At PhotoPlusExpo in New York last month there was tremendous interest among videographers and photographers in the DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter with Integrated FPV Camera. This piece of equipment seems to offer great potential for a host of commercial photography uses.
However, there are two major issues with the use of drones for photography – laws regarding aircraft safety and personal privacy. The air safety rules come under the jurisdiction of the FAA. Privacy laws are traditionally state laws.
Nancy Wolff, Counsel for the Digital Media Licensing Association (DMLA), formerly PACA, has provided a
report on the current regulation relative to the use of drones for commercial purposes.
The FAA’s current position is that flying drones for any purpose other than as a hobby requires the agency’s approval and it prohibits any devices from flying above 400 feet. Congress had set a deadline of September 2015 for the establishment of new regulations that would expand the allowable uses of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, last June the FAA announced that it would not be able to complete its work by the deadline.
Wolff’s report will help readers understand the complex issues related to the use of UAVs.