Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013

[Black Pearl]

It just gets dafter and dafter and dafter....

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2...ir-you-bought/

[chauncey]

Aah, tis good to see another government with the wisdom to best look after it's populace.
We should be consoled by the fact that they know what's best for us.

[Clactonian]

Remind me, who was it fiddled whilst Rome burned?

[Donald]

What's the statement that goes something like - "Sometimes the law's an ass".

Not sure who this law is protecting in what way. If a designer designs something then presumably they want it seen. If I then buy it and photograph it, I'm not sure that I'm damaging the designer (financially or in any other way) if I take the photo of it and tell people that it's wonderful and that they should buy one too.

But I'm happy to be told why this law is necessary.

[Manfred M]

I suspect that this is another one of those laws where they consulted with all the stakeholders, except the biggest one, the general public. Intellectual property laws have become stupid.

[Mike Buckley]

If a designer designs something then presumably they want it seen.

They also want to control the context of how it is seen. If a commercial photographer wants to display it in a way that the designer thinks will hurt their brand, they'll simply deny the photographer the right to photograph it. The designer also wants to decide whether it's in their best interest to charge for a license or provide a free license. I would be willing to bet the designers are very much in favor of this law.

Imagine how the Hollywood filmmakers feel about this law. In the past, the designers have been paying the filmmakers to prominently display their goods in the film. That will remain the same, but now the filmmakers will have to make sure they obtain permission to include stuff in their film. The same is true for television shows.

[TonyW]

I think the author of this article does not understand the law as it is now, let alone what it is going to be. I can't believe that it is now illegal to photograph objects such as chairs or even sculpture. If the law is the same in Australia, does it mean I can't photograph the Sydney Opera House? The change to the law that is mentioned is only an extension of the period for which copyright applies.

[William W]

. . . does it mean I can't photograph the Sydney Opera House? . . .

Picking nits, there are actually quiet a few situations where it would be an offense to photograph the Sydney Opera House, but if your visiting from Brisbane and using your camera hand held it should not be a problem if you are outside - if you are questioned tell them you are tourist and learning the new camera. Never say that you are a professional.

WW

[William W]

It just gets dafter and dafter and dafter....

The whole world is nuts. Down here, at the moment, it is the over zealous security guards. Perhaps I am a magnet, perhaps it's just the silly season, but I've been stopped twice this week and asked why I am carrying "all those cameras" - crikey there were only two!

WW

[Black Pearl]

I think the author of this article does not understand the law as it is now, let alone what it is going to be. I can't believe that it is now illegal to photograph objects such as chairs or even sculpture. If the law is the same in Australia, does it mean I can't photograph the Sydney Opera House? The change to the law that is mentioned is only an extension of the period for which copyright applies.

All hell broke loose a little while back in Europe when this was first proposed because it would mean you couldn't take pictures of certain buildings without permission, even some national parks want control of scenes taken within them.

Look how daft that got: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...k-ILLEGAL.html

This is taking it even further and I honestly can't see it being workable.

[Ndukes]

Aah, tis good to see another government with the wisdom to best look after it's populace.
We should be consoled by the fact that they know what's best for us.

They know what's best for the legal profession.

[Ndukes]

If I understand this correctly, if I am a celebrity being hounded by paparazzi (which I am not), all I have to do is to buy a designer hat and the copyright. I can then sue anyone who photographs me (I think).

[IzzieK]

And who said people sitting on their butts cannot extract anymore money anywhere..somewhere. One of these days, it will be illegal to be such an idiot without having to pay for it...