Surf 11 » The rights of a photographer

Attorney Burt Krages, and author of the Legal Handbook for Photographers, has a PDF on his site outlining the rights of a photographer in the US. Some of these include:

• You can take a picture of whatever you want when your in a public place. There are a few exceptions, depending on what your taking a picture of (like a nuclear facility)
• If your on private property the owner can ask you not to take photos.
• Private parties have no right to confiscate your film or memory card, without a court order. Cops, on the other hand, can in some cases.

If you ever get harassed by someone when your taking photos in public, you can print out this flyer, and show them your rights as a photographer.

If your in the UK, there is a guide for you here.

I'm not an attorney, so you might want to verify my interpretation with your attorney, or read Burts interpretation of the Law.