Can I photograph a farm house and use it on a book cover?

Tracing copyright owners and asking permission.
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abbyeagle
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Can I photograph a farm house and use it on a book cover?

Post by abbyeagle »

Hi, Just wondering if i take a photograph of a farm house from about 100 metres away do i need to get permission to use it on a book cover?
Abby Eagle: NLP Hypnotherapy Coaching Gold Coast Australia
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AndyJ
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Post by AndyJ »

Hi Abby,
As you're based in Australia, you would need to check Australian law on this. However in the UK you do not need permission to photograph a building provided it is done from public property. Going onto someone's private land to take the photograph without permission would be trespass, and might also run up against the Human Rights Act - the right to a private family life. Also beware of using the image in a derogatory way; for example if the book was all about a deviant sex cult based on a farm, using a picture of a real place might imply that the farmhouse was somehow connected with the story, and the owners might sue for defamation!
Advice or comment provided here is not and does not purport to be legal advice as defined by s.12 of Legal Services Act 2007
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