Amongst the emails we received last week was one
from Paul in Kentucky who was asking us for our help in understanding the legal
and ethical issues around digital projections. Since we didn’t have the specific
answers to Paul’s questions, we thought we’d post his email and ask all of you
for your thoughts and suggestions. We’ll post the answers that we receive.
Here’s Paul’s email…

“Greetings from the wilds of Kentucky. I
was hoping y’all might be able to help me with legal “context” for a project
using digital projection. There’s a huge problem in Eastern KY . . . . where
mountains are being removed (leveled!) to get at the coal underneath. My group
wants to do some temporary public art at various locations in the state to try
and get people a little more aware, to grab attention. But we don’t want to turn
people away (or attract Johnny LAW!), so we’re going to try projecting the work
at various places at different times. Very public places. Perhaps including
malls, entertainment galleries, that sort of Chamber of Commerce stuff. Here’s
the question: What is typically the law concerning such things? Are we deafcing?
Can we get busted for only effecting the appearance temporarily? Any guidance
you guys could give would be most appreciated? Sorry if I rambled too much. And
thanks for your work. You’ve really connected me to a big, big world. peace,
Paul