Learning about copyright laws - specific question

[tsrapp]

Hello everyone.

I'm a long time photographer, but just now starting to turn from an advanced hobbyist to something more professional.

One thing I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around is what is and isn't allowed with copyright laws.

The current question is if I take a picture of a business from a public street and the name of the company is visible on the building exterior, would it be a violation of copyright to sell that image unless I edit out the name?

Thanks!

[Jim Poor]

More likely a matter of trademark than copyright, but these questions are better left to the lawyers.

Originally Posted by tsrapp

Hello everyone.

I'm a long time photographer, but just now starting to turn from an advanced hobbyist to something more professional.

One thing I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around is what is and isn't allowed with copyright laws.

The current question is if I take a picture of a business from a public street and the name of the company is visible on the building exterior, would it be a violation of copyright to sell that image unless I edit out the name?

Thanks!

[Sime]

Yeah, such a grey area (I researched for a while, based on UK law) as I won a competition with an image of a shop front that had Burberry in the reflection... There were all sorts of responses including some from an IP lawyer friend who really didn't seem to have it nailed down... how you use it blah blah... If you have a specific example, I'd say Jim said it best when he said ask a lawyer!