Sport posters: Model release needed?

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/07/2007 05:49:19 AM · #1

I've been asked by the manager of one of the bars on our campus, next to the sport pitches, to provide some photographs of sport events at the uni. Football, basketball, hockey, rugby, etc. The photographs would be printed at aroud A3 and used as decoration for the bar.
In a way they document sports at the uni, on the other hand they are posters used for decoration. My question then is, would these photographs, which I initially took for the student paper, fall under the editorial domain and hence not need model releases, in the same way as editorial pictures don't require releases on some stock sites?

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

11/07/2007 08:07:22 AM · #2

local laws vary. in the US, one-off prints and very limited prints would be considered art. mass-produced copies would be considered a commercial product, subject to licensing by the uni (as well as possibly the uni's conference), and quite likely a model release by the subject.

in one of my favorite college bars, all the stuff on the walls (pictures, jerseys, posters, etc) are gifts to the bar, usually autographed by the giver.

11/07/2007 07:05:22 PM · #3

They are one-off prints indeed. Sounds like I'm good to go then? Has anyone else got any thoughts?

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/08/2007 08:26:56 PM · #4

Somebody? How does it work with college photography, has anyone ever provided say a group shot to a school which now hangs in a corridor withour model releases?

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

11/08/2007 09:21:06 PM · #5

schools typically do that on their own. their sports information departments arrange for headshots and team shots to be taken, then they are used however they want to use them (within sanctioning body guidelines, of course). if the school wants to give a bar a copy of a photo, that is the school's perogative.

if decorative posters have been produced by the school, they can be distributed by the school however they want (again, within sanctioning body guidelines).

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/08/2007 10:08:56 PM · #6

Is the bar owned by the university?

~Terry

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

11/08/2007 10:19:01 PM · #7

Originally posted by gloda:

Somebody? How does it work with college photography, has anyone ever provided say a group shot to a school which now hangs in a corridor withour model releases?

Model releases are required when photos are going to be used for business and /or advertising purposes. Posting them in a bar for decorations does not require a model release.