Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in New York

Re: wedding rights

According to the New York Civil Rights Law, Section 50:

A person, firm or corporation that uses for advertising purposes, or for the purposes of trade, the name, portrait or picture of any living person without having first obtained the written consent of such person, or if a minor of his or her parent or guardian, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Another statute provides that a person whose picture is being used can sue to enjoin (stop) the use and for damages.

So, to answer your questions, yes, your rights have been violated. If you wish to do something about it, or discuss this in more detail, feel free to contact me at (914) 949-6323.

Congratulations on your wedding!

Re: wedding rights

Unless you assigned the ownership of the footage to the video company, the images are yours and not eligible for use by others without permission, which can be based upon payment.

Contact a lawyer in your town and have him write to the video company and tell them to either (1) cease using your private images for commercial purposes, or (2) compensate you appropriately, depending upon what you choose.