On 01/11/2007, Aude audevivere@gmail.com wrote:
The U.S. Department of the Interior is considering changing rules regarding photography on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Services, and the National Park Service. That would include all national parks, and other places ( e.g. the National Mall in DC).
New Filming Rules Proposed on Federal Lands http://dcist.com/2007/10/31/filming_rules_o.php#more
Tourists would still be allowed to take pictures, but the definition of commercial photography is vague in what they propose. I think I would still take pictures and upload them to Commons. But, technically I suppose we are commercial or freelance photographers, since we allow such use. I would not like it if the new rules allow security personnel to be more bothersome when I'm taking photographs.
Thanks a lot, Aude, for bringing this to our attention. I think Wikimedians should try and fight any kind of change like this as hard as they can. I think what ends up happening is anyone with a particularly impressive looking camera gets hassled.
Is there anything WMF could do? (make a submission, or even just a loud angry noise about it?) What can American Wikimedians do?
According to http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=739#739 ,
The public comment period is now closed and a hearing will be scheduled before a final ruling is made. Because no date has been scheduled for the public hearing, SPJ leaders are encouraging journalists and members of the public to voice their concerns by writing to:
Department of Interior/National Park Service Attn: Lee Dickinson, Special Park Uses Program Manager National Park Service 1849 C St., NW, ORG CODE 2460 Washington, DC 20240 <<
Hm, how can we be notified when the hearing is scheduled I wonder?
cheers Brianna