As long as you put them back afterwards you'll be OK. You might be liable for a nasty accident otherwise.

Oh, I see what you mean. Doesn't the same "usage" rule apply? Namely that as long as the warning sign's incidental and not the subject, there shouldn't be an issue? To be supersafe, maybe clone out any trademarks/logos on the warnings.

I'm editing a batch of images that have lots of warning symbols on the machinery.  Does anyone have experience of whether these symbols have to be removed?  I've always removed them in the past to be on the safe side but wonder if they could actually stay.

It must depend on the site and individual reviewer. I've had surprising rejections on a tiny part of a generic sign, a couple of fairly surprising acceptances, and a rejection on a tiny red blob on a huge bit of machinery. I was so gobsmacked about the latter that I went back to the object, and the blob was just that - a tiny speck of paint, the rest of which which had weathered off. It really was a blob with no possible chance of recognition even at full size in real life.
These were all iStock, of course; you'll know better than I what the other sites might do!

I'd say :  remove signs that "look" like a logo, but leave all warnings that are just text, like "no smoking" on a fuel ship.  I think these warnings add to the image.

I recently tried and failed (twice) to get a photo of a rail yard and freight train approved by SS.  On the second attempt I spent 30 minutes removing every visible sign, logo, or scrap of lettering, corner to corner.  No dice.  I think someone actually considered the numbers on the engines to be "trademarked".  Or maybe the colors. I gave up. 

I recently tried and failed (twice) to get a photo of a rail yard and freight train approved by SS.  On the second attempt I spent 30 minutes removing every visible sign, logo, or scrap of lettering, corner to corner.  No dice.  I think someone actually considered the numbers on the engines to be "trademarked".  Or maybe the colors. I gave up.

I think the numbers on the engine allow it to be identified unambiguously and that's why it's not allowed.  I'd remove the engine numbers and try again.  Good luck!  (hopefully it isn't the colors...)

Quote from: stockastic on October 24, 2012, 11:03

I recently tried and failed (twice) to get a photo of a rail yard and freight train approved by SS.  On the second attempt I spent 30 minutes removing every visible sign, logo, or scrap of lettering, corner to corner.  No dice.  I think someone actually considered the numbers on the engines to be "trademarked".  Or maybe the colors. I gave up.

I think the numbers on the engine allow it to be identified unambiguously and that's why it's not allowed.  I'd remove the engine numbers and try again.  Good luck!  (hopefully it isn't the colors...)

Interesting theory.  But since they won't give me a clue as to the actual problem, I just can't spend any more time on guesswork. I might submit it as editorial I guess.

I've had acceptances and rejections for these sorts of things (like strength ratings and so on). If it is easy to remove, then I'd probably do it.

Quote from: stockastic on October 24, 2012, 12:48

Quote from: sgoodwin4813 on October 24, 2012, 11:40

Quote from: stockastic on October 24, 2012, 11:03

I recently tried and failed (twice) to get a photo of a rail yard and freight train approved by SS.  On the second attempt I spent 30 minutes removing every visible sign, logo, or scrap of lettering, corner to corner.  No dice.  I think someone actually considered the numbers on the engines to be "trademarked".  Or maybe the colors. I gave up.

I think the numbers on the engine allow it to be identified unambiguously and that's why it's not allowed.  I'd remove the engine numbers and try again.  Good luck!  (hopefully it isn't the colors...)

Interesting theory.  But since they won't give me a clue as to the actual problem, I just can't spend any more time on guesswork. I might submit it as editorial I guess.

I think Shutterstock at least rejects on engine numbers etc.

Yes and airplane registration numbers, so a locomotive with an ID number, is something they reject. Seems like overly cautious means, if it's a number on something, anything, then zing, you've been refused. As for rail engines, same as autos, design, trademark patterns, will also get you rejected, even if it's something generic, as long as the reviewer doesn't know and wants to be safe.