Rip Off? - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

06/09/2004 09:31:27 PM · #1

Is photographing money like this considered to be a rip off of the work of another artist, or is money considered to be in the public domain?

blemt

Nikon D70

06/09/2004 10:14:22 PM · #2

Photographing money can actually get you into trouble with the US Secret Service if you are talking pictures of US currency. What are you planning on trying out?

Clara

turdave

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/09/2004 10:20:51 PM · #3

Originally posted by blemt:

Photographing money can actually get you into trouble with the US Secret Service if you are talking pictures of US currency. What are you planning on trying out?

Clara

Well that would be a waste of taxpayers money if they came after him for that photograph. But then again the US government is good at wasting taxpayers money.

Pioneer

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX DG HSM for Canon EOS

06/09/2004 10:23:50 PM · #4

I found this site about photographing money, you might like to take a look Money

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

06/09/2004 10:36:55 PM · #5

Originally posted by Pioneer:

I found this site about photographing money, you might like to take a look Money

Excellant link Mike, thanks!

Clara, I'm not sure what I am trying out... more curious than anything at the moment. I took that picture while playing with a lense and got curious about the end result.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/10/2004 12:18:09 AM · #6

Originally posted by blemt:

Photographing money can actually get you into trouble with the US Secret Service if you are talking pictures of US currency. What are you planning on trying out?

While this is technically true, rules are somewhat less restrictive about photographing than they are about the printing of those photographs. Here's what the Secret Service has to sat about it. From reading this, my personal opinion is that there are two sets of rules: One which applies to printed images (on paper, print or any other physical medium), and another which relates to non-printed images (slides, telecasets, movies, and the like).

Even if you are within the law, you may open yourself up for some questioning by the Secret Service. This is a straight-on image of enough detail that it might give them probable cause to investigate and possibly question you about it.

Garry, the real question is what do you intend to do with this photograph? If you can answer that we can probably have a meaningful discussion of whether are likely to get in trouble for it.

NOTE: I am not a lawyer, and this is only my opinion, not an "official" DPC opinion. Reliance on this is at your own risk.

-Terry

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

06/10/2004 12:20:30 AM · #7

Know one is going to lose there shirts over photographing money I hope.

Message edited by author 2004-06-10 00:20:43.

nborton

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

06/10/2004 12:49:12 AM · #8

as far as i've understood it, they are worried about photographing money because of counterfitting. artistic pictures of money aren't usually condusive to counterfitting, and coins are one of the classic macro subjects.

unless you are taking straight forward shots of money like a photocopier, then i think you'd be ok.

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

06/10/2004 02:00:17 AM · #9

Terry, for sake of discussion... let's assume I think there is a number of interesting designs or emblems on various denominations of currency. My original question was to be, that if I photographed those designs or emblems; would it be considered ripping off the oringal artist's work, or is that artwork considered public domain?

I don't think there are any legal issues, the photograph is only a partial representation, it's not to scale, and the background color has been significantly altered. If I were to photograph more like this they would be very much the same.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/10/2004 02:08:57 AM · #10

Partial representation does not matter from a legal standpoint (the law addresses "any part of the original item being reproduced"), though scale does (printed reproductions must be less than Â¾ or more than 1Â½ times actual size). Alteration of the background color may or may not matter, but the law does require printed reproductions to be in black and white.

As far as copyright issues, I believe use of currency design is permitted for other purposes; in fact the Secret Service states the law specifically allows it, so long as the size and color restrictions and followed.

-Terry

Message edited by author 2004-06-10 02:10:09.