Release Forms?

[neil_ross]

Hi everyone!

I have a legal question for you all, does one need a release form for motorsport pictures?

Im just talking about cars on a track, ive taken some wicked pictures this weekend and im in the process of putting my website together and then might try and sell a few of my images.

Any help or links on this will be hugely appreciated..

[silversnapper1]

You don't need a model release form in the UK.

[Cathus]

You may find that your pics won't be accepted by image libraries without a release due to all the advertising as the logos are copyrighted. (not that you are selling to image libraries, but just as a general info thing).
People get round this by blanking out the trademarks. My biggest selling shot on a stock site is of an aircraft but the library wouldn't accept it until the ID number & noseart were cloned out as they identified the aircraft to an individual & the noseart was copyrighted.

Also, some companies get a bit miffed by people selling stuff with their trademarks. I know someone who got made to take stuff off their website by VW who were miffed that his shots showed the VW badge.

You'd also need to check out the terms of entry to the track you took your shots as there may be restrictions on commercial photography.

A model release isn't a legal requirement, merely a form of protection for the publisher of a photo.