Comments on: When does copyrighting go too far?

By: Sookie

Sookie — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:08:46 +0000

For the most part the copyright issue becomes relevant only when the photo or film is being used for commercial purposes ie. the exchange of money for service or product. Tourists can generally photograph and post images. Also generally speaking, the extent to which the object of architectural interest is the focus of the photo or takes up the majority of the photo will influence whether the copyright has been infringed.

One of my favourite photos of my mother is in front of the Atomium in the sixties. Would love to put it out there and share it. Shame this can be such a deterent.

By: Axel

Axel — Mon, 26 May 2008 23:12:53 +0000

Many texts that are sometimes contradictory and/ or vague circulate on the Internet about the publication of photographs depicting the Atomium. 

For recall, the royalties are perceived by the descendants of Andre Waterkeyn, the engineer who conceived Atomium in 1955, and not by the a.s.b.l. Atomium. 

In the precise and exclusive case of information articles related to the festivities of the fiftieth birthday of the Atomium and of Expo 58, private pictures intended for non-commercial and non-promotional purposes, published in low resolution (max. 600 pixels wide / 72 dpi), are free from copyrights. However, the copyright ? Sabam 2008 – http://www.atomium.be must be mentioned. 

The press can download and use the photographs and iconographic documents that are present in our virtual pressroom and which are freeware. However, for each one of these iconographic stereotypes or documents it is also imperative to mention, in addition to the copyright ? Sabam 2008 – http://www.atomium.be, the copyright of the photographer who is the author.

By: MikLav

MikLav — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:22:31 +0000

I’ve heard many times about Atomium management team going too far with their copyright protection. I don’t think it’s very similar to Sydney Opera, because that one is about the architect rights while Atomium is about owner rights. With Atomium being built for public money, and freely visible/accessible from public grounds it’s management team indeed goes too far. It is just ridiculous like in this example with Mechelen museum.

As more and more people around the globe start to realize possible benefits from their copy/owner rights it’s becoming more and more clear that the copyright laws are weird and need to be changed. Authors and owners rights do need to be protected indeed, but in a reasonable and balanced manner.

By: pfowler

pfowler — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:51:27 +0000

In California and Nevada, even trees have been copyrighted. See the article here:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DC1031F931A3575BC0A966958260

29,200 images available using Google images.

By: Serge Jespers

Serge Jespers — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:09:07 +0000

@Kenton: Do you work for the Adobe brand-police? :D