? A group of people standing in front of a fountain; someone walking by the camera -- stuff like that? If these shots were taken in a public place, where is the line drawn? Anybody know?

I've seen stock footage that was obviously staged, but others are taken on city streets, public bridges, etc. -- no way someone got permission from everyone on the street.

Any help or where to look would be appreciated.

Thanks
KH

Comments

kameronj wrote on 4/28/2003, 10:52 PM

Good question.

I'm not sure, but I would actually start with the Library of Congress website since this really has to deal with copyrights. I'm sure there is something there to at least get you started with.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 4/28/2003, 11:26 PM

At the TV station I work at, when I had to go out and get some footage, I had to bring along a handfull of release forms. Everyone had to sign them. If they didn't sign them, i couldn't use them. Vrey pain-in-my-buttish, but saved me/station from any legal battles. I bet that with stock footage on a city or wherever, everyone had to sign a release. But if you can't see 'em, or aren't going to use them in the footage, then there's no reason to have them sign.