Legal Notice for Using Photos
Question: Is it Ok to take photos of EWGS folks or guests at EWGS events with the aim of posting them on our blogs and websites?
Answer: Yes. Even though Washington law (RCW 63.60) protects “personality rights” of individuals (the use of a person’s name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness), there are many exceptions. These include news articles or blog/website articles such as those concerning EWGS events. Such use is allowed because EWGS events would be within the exception made for news reporting and/or the exceptions mater for use of “personality rights” of others in connection with matters of educational, historical, cultural or public interest.It should be noted that protection of “personality rights” is a matter of state law and so the law of the state where the event occurred and where the report of it was made would both potentially govern acceptable use. If the event and the report of it were both in the State of Washington, the law of Washington would of course apply.
John R. Zeimantzjrzeimantz@fggzlaw.comFeltman, Gebhardt, Greer & Zeimantz, P.S.
421 West Riverside Ave. Ste. 1400Spokane, WA 99201Phone: (509) 838-6800Fax: (509) 744-3436
LEGAL NOTICE FOR USAGE OF NEWSPAPERS AND/OR PRINTED MATERIAL
All newspaper material prior to 1924 is definitely in the public domain
Per our attorney, who has researched this for us, the following data is provided as background for this question. This is an excerpt, if anyone wishes to review the full analysis, please contact the webmanagers.
....After 1928 through 1977, the copyright claimant had to put the copyright symbol on the work or state it was Copyrighted in order to receive copyright protection One can check in the database at the copyright office to see if this was done. But that would be a difficult task as you’d need the name of the publisher and I’m not certain the database going back that far is in good order. However, you don’t need to do that. Regardless whether the work is subject to copyright or not, your use falls under the “Fair Use” doctrine contained in the copyright act. ....
"Other societies are free to use this blurb on their website as long as the full attorney's citation is included." The Washington law applies to all Washingtonians.
