A quick question: why do so many shopping malls in the United States prohibit photography inside the mall? I know most malls are private property, and mall owners are within their rights by instituting photo bans. What purpose do they serve, though?
I dunno the answer to your question, but I’ve got a data point to add:
Imagine a visitor from a Middle-eastern, non-Christian country, whose first visit to America happens to be at Christmas time. She is impressed by all the lighted displays, and especially one huge and beautiful Christmas tree in the mall. So, like a good tourist who wants to appreciate the local culture, she lifts up her camera, to take a pic of this nice American custom. BIG BOO-BOO. She finds herself escorted to the security office, and told NEVER to do that again.
(This was in 1980, long,long before 9/11)
Now why would a mall be trying to prevent publicity of its central publicity attraction during the holiday season?
In previous points in the career, I worked as an appraiser and then an asset manager overseeing two malls. I was told the reason for the ban is that retailers are concerned about competitors photographing their displays and layout. That doesn’t explain why my appraiser boss was extensively questioned by security while taking pictures of a mall exterior, though (and this was WAY pre-9/11).
I had a couple of buddies who worked mall security. The reason I was always given was because they didn’t want people to be able to take photos of the security of the mall and stores.
At Union Station in St. Louis, I know that this is discouraged (not sure if it’s actually prohibited) because Cardinals players and Nelly cruise around there quite a bit and they’d like to prevent them from being bothered too much by fans.
I think the real reason is that the mall owner is afraid you are doing advance work for a "slip and fall’ law firm. Lawsuits against mall owners sometimes net big bucks; they probably figure that you are angling for something like this.