WalMart tried to confiscate journo's camera

By Cory Doctorow at 11:32 pm Wednesday, Jan 5

A naked man streaked a Wal-Mart in Maryland, and a freelance news photographer snapped some pics. Wal-Mart sent out a goon who demanded that he turn over his camera and not take or publish photos of Wal-Mart without permission.

"He said if I didn't turn the camera over to him, he would have me arrested" and ban him from the store, Roy said.

Attorney Mary R. Craig, who represents The Herald-Mail, said Roy "certainly was well within his rights" to take pictures.

The store can set limits, such as on taking pictures inside, but the expectation of privacy probably is less outside, she said.

She said Roy probably didn't violate anyone's privacy, especially the naked man's.

Alice Neff Lucan, an attorney who represents the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association, said Wal-Mart "emphatically" had no right to demand Roy's camera.

"He didn't violate any of Wal-Mart's rights and he didn't violate the streaker's rights," she said. "He just took a picture of what was in the public's view."

Link (via Dan Gillmor)