"Todd" wrote in message
oups.com...
Do I need permission from an aircraft owner to publish pictures of
their airplane for profit? I want to take pictures of airplanes and
publish them commercially, on the web and in print.

text deleted

The answer I give in my "Photo Tips for Writers" workshop is that if you
don't know if a model release is required then it is.

Caveat: I am a freelance writer and photographer, not an attorney. I have
no qualifications to give legal advice.

With that said, here is my understanding of a complex issue. If you have an
image that is directly related to a 'news' story, then the 1st Amendment
allows you to use the image. But, you do need permission for the commercial
use of an image of someone else's private property if the image can be
directly related to a person or his or her estate.

If for example you took a picture of an accident in which a vehicle (boat,
airplane, auto, even house....) could be related to a person (N#, Coast
Guard Registration, License plate, address) you can sell it to a newspaper
or magazine. BUT, if at some later time you wanted to use that same image
to advertise yourself or some product, e.g. in a commercial manner, you
MUST then get permission from property owner.

I carry a wad of model releases around in my camera bag just for that
reason.

Go Fly!

Casey