[LINK] We?re all copyright criminals now

[Stewart Fist]

I think Howard is joking -- or just stirring the pot.

>Just send them an invoice for your services.  After all, they are using
>your image in their programs which support their primary revenue source -
>advertising.


I have as much right to film in a public place as you have to dance, sing or
walk, or play your ghetto-blaster.

And what I do with the material I collect in this public place -- whether
for commercial or private reasons -- is of no concern to you, provided I am
within the law.  If you don't want to be filmed ... or seen ... or heard, in
a public place -- then don't go there and do what you are doing.


I assume that everyone in the Link Institute uses public places for
commercial reasons (ie getting to and from work, transporting parts and
equipment, etc), so why would your commercial use of public areas have
preference over mine?


Over many years in TV reporting, I have never had anyone try the "copyright"
ploy to stop me filming, and if they had tried I would have had their claim
framed to hang on he wall alongside the framed letters from peeved
politicians.

However I've had dozens of police, security-guards, and local-council
officers try to stop me filming/taping by using either the "you are on
private property" ploy, or the "obstruction of traffic" claim.

Whenever I was threatened in this way, I'd just zoom back to a wide-shot and
pan around 360 degrees for evidence as to the level of obstruction/trespass,
and invite them politely to sue or charge me.

No one ever did.


Kim's complaint about
> the intrusiveness of today's media especially some of the TV
> shows is a pet peeve of mine.
is no justification for blocking the legitimate right of the media to film
in public places.  

The complaint should rightly be directed at personal privacy rights, and at
media beat-ups and sensationalism.  No  one does investigative journalism
anymore on TV (apart from 4 Corners). Most of it is just celebrity-fronting,
done outside the studio, to give the impression of reality.

This is a program-treatment and ratings problem -- and it only exists
because it has proved to be highly popular with general audiences
[unfortunately].  If it didn't rate, they wouldn't do it.



-- 
Stewart Fist, writer, journalist, film-maker
70 Middle Harbour Road, LINDFIELD, 2070, NSW, Australia
Ph +61 (2) 9416 7458