Legal Question in Constitutional Law in North Carolina
If I want to film myself walking the streets (public property) and ask people questions for my Youtube channel (In which case I would film them as well) Would I need their permission to have them on film and use it on my channel? Also, if I film them while asking them if they're okay with being filmed, and they say no, can I still use the footage of them saying no? And in case of legal trouble, I do I need a press pass or permit to do such filming on public property? Is it considered "commercial use"? I'm in Wayne County, Goldsboro, NC Thanks! Aloha.
1 Answer from Attorneys
The real key here is if you plan to make money or not. If you don't make money off anyone's image, then it is easier to do this. If you plan to make money off ad revenue to your You Tube channel, you have some hurdles to leap.
Also, keep in mind, even if something is "legal" doesn't necessarily mean that someone won't still sue you...you could win and still pay a ton in legal fees. I recommend you speak to an attorney experienced with privacy laws in your area.