Why is it illegal to print a picture of someone in the newspaper or on a website, if you never got permission?

Question

Why is it illegal to print a picture of someone in the newspaper or on a website, if you never got permission?

Answer 1

You do not need permission to print or publish in any other way a picture you took of a person, as long as the picture was taken in public. This is because there is no expectation of privacy in public. You do need permission to print or otherwise publish a picture someone else took, because the image is copyrighted.

Answer 2

Pictures taken in public by newspaper photographers are not illegal. If it is a photo from ANOTHER original source, such as a professional photo, that is different.

It all depends on the TYPE of photo, and who took it. Professional pictures are protected by copyrights, since it is their livelihood and they own the rights to the picture. Same applies for pictures used on a website.  

Answer 3

It is a copy write infringement.  The pictures are owned by the photographer or the newspaper.