English Heritage Organization Claiming It Holds Effective Copyright On Any And All Photos Of Stonehenge
from the stoned-henge dept
Every so often we hear of groups or organizations taking a rather expansive view of copyright law, but English Heritage, a UK gov’t-backed organization to (you guessed it) promote English heritage and manage various historical sites, may have pushed the extremes to new levels. Boing Boing has the story of how it has sent a letter to a bunch of photosharing and stock photo sites claiming that all images of Stonehenge “can not be used for any commercial interest” and that “all commercial interest to sell images must be directed to English Heritage.” Of course, that’s blatantly ridiculous.
One recipient of the letter, the site FotoLibra, is trying to figure out on what legal basis English Heritage is making this claim, noting that Stonehenge “has been their responsibility for 27 of the monument’s 4,500 year old history.” Of course, just about the only thing this will probably serve to do is make people a lot less interested in visiting Stonehenge, photographing Stonehenge and getting others to go to Stonehenge.
Filed Under: english heritage, photographs, stonehenge, uk
Comments on “English Heritage Organization Claiming It Holds Effective Copyright On Any And All Photos Of Stonehenge”
That may be the point
“Of course, just about the only thing this will probably serve to do is make people a lot less interested in visiting Stonehenge, photographing Stonehenge and getting others to go to Stonehenge.”
Considering that visitors are the greatest threat to the monument, I have to wonder if that’s their real intent.
Re: That may be the point
Query, how do you know that it’s a monument? And, what is it a monument to?
Re: Re: That may be the point
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of past events.
Ask a Druid.
Re: Re: Re: That may be the point
The Romans wiped out the original Druids, all that remain are an echo of the past.
Re: Re: Re:2 That may be the point
What does that have to do with anything?
Re: Re: That may be the point
What would YOU use a henge for?
Re: Re: Re: That may be the point
Very useful for stone age swingers …
Re: Re: That may be the point
“Straw henge, and wood henge, but a big bad wolf came and blew them down.”
No one goes though that kind of work for any other reason that to make a monument.
I hope that somewhere an ancient society of druids who know the real purpose of Stonehenge are laughing their collective asses off at these ‘posers’. After all, the druids were excluding people from Stonehenge before it was cool.
Not that I believe this, but it made me giggle.
Re: Re:
“an ancient society of druids who know the real purpose of Stonehenge are laughing their collective asses off at these ‘posers’.”
Druid #1 – Hey dude what do you want to do today?
Druid #2 – Lets go out to that big field and build a huge outhouse.
Gilbert's a sellout that needs more $$$$
I say we all chip in and hire Gilbert Gottfried to tell them to go fark themselves…
Do google get a letter too?
Considering google get money from their maps/street view app indirectly via ads, will they be getting a letter too. Why go to stock images after all, the street view of Stonehenge is just amazing, not to mention the 100+ visitor photos also accessible through google maps view of the site.
You can even street view from inside of the structure. I’m guessing it’s a bunch of 50+ yr olds who just took their fundraising cake sale a little too far.
http://goo.gl/e68b
So copyright is not just an incentive to “people” to make more art?
I’m shocked!
What will this mean for Spinal Tap?
A funding problem solved
If NASA could claim similar rights over any arial image of the US, I think their funding problems would be solved.
Either that, or Terra Incognito and images of sea serpents on maps would make a stunning comback.
Re: A funding problem solved
Sigh, the problem with getting old is that I miss the sea serpents on maps.
Huh?
I remember reading on a website of a band I like that they owned the copyright on all images taken at their concerts. It’d be kind of like me claiming to own copyright on their songs simply because I listened to them.
Re: Huh?
It’s kinda not.
Look at it from their point of view...
The purpose of copyright law is to promote progress, right? Without absolute control over every conceivable image, how will religious groups be encouraged to build more mysterious stone monuments?
Think about it – the sphynx is 5000 years old, stonehenge is 4500 years old, and the moai statues of Easter Island are only 500 years old. While these once were obviously commonly built, there haven’t been any mysterious stone monuments built in centuries! It’s quite obvious that the lack of copyright is what’s preventing more of these sort of things from being created – just like it’s the lack of pirates that’s causing global warming!
We must encourage groups like to EHO to make these claims – it’s the only way to get people to contribute to our culture!
Missed my chance!
I knew I should have claimed copyright to all pictures of the Taj Mahal!
I’d be rich! Bwahahaha!
English Heritage Organization Claiming It Holds Effective Copyright On Any And All Photos Of Stonehenge
It doesn’t, but that still does not keep claims like this from being made every now and then regarding this and numerous other well-known landmarks.
Fantastic comments!
I really like a couple of the comments in the boingboing article:
redsquare said:
and xzzy added:
Re: Fantastic comments!
Oops, xzzy’s comment is here.
It isn't the first time
I remember rereading a few years ago Roald Dahl’s publication of the story about Gordon Butcher and the Mildenhall Treasure. Basically, a man named Gordon Butcher accidentally stumbled upon ancient Roman silverware when plowing another man’s field for-hire. Due to English law at that time, despite the fact that the silverware was found on private property, it (all gold and silver items) had to go to the Crown’s museum. This is certainly pathetic, but it isn’t the first such occurrence of a British national entity claiming ownership over things that clearly aren’t theirs.
Re: It isn't the first time
Prashanth I’m afraid that isn’t quite accurate.
The law at the time in the UK meant that the finder and / or the landowner would receive payment of the value of the treasure. They didn’t just pinch it.
Though it is quite possible that the finder could have received more money on the open market.
Been to Stonehenge, taken numerous pictures of it and of the buriel hill on the other side of the highway too.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to “English Heritage” for explaining that these photos not only hold personal sentimental value but also it seems high commercial value as well.
I mustr contact them and ask if they would like to purchase copies of them for their archives, at a reasonable price and since copyright (even under UK law.. ie: Act of Queen Anne) retains with the original photographer (oh thats myself) I will then place them up for sale and expect a nice little money earner over the next few years.
WOOT!
Might even make a T-Shirt..
“I went to Stonehenge.. took a photo and made this T-shirt..Wanna buy one?”
😉
Like a Dan Brown Novel
If you go back far enough, you’ll find a lineage link between the Druids and the people that run Burning Man. I just know it. There’s something deep and sinister afoot here.
Are they going to sue Hanna-Barberra? Stonehenge is actually the support for a highway offramp in the original Flintstones intro, as I recall.
Your rights are belong to us
The Astronomical Society wishes to inform the public that any photograph featuring any star, planet or cosmic object are hereby the property of the Astronomical Society.
In addition, the unauthorised use of light from any star is strictly forbidden.
Re: Your rights are belong to us
…That includes the Sun….
Re: Your rights are belong to us
> In addition, the unauthorised use of light from any star is strictly forbidden.
Huh? The sun is a star. We can’t grow crops anymore? OTOH, go ahead and shut it off, that’ll shut up those global warming freaks.
The Druids did not build Stonehenge.
It was there for a thousand years before they showed up.
olders photos
Can they lay claim to photos taken before their stewardship began, say 30 year old photos?
Ridiculous claims to make…
UK Copyrights
I wish you would remember that we are subjects of the Queen in the UK. Copyright in the UK is nothing to do with furthering the Arts.
It is a consession by the Her Majesties Government that we are allowed to copy some things. It is just that English Heritage (a QUANGO – part of the Government) have decided that we no longer have the right to duplicate our own photographs of Stonehenge without their permission – particularly if any money is involved.
Actually with all the Government spending cuts they are probably desperate to find alternative revenues – expect more clamp downs.
In related news:
A group wants to set up a collection agency for pictures,
sort of an ASCAP for photography.
Film at eleven.
sue everyone
I’m confused about how this can be copyrighted. I’m no expert in photography related copyright law, but I do know that copyright’s usually expire a few decades after the death of the creator or similar.
I do like this however. By the same merit, I can send such a copyright notice to anyone who takes a photo of my house and uses it commercially.
all your photos belong to us
should i be worried that the myan culture society is going to come and claim my pictures of pyramids in mexico as their property?
Don't See the Problem
Just because the site is 4500 years old doesn’t mean that the photographs are not new art or something along those lines. The rocks are constantly changing even if the human eye can’t see it and so Stonehenge as we see it is not that old at all. Therefore, it should be a protected right. Heisenberg uncertainty and all. There.
Freedom of Panorama
Someone should tell EH about Section 62 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 which specifically allows photography of buildings and artworks in public without breaching any copyright.
My Brain
I’ve just closed my eyes and imagined Stonehenge in all its glory. I don’t know how to remove such imagery or place a copyright notice in the bottom right corner of my mental imagery 🙁
Should I just turn myself in now?
Reply from English Heritage
his document has been sent to you from:
Ms R L McKellar
English Heritage
Customer Services
Po Box 569
SWINDON
SN2 2YP
Document Precis:
Dear Mr Xxxxxx,
Reference: xxxxxxxxx
Thank you for your email regarding photography at Stonehenge.
English Heritage looks after Stonehenge on behalf of the nation. But we do not control the copyright of all images of Stonehenge. And we have never tried to do so. We have no problem with photographers sharing images of Stonehenge on Flickr and similar not-for-profit image websites. We encourage visitors to the monument to take their own photographs.
If a commercial photographer enters the land within our care with the intention of taking a photograph of the monument for financial gain, we ask that they pay a fee and abide by certain conditions. English Heritage is a non-profit making organisation and this fee helps preserve and protect Stonehenge for the benefit of future generations. The majority of commercial photographers respect this position and normally request permission in advance of visiting.
I am sorry for any confusion caused by a recent email sent to a picture library.
Yours sincerely
Rae Mckellar
Correspondence Team Manager
If they don't inform the public of their rules, they can't blame is for not playing by them...
If you ask me, as they fail to mention these ‘rules’ regarding commercial use of images at the Stonehenge entrance (as well as on their website and at the conditions of entry for the Summer Solstice celebrations), English Heritage shouldn’t be complaining.
English Heritage claims are not reasonable
Clearly English Heritage are far from reasonable and will not likely be taken very seriously. Perhaps another English government organization needs to take over for English Heritage, and soon.
Has bureaucracy become completely un-henged?
This wooly minded nonsense about barring use of Stonehenge photos shows how limited has become the thinking and vision of the bureaucrats. Tourists and travellers might decide to boycott the historic site until the bureaucratic bullies are swept from their offices and replaced by sane and sensible people.