Simple copywright question

[Kemble]

If I take a picture of the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel tower, Lincoln Memorial (any well known landmark) etc and print a poster/vehicle wrap/wall decal or anything of the sort using my own picture that I took and SELL it. Am I breaking the law?

 

[Pat Whatley]

Statue of Liberty Copyright - http://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/oct07/statue.html

Eiffel Tower - daytime images are public domain...nighttime images are copyrighted (damn French)

Point is that architectural work and sculptural work often has copyright guidelines for their legal reproduction.

 

[Kemble]

Was looking for more of a "Yes" "No" kind of answer.

Seams a bit too far fetched to be able to copyright a picture that I took myself, unless of course it's my picture of a picture (like the Mona Lisa).

I want to offer products with pictures on them that I took myself, like when I went to DC, Niagra Falls, Boston, etc. Can I legally put a picture of the Liberty Bell (that I took) onto a laptop or something?

 

[Pat Whatley]

Okay....NO.

Every subject is going to be different. I would imagine the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, and the Lincoln Memorial would fall completely under public domain. Niagra Falls certainly would be. The Eiffel Tower....well it's owned by the French....screw them, do with it as you wish.

Personally, if I took the pictures I'd use them for whatever I wanted to until they sent me a letter telling me to stop.

 

[CheapVehicleWrap]

LOL Pat. I didn't realize that.

 

[Sideshow]

a one off piece that YOU display yourself can be done of ANY subject matter, unless photography is marked prohibited...

so you can take a pic of eiffel tower at night, and reproduce in large format for your own use, it cant be sold or reproduced commercially.