I have some footage from outside the colosseum and around the pyramids and some other stuff from Ephesus. I was thinking of making a fun little show with my kids for public access . . . but . . . what about the rights? Are the pyramids fair game from a distance? Same with the colosseum? And what about the Pope in St. Peters? If I make it a 'news' show do I get more slack?

Don't want both lawyers and the Pope mad at me.

I have some footage from outside the colosseum and around the pyramids and some other stuff from Ephesus. I was thinking of making a fun little show with my kids for public access . . . but . . . what about the rights? Are the pyramids fair game from a distance? Same with the colosseum? And what about the Pope in St. Peters? If I make it a 'news' show do I get more slack?

Don't want both lawyers and the Pope mad at me.

IANAL but I'd say knock your socks off. Views of such landmarks taken from public places would not be considered to be of private property requiring a release while similar shots shots of the Pope would certainly be considered to be of a public figure unless you've snuck into his private quarters and caught him in the shower. If you have footage of a tour guide explaining the history of the Colosseum to your camera, strictly speaking you might need a release to use it but even something like that is probably not a serious issue unless you incorporate it into something being offered for commercial sale.

Thanks Steve, absolutely no money will be made on this. The kids are doing it only for public access middle school glory and fame.

Since most of the footage was just B cam stuff taken without a tripod on an HV20 I'm a little embarassed to put it on television but there is some funny stuff. Like filming Roman Vespa drivers weaving through traffic and children screaming for their lives in the back of a Cairo taxi.

I guess my next supposition is that video taken inside the colosseum and St Peter's--wow, what a place--would be less public and therefore a little more touchy. Even as part of a public access kids series?

There's a few stills of the stuff I'm talking about on my website. I just threw them up there and haven't had time to color correct all.

greenleafcircle.com