Comments on: Harassed at the TCW Group building in Los Angeles

By: xsorsburn

xsorsburn — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:02:57 +0000

that was so stupid!

but I gotta say my favorite part was when the head security guard kept saying random stuff into his lapel-mic. just loud enough for us to hear in some lame attempt to make us think he was calling the police department.

and this conversation.
after the initial “argument”

Bryan: we’re going to leave now.

Security Guard: Im going to ask you to leave

Me: good night (and we cross the street)

LOL that was great!

By: Bryan Villarin

Bryan Villarin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:21:50 +0000

@ Daniel L. Taylor: Thanks for finding me and giving me your support. I'm waiting for Shawn (discarted) to return, which will be in about six weeks.

By: Daniel L. Taylor

Daniel L. Taylor — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:40:02 +0000

I just discovered your blog and photo stream, and came across this post.

I’ll keep an eye on your blog for updates. If you are able to organize a photo walk I will be there (work schedule permitting). I hate stuff like this and would be glad to participate in a photo walk.

Sorry you had to deal with this.

By: Bryan Villarin

Bryan Villarin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:51:55 +0000

@ Joel Lawson: Thanks for citing specific text! I'm gonna print that on some index cards to wave it in their faces.

By: Bryan Villarin

Bryan Villarin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:49:20 +0000

@ the_wolf_brigade: I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds worse than it does here when local laws are being passed. Slightly worse than power-crazy security guards.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:34:45 +0000

Will this crap never stop? I’m glad you at least let them know it was fully within your rights to do what you were doing. I think the idea of going down there with a bunch of people lined up photographing stuff (from the sidewalk) is a great idea.

By: Joel Lawson

Joel Lawson — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:00:11 +0000

As to the security guard's first claim, the right to photograph a building visible from public space is specifically protected in US copyright law. US law specifically knocks down these absurd claims we hear sometimes from security guards, shop owners, and others that their building cannot be photographed: “The copyright in an architectural work that has been constructed does not include the right to prevent the making, distributing, or public display of pictures, paintings, photographs, or other pictorial representations of the work, if the building in which the work is embodied is located in or ordinarily visible from a public place.” [17 U.S.C. 120 (a)]

By: the_wolf_brigade

the_wolf_brigade — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:07:52 +0000

I ran into this problem a little while back, but found that the local council had passed local laws that meant infringement notices could be issued. Although this “law” has to be validated by the Federal Government in Australia, I didn’t feel like testing my luck whether it was or not.

The problem was that they had issued this “law” to cover almost their entire electorate.

By: Bryan Villarin

Bryan Villarin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:13:41 +0000

@ Julie: Thanks Julie!

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:20:50 +0000

Here is our post about it:

http://discarted.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/downtown-la-not-camera-friendly/