> I could creatively express myself by wiring up a camera and filming a public place, no?
Certainly. My layperson view is it would depend on intent. If you were to use trafficcamphotobooth.com to take a selfie on 14th Street, I think the fact that you went out in front of a particular surveillance cam and hit the save button would count as a copyrighted photo even tho the camera belongs to some other entity and was going to take the photo with or without you.
(Edited) Edit: going back to remind myself of the basics, creative expression is not the basis for copyright, but "original works of authorsbip', although '''The Supreme Court has said that, to be creative, a work must have a “spark” and “modicum” of creativity.''' - this in the case determining that phonebooks are merely collections of facts and therefore not protected works.
Certainly. My layperson view is it would depend on intent. If you were to use trafficcamphotobooth.com to take a selfie on 14th Street, I think the fact that you went out in front of a particular surveillance cam and hit the save button would count as a copyrighted photo even tho the camera belongs to some other entity and was going to take the photo with or without you.
(Edited) Edit: going back to remind myself of the basics, creative expression is not the basis for copyright, but "original works of authorsbip', although '''The Supreme Court has said that, to be creative, a work must have a “spark” and “modicum” of creativity.''' - this in the case determining that phonebooks are merely collections of facts and therefore not protected works.
https://www.copyright.gov/what-is-copyright/