Blurred Faces

[Bill Davis]

Do a search on “reasonable expectation of privacy”

Essentially, if you’re at a public event on public property, people attending likely have none. (Exceptions may apply – always consult a qualified legal professional to determine your potential liability)

But generally, at the public school little league game, feel free to pan the crowd.

If you’re at a ticketed event on private property – like a concert – even if it’s open to the public, it gets dicier. This is why events sometimes print a presumptive release on their tickets and sometimes post public notices that taping is going on and that if you attend, you’re agreeing to waive your privacy rights for that event.

One reason you often see blurred faces in videos is that the subject of the video might be something that could cast an innocent bystander in an unfavorable light. For example, if a non-customer happens to be leaning on the wall outside an adult bookstore – or is leaving a restaurant where the crew of some CHEATERS like program is shooting on a public street, someone could argue that showing their likeness in that context implies that they’re participants – so out comes the blur filter.

The bottom line is that anyone can sue anyone for anything. So learning how to protect yourself from the threat of litigation is not only smart – it’s often worth spending money to do properly.

YMMV.

Good luck.

[Grinner Hester]

People shown at public events do not have to sign releases. Speaking roles technically do as do any likenesses seen in non-public events.
Most of the time, blurred faces, like bogus 1k tone to create cuss words, is doen for effect, not legalities. have no content.. ya gotta create some type of deal.
That said, in my 25 years of making dosumentaries, never have I chased off a person by asking them to sign something. I’d rather ask forgiveness than permission in every walk of life. Don’t go taking my advice, I’m just saying this is how I do it. I don’t need no stinking release forms.

[Mark Suszko]

Another reason for blurring is when the makers of the video want to trade exposure for money, as in product placement. If they don’t want a certain logo to get free publicity, they blur it out. But don’t turn this around to automatically assume only paying advertisers are allowed to be seen on screen and all else MUST be blurred.

It is very much more complicated than that.

[Jay Huubs]

Thanks for the advice guys. I look forward to beefing up my knowledge of the video world, and I believe, as Frank Costanza says, “This is the place to be.”

“Life’s a pitch and then you buy.”
-Billy Mays