Remove my photo or else?!?

[Ztex]

I received this e-mail telling me to remove a photograph form the database. (The spelling errors are his)

Does this guy have leg to stand on?
Me thinks he's blowing hot air. If the subject is on public property (city owned airport) or in the public airspace it's fair game.

What should my response be?
Any advice is appreciated.

Re: Aircraft photo on http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/127476.html

Mr. Adams, I see that you have posted a photo of aircraft N365BC. Request that you remove this photo from the enternet immediately. You do not have my permission to distribute my aircarft photograph. You will be contacted by my leagal department if you do not honor my request.

C.

[Glenn E. Chatfield]

I would think it would be perfectly legal. People photograph planes and cars and such every day and they appear in magazines, newspapers, etc. I understand that people can request you not have a shot of them published without permission, but I think airplanes on ramps are fair game. I'd ignore him.

Glenn

[mkiogima]

I wouldn't sweat it Zane. Anytime his aircraft is out in public view, it is basically "free game" for anyone to photograph.

This article:

http://www.geocities.com/micha_nzl/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

was posted in this forum:

http://www.airport-data.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10

and I think it applies to your situation. (Sorry, I don't know how to do the little linky thingy's)

I would politely inform him of A-D and let him know that you aren't profiting from YOUR picture of his aircraft. If he still has a problem then just tell him no.

Mel

[Bluedharma]

Zane,
As I have said in another forum...
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=165338#165338
You are within your rights to keep it posted.
Most pilots are quite understanding. If this guy is not, then give him space and move on. It really isn't worth your time is it?

It really is about you being annoyed.

Are you willing to put up with the emails from this guy? If so, then leave it up.

Best Regards,
_________________
Live the Good Life
Bluedharma
http://flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/
http://www.airport-data.com/photographers/Bluedharma;1045/
bluedharmaairportdata@gmail.com

[Ztex]

I moved the photo and sent him a note saying...

Thank you for contacting me about the photograph of N365BC.

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?NNumbertxt=365BC&cmndfind.x=21&cmndfind.y=10

Per your request I will remove the photograph from airport-data.

I am removing the photo as a courtesy to you, not because of any legalities.

That being said, I would like to have your permission to post it.

...etc

Who knows, maybe he will understand...

I hate to give in to this kind of stuff...but my attorney advised me that although I am in the right and that he has no case... I can still be sued for anything and everything and that it would be a case of who has the most money to fight it to the end....and who wants the hassle...

I'm in this for the fun of the hobby, I have been for a long time. I have the right to do what I am doing and take care not to make folks mad...but I do not have the means to fight off every T D & H that wants to be go around threating the little guy with legal action.

Thanks guys
Zane

[Bluedharma]

Zane,
You were in the "RIGHT".

But I think your decision was the right one.
You just saved yourself a bottle worth of "Excedrin", and the hassle.

Best Regards,
_________________
Live the Good Life
Bluedharma
http://flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/
http://www.airport-data.com/photographers/Bluedharma;1045/
bluedharmaairportdata@gmail.com

[John Little]

Hi Zane,

If Mr. Fisher wants the photo of his Mooney taken down, I would say, go ahead and take it down, it is only one of hundreds you have in your inventory, and it is his loss, not yours because you may have taken a great picture of his plane, that he might have eventually wanted to get a copy of.

That he was upset enough to threaten you with his "legal team" (who will tell him outright that his aircraft is in the open and plain view, and utilizes public property, public airways and is not covered by any legal precident), why go through all of the back and forth headaches, with one irrate individual.

I have had only a couple of such requests, and believe it or not, after the fact, these same folks invited me back to take pictures at a later time, including interior shots of the jets (they were in the middle of business dealings the first time around).

There will be no way to determine the reason for his demands, but the one thing we do have to be careful of is that, one of the rules for posting a picture on Airport-Data, is that it states:

3. You must be authorized to submit the photo.

This protects Ken, and the rest of us from some "potential" problems down the line, so lets not take a chance of losing this valuable real estate just because we know that your are in the right.

Go take some great pictures of another airplane, and I think you will find (as I think Bluedharma has seen while we have been at Centennial Airport taking pictures) is that by taking a couple of photo's out to the folks at the field and giving them away, or sending some via email makes real good friends with a lot of pilots in a hurry (You have to remember, a majority of these folks are "really proud" owners of their planes, and take a lot of satisfaction in knowing that someone would be wanting to take a picture of them and/or their plane) and then you get known and people will give you more latitude than you could ever imagine.

My two cents worth, but it has worked very, Very well for me. ....at least for the last 40+ years.

John L.

[Bluedharma]

[Bluedharma]

[Ztex]

Never heard a word...

I have not seen the airplane again either...must be something top secret

Thanks for asking.

Z
_________________
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.