Hello everyone,

I have some questions pertaining to the legal side of stock photography. I have done a fairly extensive amount of research in order to gain a working knowledge of how to go about producing imagery that can be used on stock sites, yet there is still quite a bit of gray area that I cant quite clear up and I was hoping that someone on this site might be able to shed a bit of light.

1. Do you need a location permit for any landscape, or cityscape? Additionally do I need a permit for a portrait with an identifiable background, other than the modeling release?

2. I realize that logos, brand names, and individual artistic works are copyrighted but are the actual designs of mass produced items copyrighted. Items such as cups, plates, silverware, clothing, household appliances, furniture so on and so forth?
   -I know that car designs are copyrighted and as a result you can only display one third       of the car in an image without it being considered infringement, but there has to be some definitive set of rules for the items listed above?

Thanks for the time, Jeff