[...] Page Views – 20070609 – Video Game Battle between Sony and Church of England – serious [...]

in other words, if a digital artist copies the photographs to create a digital image the copyright question should be moot.

also-what is the term of copyright in the uk?
i presume the berne convention applies.

if so, to prevail on a copyright claim the church’s postion would presumably need to be some variation on the theme that they are either currently within the normal term of copyright, that they have never filed for copyright and are now asserting their rights for the first time, or that the term of their copyright is perpetual.

also-what effect would this have on other dramatic presentations? would films and plays also be restricted from using images and references to manchester cathedral’s actual interior if this is upheld?

could a film producer making a film critical of the church or it’s history legally build a set copying the interior, for example?

in the end, this could turn out to be one of those “be careful what you ask for-you may get it” issues.

[...] at the time, access, licencing and copyright law – especially where Cathedrals are concerned – is a nightmare. I don’t see how they could know that they were “seeking permission where [...]

[...] fall of man how do i report that my banning was wrong” (google.com 10th result) landed here. The article is two weeks old. [...]

[...] disagreement there! That was almost the first point in my first report on the issue. My second point was that the Church wants retribution for the discrimination of their glorious [...]

I did a photographic survey of about 35 English Cathedrals about 2 years ago. Most cathedrals allow private photography for a small fee (£1-£5) paid for a license on the spot.

Commercial photography usually requires advance contact.

There are enough different ways they do it to make it too many to list here, although one interesting one is Carlisle and Durham Cathedrals who deal with the “commercial” issue by regulating use of tripods.

I agree with your call – this should go to Sony making a donation to help deal with the gun-crime problem, and possibly also in my view by changing the game to no longer resemble the cathedral.

I don’t see the blasphemy laws being used – they only protect the CofE as you know. I think they are an anachronism, and I believe the CofE wants them reviewed (i.e., repealed and replaced by something covering all religions).

Again, thanks for the comment and the article.

However, it is very doubtful that the Church of England will, in fact, have to resort to legal filings to stop this game from using the depiction of Manchester Cathedral in the battle sequence. Simply put, there is a cultural dimension to any work of art/architecture, whose role extends beyond the legal constraints of copyrights and trademarks etc.

http://enigmafoundry.wordpress.com/2007/06/11/forgive-us-our-virtual-trespasses/

[...] Wardman Wire offers an excellent summary. As English blogger Matt Wardman sees it: In my opinion, it is clear [...]