EU Lawmakers Reject Restrictions on Right to Post Photos

It is still OK to post photos of the London Eye - or other modern buildings or artworks in most of the European Union - online.

European lawmakers on Thursday rejected a proposed amendment to EU copyright legislation that would have made it necessary to seek permission from rights-holders to post or publish pictures of public buildings or artworks for commercial use, restricting what is known as freedom of panorama.

There were even fears that it could affect social media.

Lawmaker Mary Honeyball, of the Socialists and Democrats bloc, welcomed the rejection, saying that "clearly the idea that you could find yourself in legal trouble for sharing a photo of the London Eye or Guggenheim in Bilbao is ludicrous."

EU copyright law currently allows member states to insert a freedom of panorama clause in national legislation.

Countries that do not have freedom of panorama include France, Italy and Greece, according to lawmaker Julia Reda of the European Pirate Party, who campaigned to halt the proposal.

Reda warned on her website that the distinction between commercial and non-commercial use of photos was not clear-cut and it was possible that posting a selfie on Facebook could be considered a commercial use, because of the wording of Facebook's terms of service.

Copyright law applies not only to books and music but other creative endeavors including art and architecture.

Reda said ahead of Thursday's vote that restricting freedom of panorama also could affect journalists who shoot video or photographs in public spaces.

The German Union of Journalists, or dju, welcomed Thursday's decision.

"The loud concerns expressed by many, that this could endanger the unrestricted work of journalists in public spaces, are off the table now," dju chief executive Cornelia Hass said.