Hello,
I wrote a book that was published and copyrighted, therefore; I do know some things about this topic.
First:
Copyright means that you cannot reproduce an item without the copyright owner's written consent. A reproduction is usually an exact copy (scanned copy, zerox copy, etc.).
If you take your camera and photograph a sign then you are not photocopying that sign. Taking photographs is not the same an exact reproduction of someone's else work.
Secondly:
A right to privacy. The law says that people have the right to their own NAME and BODY. Therefore, you cannot use someone else name for commercial purposes, educational purchases, charity purchases, etc. without that person's written consent (children please see the legal guardian). And you cannot use someone else body without their written consent either.
Exceptions: If the person died before the law came into place than everything is fair game (ie, Marilyn Monroe, Rembrandt, and other celebrities that died a long time ago.
Exceptions: Statue of limitations is 70 years after the person's death. After that time period than everything is fair game for all.
Thirdly:
Building, animals, stores and everything else is NOT a person and therefore CAN BE painted or drawing or painted. You do not need anyone's permission. But a homeowner can complain that you are trust passing on private property (theirs). So if you are standing across the street, or standing on the sidewalk or in the middle of the street (government property), or standing on a tree (in someone's else property) then you are not trust passing on private property and you are safe.
The tabloids does this all the time and celebrities normally do not have a legal leg to stand on.
Lastly, Copyright Infringement Violation is not the same as Intellectual Theft (stealing someone else idea), but if you have changed the idea by 34% or more, then no crime has been committed.
Hopefully this helps a lot. Smile because the law tends to favor artists in general.
