Lit up at night, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic sights in the world. It's an image that embodies the French capital.

But an obscure clause in EU copyright rules means that taking and sharing photos of the tower taken in the evening is actually a violation that could land tourists with a fine.

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 which means that it falls within the public domain, so tourists can snap away liberally during the day.

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Dusk falls over the city of lights: Tourists who snap the Eiffel tower at night are breaking copyright laws

But the impressive lights that illuminate the attraction at night are technically an art work, so 'reproducing' requires the permission of the artist.

It also means that it is technically illegal to share images of the Eiffel Tower on social media sites such as Facebook.

While the EU's 2001 information society directive says photographs of architectural works in public spaces can be taken free of charge, the clause is optional.

Countries including Italy, Belgium and France opted out of transposing it into national law.

'The lightshow is protected by copyright,' Dimitar Dimitrov, a policy expert for the European Wikimedia chapters in Brussels, said.

On its website, the Eiffel Tower confirms that uses of photographs are subject to certain restrictions.

'Daytime views from the Eiffel Tower are rights-free,' it reads.

A clause in EU copyright rules means taking and sharing photos of the tower at night is a copyright violation

'However, its various illuminations are subject to author's rights as well as brand rights.

'Usage of these images is subject to prior request from the 'Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel' (the Eiffel Tower's operating company, or SETE).

'The citation "Eiffel Tower", the names of the various services offered on the monument as well as domain names are also registered.'

Many buildings across Europe are protected by copyright. Tourists must ask permission from the copyright holder to share their photographs in a public forum.

In Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovenia, for example, it is fine to take photos of public buildings so long as the images are not sold.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany, tourists are free to take and share photos of public buildings for any reason.



