The FAA has issued new restrictions on flying drones around certain US landmarks. See the full statement below. [Read more…]
Federal Appellate Court Strikes Down Drone Registration Law
In 2015, the FAA passed a Registration Rule that required drone pilots to register their drones with the FAA, which included drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds. Unfortunately for the FAA, they didn’t count on drone enthusiast and fellow attorney John A. Taylor. [Read more…]
Gray Market War: Is the Writing on the Wall?
We are continuing to dig into Canon USA’s case against gray market retailers here in the US. Specifically, Canon is targeting popular gray market retailers Get It Digital, LLC, All New Shop, LLC and F & E Trading, LLC (aka Big Value, Inc., Electronics Valley and others) as they cut into Canon USA’s profit margin by importing Canon cameras direct from Japan and selling them in the US.
However, this isn’t the first time a camera manufacturer has gone after a retailer selling gray market cameras on ebay. In fact, I recently discovered that F & E Trading has been sued under very similar circumstances before. The outcome of that lawsuit could foreshadow what is the beginning of the end for gray market cameras in the US. [Read more…]
U.S. Wants ALL Drones Registered by Christmas
Today, the United States Department of Transportation put a task force in place to develop recommendations for a federal drone registry. The task force’s recommendations are due by November 20 and the government wants the registry in place by mid-December. [Read more…]
Proposed Texas Law Makes It a Crime to Photograph Police from within 25 Feet
The Texas Representative Jason Villalba filed House Bill 2918 last week in Texas House of Representatives that attempts to criminalize any photographs, video, audio recording or other documenting of a police officer within 25 feet the officer.
I’ll cut right to chase and tell you that this bill is unconstitutional under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. No questions asked. This is Constitutional Law 101. There is no way this bill could withstand a constitutional challenge in court.
The bill seeks to amend an existing Texas law that states in pertinent part: [Read more…]
FAA Tells Police How to Handle Illegal Drone Encounters
While the drone market continues to expand, the legality of operating them continues to be more up in the air than ever before. Earlier this month, the FAA released a new directive to local law enforcement agencies on how to handle encounters with drone operators.
While I am a lawyer, I am not your lawyer and this is an editorial commentary on newsworthy issues rather than legal advice. Unless you’re paying a lawyer, you aren’t really getting legal advice, and what you are getting on websites, blogs and forums is worth just what you paid for it. If you are busted by the FAA for violating its regulations, get an aviation lawyer who knows their way around the administrative process. Do not solicit legal advice online. That free advice will be the most expensive you ever take. [Read more…]
Those Weird FCC Labels Won’t be on Your Cameras Anymore
Those weird FCC labels on your electronic gadgets should be gone for good soon thanks to the bi-partisan E-Label Act, which was signed into law by President Obama last week. [Read more…]
Federal Judge Rules Commercial Use of Drones is Legal . . . For Now
A ruling last week by a National Transportation Safety Board judge declared that the FAA’s ban on commercial use of aerial drones carries no weight under federal law. [Read more…]
Government Targets “People Taking Photos of Public Spaces” in Awareness Video
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWaPp-8k2p0&w=640&h=360]
Not only does this video win the cheesy award, but the advice it gives to the target audience (apparently those with drastically reduced IQs) flags warning signs for things both pro and amateur photographers do on a daily basis.
Not really what we need the government telling us right now given the current attitude of law enforcement to photographers in public spaces.
[via Chase Jarvis]
Filming Police Acknowledged as First Amendment Right
Glik Civil Rights Case Holding
A federal appellate court recent held that Maryland’s wiretapping statute could not be used to prevent citizens from recording police activity. [Read more…]