Comments on: Photography in Japan – what are your rights?

By: undercover police « fotografante

undercover police « fotografante — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:47:08 +0000

[...] Photography in public spaces is allowed in Japan; even if the concept of individuals’ privacy is not very clear. However perverts are a seriuos tread in Japan, even forcing mobile manufactuers to include loud shutter sounds to their cameras, to alert ladies when a photograph is taken and prevent up-skirt photography. [...]

By: Quora

Quora — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:09:27 +0000

Is it illegal to take pictures and make videos of people in Japan without their permission?…

After doing a little research here is what I have determine is the case in Japan: As with most countries you can use a camera in public to shoot photos. This part alone is not illegal. Publishing a photo in any way at all is another matter. Portrait Ri…

By: tim

tim — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:04:40 +0000

I don’t know much about Japan… which is why I’m looking for guidance, but I’m a little bugged by the above comment that children might have some sort of special protection under US law. No. They don’t. If you are somewhere with “no reasonable expectation of privacy,” then you are fair game. Of course, if the photo is published, then the photographer may be liable for some sort of royalties to the subject of the photo, unless they are a “public person.”

All of my info comes from media law classes that I took at least 5 years ago in college, and IANAL, so do some double checking, but it really bothered me that people have a perception of a need to protect the children. Get over that, America.

By: A different Marc

A different Marc — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:58:50 +0000

Mac – parents in general do not like people taking candid pictures of their children because there are numerous pedophiles who are taking those photos for purposes of later self-gratification, and occasionally as part of a broader campaign of stalking and later abducting a child. It sets off our parental alarm bells the same way as a skeevy old guy hanging around a playground with a bag of candy.

By: mac

mac — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:21:27 +0000

marc – what’s the big issue with people taking photos of your kids?

By: tony

tony — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:37:31 +0000

Hi Ken. As far as I know the rules are the same. Seems like the main issue is that you are much more conspicuous with a video camera, and people more likely to shoo you off their property etc.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:04:17 +0000

Hello
I make street videos using my DSLR cameras and was wondering if the rules are the same as photography?
and great topic by the way, I learned a lot.
and also what is the main thing that I should never do when shooting street photos or videos?

By: tony

tony — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:50:35 +0000

Thanks Christiano. That’s extremely useful!

By: Christiano

Christiano — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:07:15 +0000

Hi there. Another useful source of information can be obtained from the Japanese Professional Photographers Society in a workshop titled: Image Rights and Problems for Authors – Two faces: Privacy rights and publicity rights
There is a pamphlet that explains the issue well here: http://www.jps.gr.jp/rights/pdf/127_30-31.pdf I had wanted to translate it but haven’t gotten around to it yet due to lack of time. But when I do I will post a link for those who are interested in reading it. (Otherwise for those who can read kanji, it is only 3 pages long and the Japanese is not overly difficult.)

By: tony

tony — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:01:46 +0000

Hi Gary. As I understand it you certainly have the right to take a photo from a public space, but you’ll need a property release to use the photo for any commercial purpose. Architecture can be copyrighted like any other intellectual property.

I guess you could argue with security guards, but you’d need a copy of the law in your wallet and the determination to ask to see their boss etc. (Doing the latter sometimes works well as you can take some photos while they go to look for the head honcho!)