France opted out of including the directive into its national laws. Thus, taking pictures of public buildings are permissible, and those photographs can be published or distributed without prior permission in most European countries. According to the EU’s 2001 Copyright Directive, Article 5, photographs of architectural works in public spaces can be taken free of charge. France is a member of the European Union. But because the lighting is attached to the Eiffel Tower - and since any photographs of the Eiffel Tower taken at night aren’t likely to be terribly interesting without the lights, the practical effect is that nighttime images of the Eiffel Tower are a violation of the artist’s copyright under French law.īut let’s backtrack a bit. However, the light show, added in 1985, is considered an artistic display and is indeed protected by copyright. Tourists can click away all they want during the daytime. To clarify, the Eiffel Tower itself, constructed in 1889, is in the public domain. Distributing photographs of the night-lit Eiffel Tower is a violation of the artist’s copyright. Nighttime photographs of the Eiffel Tower are copyrighted and you could be fined or sued, you’re told.Īs it turns out, it technically is true. When you get home, you naturally post your favorite photographs to social media.Ī month or so later, you get hit with a cease-and-desist letter. During your weeklong stay, you photograph the Eiffel Tower from every angle and at nearly every hour of the day and night. Imagine: You fulfill a lifelong dream and at long last manage to make that romantic trip to Paris.
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