Projecting Images onto buildings that aren't yours…
Discussion
Say I took my portable projector and laptop down to near the Tower of London and projected my own non offensive artwork/essay/rant onto the building..
What offence might this be if any?
Public Nuisance?? Breach of the Peace..
It's certainly not damage or trespass.
Yes it would be bad form etc etc and morally reprehensible..
The building could be anything,, Shard, St Pauls maybe or the Bank of England..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmv71lk1jwo
What offence might this be if any?
Public Nuisance?? Breach of the Peace..
It's certainly not damage or trespass.
Yes it would be bad form etc etc and morally reprehensible..
The building could be anything,, Shard, St Pauls maybe or the Bank of England..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmv71lk1jwo
Edited by peterperkins on Wednesday 23 October 16:56
Seemed to work out for Gail Porter! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/341052.stm
peterperkins said:
It's certainly not trespass.
I wouldn't be too sure about that because I don't think the question has yet been tested in UK courts. However, if it is trespass there's no "damage" caused (so no compensation) and the only remedy appears to be injunction - i.e. a court order prohibiting that person from doing it again. Wouldn't prevent somebody else doing the same thing.If the projection amounted to defamation (libel/slander) it would definitely give rise to a cause of action.
Panamax said:
peterperkins said:
It's certainly not trespass.
I wouldn't be too sure about that because I don't think the question has yet been tested in UK courts. However, if it is trespass there's no "damage" caused (so no compensation) and the only remedy appears to be injunction - i.e. a court order prohibiting that person from doing it again. Wouldn't prevent somebody else doing the same thing.If the projection amounted to defamation (libel/slander) it would definitely give rise to a cause of action.
HocusPocus said:
It will probably depend upon whether the projection is interfering with the owners' rightful use of the building.
If somebody projected something on the front of your house would you feel it was interfering with your rightful use of the building? Or perhaps you'd feel that's absolutely fine, just carry on, my front wall is a free public billboard.Which brings us to the whole subject of Planning Permission and consent to display advertisements.
peterperkins said:
Say I took my portable projector and laptop down to near the Tower of London and projected my own non offensive artwork/essay/rant onto the building..
What offence might this be if any?
Public Nuisance?? Breach of the Peace..
It's certainly not damage or trespass.
Yes it would be bad form etc etc and morally reprehensible..
The building could be anything,, Shard, St Pauls maybe or the Bank of England..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmv71lk1jwo
Non offensive to you maybe but to a fully paid up member of the eternally offended gang it will be worthy of an emergency call to the plod What offence might this be if any?
Public Nuisance?? Breach of the Peace..
It's certainly not damage or trespass.
Yes it would be bad form etc etc and morally reprehensible..
The building could be anything,, Shard, St Pauls maybe or the Bank of England..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmv71lk1jwo
Edited by peterperkins on Wednesday 23 October 16:56
HocusPocus said:
Panamax said:
peterperkins said:
It's certainly not trespass.
I wouldn't be too sure about that because I don't think the question has yet been tested in UK courts. However, if it is trespass there's no "damage" caused (so no compensation) and the only remedy appears to be injunction - i.e. a court order prohibiting that person from doing it again. Wouldn't prevent somebody else doing the same thing. ..An injunction can apply to persons unknown.
I can't see how mere light could be a trespass but I could see a trespass argument in an image being projected onto your property preventing you from projecting your own image onto it.
Interference with use of land is a requirement for a nuisance claim.
Look up 'Led By Donkeys' - a political activism group known for public displays including having projected things onto the Houses of Parliament, as well as revisioning billboards and other such stuff.
I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
Zeeky said:
An injunction can apply to persons unknown.
Can, but usually doesn't.I believe Shell had to put a big amount of effort into getting their injunction against persons unknown for petrol station forecourts and have to carefully label everything in sight. If it was easy, Just Stop Oil would have been stopped in their tracks a long time ago.
Panamax said:
If somebody projected something on the front of your house would you feel it was interfering with your rightful use of the building? Or perhaps you'd feel that's absolutely fine, just carry on, my front wall is a free public billboard.
Which brings us to the whole subject of Planning Permission and consent to display advertisements.
However the remedy would be planning enforcement and on the assumption that the incident happened once ( at night by definition ) there would be nothing to enforce against. Which brings us to the whole subject of Planning Permission and consent to display advertisements.
If it was a nuisance then I believe it needs to be more than 28 days a year so that would not count either.
I suspect as above it interferes with the occupants enjoyment / use or damages their business then I suspect that is the main angle that could be actionable.
Projecting onto an industrial/commercial building which is likely to be empty at night is usually considered safe.
Projecting onto housing/block of flats etc is considered bad form as it can cause a nuisance to residents.
I previously projected UFOs onto the side of Charing Cross station from across the river using a large argon laser for the SciFi channel.
No specific offence, for projecting onto buildings, but I did need to get clearance form CAA and Port Of London so they could issue appropriate notices to aviation and ships.
Projecting onto housing/block of flats etc is considered bad form as it can cause a nuisance to residents.
I previously projected UFOs onto the side of Charing Cross station from across the river using a large argon laser for the SciFi channel.
No specific offence, for projecting onto buildings, but I did need to get clearance form CAA and Port Of London so they could issue appropriate notices to aviation and ships.
Resolutionary said:
Look up 'Led By Donkeys' - a political activism group known for public displays including having projected things onto the Houses of Parliament, as well as revisioning billboards and other such stuff.
I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
How would you even become socially aware of such groups???I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
Hol said:
Resolutionary said:
Look up 'Led By Donkeys' - a political activism group known for public displays including having projected things onto the Houses of Parliament, as well as revisioning billboards and other such stuff.
I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
How would you even become socially aware of such groups???I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
Hol said:
Resolutionary said:
Look up 'Led By Donkeys' - a political activism group known for public displays including having projected things onto the Houses of Parliament, as well as revisioning billboards and other such stuff.
I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
How would you even become socially aware of such groups???I am unsure they will disclose much about the legalities of it all, but they are quite well known for this sort of thing so you'd assume they can / actively do navigate any foreseen issues by landowners, police, and so on.
Anecdotally, I know someone whos neighbour put up a projector thingy with snowflakes that hit their own house, but also crept onto other properties - apparently there were 'scenes caused' by the pissed off shiftworker 2 doors down..!
I was going to mention Led By Donkeys in response to the question. A lot of their stunts have involved projectors.
If you look up Guerilla Marketing & Projection Bombing, there's quite a few people seem to do it but they don't seem to mention the legalities.
It strikes me a similar guerilla marketing as jetwashing a stencil on pavements or hoardings. The argument was "It's not damage, we're only cleaning it!" didn't seem to go down well with the Local Authorities as most outfits seem to have fallen by the wayside. I've seen it done locally in Liverpool ONE but presumably with permission/partnership of the Centre Operators. Always struck me as a clever idea.
It strikes me a similar guerilla marketing as jetwashing a stencil on pavements or hoardings. The argument was "It's not damage, we're only cleaning it!" didn't seem to go down well with the Local Authorities as most outfits seem to have fallen by the wayside. I've seen it done locally in Liverpool ONE but presumably with permission/partnership of the Centre Operators. Always struck me as a clever idea.
As noted on the Donald Trump thread, Four arrests after Trump and Epstein images projected on Windsor Castle
Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit. They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said.
IANAL but I'm struggling to see what is 'malicious' about projecting a widely available image that is in no way sexual onto a public building.
I'm feeling for the poor person as the CPS this morning who is having to come up with some nonsense to justify a charging decision on this.
Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit. They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said.
IANAL but I'm struggling to see what is 'malicious' about projecting a widely available image that is in no way sexual onto a public building.
I'm feeling for the poor person as the CPS this morning who is having to come up with some nonsense to justify a charging decision on this.
Shooter McGavin said:
As noted on the Donald Trump thread, Four arrests after Trump and Epstein images projected on Windsor Castle
Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit. They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said.
IANAL but I'm struggling to see what is 'malicious' about projecting a widely available image that is in no way sexual onto a public building.
I'm feeling for the poor person as the CPS this morning who is having to come up with some nonsense to justify a charging decision on this.
Arrest is a long way from being charged. Whoever made the decisions, some response was probably seen as necessary given who the target was.Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit. They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said.
IANAL but I'm struggling to see what is 'malicious' about projecting a widely available image that is in no way sexual onto a public building.
I'm feeling for the poor person as the CPS this morning who is having to come up with some nonsense to justify a charging decision on this.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff