Why are photos of the Eiffel Tower illegal at night?
Unbeknownst to the average tourist or ‘Gram-obsessed social media star, it’s actually illegal to photograph at night because it’s an artistic creation still under copyright. According to European Copyright Law, such monuments are protected for the lifespan of the work’s legal creator—plus 70 years.
What happens if you post a picture of the Eiffel Tower at night?
But the situation is different for professionals. The Eiffel Tower’s lighting and sparkling lights are protected by copyright, so professional use of images of the Eiffel Tower at night require prior authorization and may be subject to a fee.
Why can’t you post pictures of the Eiffel Tower?
It turns out the tower’s nighttime light show was added in 1985 and is therefore still protected under France’s copyright law as an artistic work. Thus, it’s illegal to share, sell, or publish photos and videos of the night-lit Eiffel Tower without prior permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.
Does the Eiffel Tower go dark?
The Tower lights and beacon are lit up every evening from dusk until one o’clock in the morning. As soon as it gets dark, the Eiffel Tower’s golden lighting switches on automatically within less than 10 minutes, thanks to light-sensitive twilight sensors.
Is it illegal to video the Eiffel Tower at night?
However, the lights on the Eiffel Tower were installed in 1985, by Pierre Bideau, meaning that any photo or video that shows the monument at a time when the lights are visible (ie, at night) is a violation of copyright law.
Is it illegal to post the Eiffel Tower at night?
Can I take a selfie with the Mona Lisa?
The Louvre’s custodians stand by and let people yell, scream and snap away. As you enter the Louvre, big, clear signs in several languages inform you of the museum’s rules. There is to be no running, no use of mobile phones – and no flash photography. This ban could not be more clearly announced.