Here's a new twist — in 2003 SNTE (Societé National du Tour Eiffel, if recollection serves) revamped the lights on the Eiffel Tower, changing the pattern of light, and then — copyrighted the pattern. So since that time, a night shot of the Eiffel Tower is a copyright violation. Say what?
I used to live on rue Chevert around the corner from the Eiffel Tower. It's astounding to me to think that shooting photos of my own former neighborhood is now illegal. C'est la guerre, mes garçons
This rather strange story comes from journalist Matthias Bruggman's blog:
I was prevented from boarding an ElAl plane from Milano this morning because I was carrying a pro Canon digital camera, the 1Ds.
Apparently, they thought it might pose some kind of a security threat.
The ground crew offered to confiscate the equipement, as well as the ibook that i carried for the duration of my journey in Israel. They refused to check it, even if I signed a waiver, and they refused to let it on board in any way.
Film cameras were deemed okay, though.
In support of Canadian Kassim Mohamed, arrested for videotaping the world's tallest structure as reported earlier here, a group of Muslims ("hundreds" according to the Toronto Globe and Mail) will convene on said structure, Toronto's 530+ meter CN Tower, on Sunday. There they plan to all take lots of typical tourist photos, much like the tape Mr Mohamed was detained for having, just to prove that they can.
Protesters will meet first at the offices of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (277 Front St. West) at 2:30 PM.
Mr. Mohamed has also filed a million-dollar lawsuit against the government in Ottawa.
According to this AP story, "Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has issued an edict barring the use of cell phones with built-in cameras, blaming them for 'spreading obscenity' - a final resort after a ban on their sale and import to the kingdom failed to dent their popularity."
"So far... only Saudi Arabia has taken the drastic step of banning the import or sale of camera cell phones and declaring them religiously forbidden."
Thanks Jon for this story (and related video interview) about Mateo Curuso, a photographer at the C.N.E. who made some very stupid decisions — taking highly secretive photos and when confronted getting into a fight with peace officers and passerby — one of whom was Toronto police Chief Julian Fantino.
Initially he was confronted on suspicion of being a paedophile — he is now facing charges of "mischief, assaulting police and interfering with property" (some jurisdictions, lacking specific laws against photography, often classify unwanted picture-taking as "mischief" — it's unknown if this is the case in Ontario).
Has a genuine photo predator been caught? Or will Caruso be charged with an array of offenses that don't include photography? Keep watching for news on this bizarre case.