While taking a break from preparing this week’s presentation to the class on copyright, privacy and fair use, a completely related story crossed my online news aggregator, or ‘aggravator’ as I suspect many traditional journalists prefer to call them.
In any case, there is a law in the EU that nighttime photos of the Eiffel Tower are ‘interdit‘ (forbidden) without seeking prior request from the rights owners. Other notable EU buildings, like the Belgian parliament are included as well.
Here’s a link to the story in the EU Observer – Belgian and French copyright laws ban photos of EP buildings
In essence, if you should go the Paris, be sure you’ve secured clearances for any nighttime photos you take of the Eiffel Tower, or take them during the day when the structure is considered ‘public domain.’ Otherwise, that Facebook post you have of the holiday lighting display on the Eiffel Tower may cost you.
When I first read this, I thought was a hoax, but it is true. Here is the official word from LaTourEiffel.
Strategically Communicating 
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