English Heritage Organization Claiming It Holds Effective Copyright On Any And All Photos Of Stonehenge
from the stoned-henge dept
Every so often we hear of groups or organizations taking a rather expansive view of copyright law, but English Heritage, a UK gov't-backed organization to (you guessed it) promote English heritage and manage various historical sites, may have pushed the extremes to new levels. Boing Boing has the story of how it has sent a letter to a bunch of photosharing and stock photo sites claiming that all images of Stonehenge "can not be used for any commercial interest" and that "all commercial interest to sell images must be directed to English Heritage." Of course, that's blatantly ridiculous.One recipient of the letter, the site FotoLibra, is trying to figure out on what legal basis English Heritage is making this claim, noting that Stonehenge "has been their responsibility for 27 of the monument's 4,500 year old history." Of course, just about the only thing this will probably serve to do is make people a lot less interested in visiting Stonehenge, photographing Stonehenge and getting others to go to Stonehenge.
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Filed Under: english heritage, photographs, stonehenge, uk
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That may be the point
Considering that visitors are the greatest threat to the monument, I have to wonder if that's their real intent.
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Re: That may be the point
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Re: Re: That may be the point
Ask a Druid.
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Re: Re: Re: That may be the point
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Re: Re: That may be the point
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Re: Re: Re: That may be the point
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Re: Re: That may be the point
No one goes though that kind of work for any other reason that to make a monument.
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Not that I believe this, but it made me giggle.
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Re:
Druid #1 - Hey dude what do you want to do today?
Druid #2 - Lets go out to that big field and build a huge outhouse.
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Gilbert's a sellout that needs more $$$$
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Do google get a letter too?
You can even street view from inside of the structure. I'm guessing it's a bunch of 50+ yr olds who just took their fundraising cake sale a little too far.
http://goo.gl/e68b
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I'm shocked!
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A funding problem solved
Either that, or Terra Incognito and images of sea serpents on maps would make a stunning comback.
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Re: A funding problem solved
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Huh?
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Re: Huh?
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Look at it from their point of view...
Think about it - the sphynx is 5000 years old, stonehenge is 4500 years old, and the moai statues of Easter Island are only 500 years old. While these once were obviously commonly built, there haven't been any mysterious stone monuments built in centuries! It's quite obvious that the lack of copyright is what's preventing more of these sort of things from being created - just like it's the lack of pirates that's causing global warming!
We must encourage groups like to EHO to make these claims - it's the only way to get people to contribute to our culture!
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Missed my chance!
I'd be rich! Bwahahaha!
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It doesn't, but that still does not keep claims like this from being made every now and then regarding this and numerous other well-known landmarks.
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Fantastic comments!
redsquare said:
and xzzy added:
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Re: Fantastic comments!
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It isn't the first time
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Re: It isn't the first time
The law at the time in the UK meant that the finder and / or the landowner would receive payment of the value of the treasure. They didn't just pinch it.
Though it is quite possible that the finder could have received more money on the open market.
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I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to "English Heritage" for explaining that these photos not only hold personal sentimental value but also it seems high commercial value as well.
I mustr contact them and ask if they would like to purchase copies of them for their archives, at a reasonable price and since copyright (even under UK law.. ie: Act of Queen Anne) retains with the original photographer (oh thats myself) I will then place them up for sale and expect a nice little money earner over the next few years.
WOOT!
Might even make a T-Shirt..
"I went to Stonehenge.. took a photo and made this T-shirt..Wanna buy one?"
;)
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Like a Dan Brown Novel
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Your rights are belong to us
In addition, the unauthorised use of light from any star is strictly forbidden.
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Re: Your rights are belong to us
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Re: Your rights are belong to us
Huh? The sun is a star. We can't grow crops anymore? OTOH, go ahead and shut it off, that'll shut up those global warming freaks.
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The Druids did not build Stonehenge.
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olders photos
Ridiculous claims to make...
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UK Copyrights
It is a consession by the Her Majesties Government that we are allowed to copy some things. It is just that English Heritage (a QUANGO - part of the Government) have decided that we no longer have the right to duplicate our own photographs of Stonehenge without their permission - particularly if any money is involved.
Actually with all the Government spending cuts they are probably desperate to find alternative revenues - expect more clamp downs.
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A group wants to set up a collection agency for pictures,
sort of an ASCAP for photography.
Film at eleven.
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sue everyone
I do like this however. By the same merit, I can send such a copyright notice to anyone who takes a photo of my house and uses it commercially.
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all your photos belong to us
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Don't See the Problem
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Freedom of Panorama
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My Brain
Should I just turn myself in now?
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Reply from English Heritage
Ms R L McKellar
English Heritage
Customer Services
Po Box 569
SWINDON
SN2 2YP
Document Precis:
Dear Mr Xxxxxx,
Reference: xxxxxxxxx
Thank you for your email regarding photography at Stonehenge.
English Heritage looks after Stonehenge on behalf of the nation. But we do not control the copyright of all images of Stonehenge. And we have never tried to do so. We have no problem with photographers sharing images of Stonehenge on Flickr and similar not-for-profit image websites. We encourage visitors to the monument to take their own photographs.
If a commercial photographer enters the land within our care with the intention of taking a photograph of the monument for financial gain, we ask that they pay a fee and abide by certain conditions. English Heritage is a non-profit making organisation and this fee helps preserve and protect Stonehenge for the benefit of future generations. The majority of commercial photographers respect this position and normally request permission in advance of visiting.
I am sorry for any confusion caused by a recent email sent to a picture library.
Yours sincerely
Rae Mckellar
Correspondence Team Manager
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If they don't inform the public of their rules, they can't blame is for not playing by them...
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English Heritage claims are not reasonable
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Has bureaucracy become completely un-henged?
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