Unfortunately, wherever the potato was introduced, the so-called civilized considered it ugly, strange, poisonous, bad and unfit for human consumption. Photographing the Eiffel Tower at night is illegal. As ridiculous as it sounds, this is actually true – but only half true thanks to European and French copyright laws. First, Article 5 of the EU Copyright Directive states that all artistic works – be it a song, painting, software, book, architectural design, etc. – are protected by copyright for the lifetime of their creator plus 70 years. In the case of the Eiffel Tower, which is an architectural design, Mr. Gustave Eiffel died in 1923 and the Eiffel Tower therefore fell into the public domain 70 years after his death in 1993. Photos taken of the Eiffel Tower during the day are not protected by copyright. Photos of the Eiffel Tower illuminated at night are protected by copyright. (The same goes for the Louvre pyramid and the Millau viaduct.) Although technically protected by copyright, no tourist has yet been prosecuted for taking a selfie in front of the tower and posting it on Facebook or Instagram. Probably because it would be a logistical and legal nightmare to keep track of all the photos circulating on the Internet.
In 2016, an amendment was also made to Article 122-5 of the Intellectual Property Law, allowing people to take photos for their personal use. You can`t sell or profit from photos without getting your permission, but you can share them on social media. The official website of the Eiffel Tower confirms this information. In 1966, baby name laws were relaxed a bit and parents were allowed to give their children foreign names and mythological names or regional names. The France has about 10,500 laws and 127,000 decrees that maintain order and peace in the country. Although it is only a local regulation, this strange law of a small town in the north of France deserves its place here. After an angry resident forgot his manners to an official in 2011, the city council of Lhéraule decided to adopt the decree. He says that if you don`t use good courtesies like “hello” and “thank you,” you will be kicked out of City Hall immediately and unceremoniously. Funny, shocking or funny? How did you find my list of old French laws that are still valid in France? Which most ridiculous French law shocked you the most? And have you heard of any other crazy and unusual laws that still exist? Thanks for sharing! The parents successfully (but briefly) invoked the law to block their son`s marriage. The decision was eventually overturned, but not before a family was divided and widespread confusion was triggered by the fact that strange French laws like this still existed.
Yes, under French inheritance law, you cannot disinherit your children. You are even obliged to leave certain minimum amounts to your children. The strict law in turn derives from the Napoleonic Code. French inheritance law (or inheritance law) essentially prescribes “forced inheritance”. It`s one of those weird French laws that are widely considered anachronistic, but small cars can still be found everywhere in France. Usually at the top of a growing transmission line. Do you know that there are incredibly bizarre and funny laws out there France? There are also laws governing the sale of bread, with only locally produced fresh bread being marketed as homemade bread. Posthumous marriages have been approved for partners of soldiers who died in conflicts and disasters, making this law one of the most accurate entries on our list of strange French laws.
It`s one of those famous strange French laws that claim to reveal something about French food culture. However, the truth is less revealing, as official documents show that this is just a bit of sensible menu planning. Many countries have baby name laws that prevent parents from legally giving certain names to their children – usually to protect the child from getting an offensive or embarrassing name, such as Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden, two names that are illegal in Germany. Similar laws apply to beer production in Germany and chocolate production in Belgium, showing how national laws reflect cultural values. In some cases, laws remain technically in place but cannot be enforced due to newer laws – for example, the law banning women from wearing trousers could never be enforced because it violates equality legislation. Some strange French laws seem too strange to be true until you dig deeper into the details. Like a law created to protect the sounds and smells of the French countryside. I have checked all the laws on this list; But I`m also only human. If you think something is wrong, please let me know (via my contact page), but be sure to provide me with links to reliable resources.
French women are known for their feminine sense of fashion, but it`s not because of this outdated 19th century law. However, it was never removed from the law books. Officially, if you want to wear a trouser suit, you must obtain a permit from the nearest district as well as a medical certificate. Another strange law that disapproves of women in pants in France is that the only exception is when riding a bike or horse. Not all strange French laws deal with complicated issues. Some exist to preserve the little things that elevate French spirits. Since Hallyday is a French citizen, the courts are asked if Hallyday had the right to evade French inheritance law by pretending to be a resident of Los Angeles. The overwhelming majority of the law of the Republic of France makes perfect sense. Yet there are strange French laws that raise eyebrows inside and outside the France. Needless to say, France has its fair share of strange laws. If you are traveling to a new, unknown country, you should always inform yourself about the laws and customs of the country before arriving.
This will save you from unpleasant encounters with law enforcement if you accidentally practice some of your own rituals in a room where they may not be accepted. Each country has its own strange laws. In the UK, under the Salmon Act 1986, you can be sanctioned for “handling salmon under suspicious circumstances”, while in the US state of Arizona, it is illegal for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. A quick search for strange French laws inevitably leads to the bizarre claim that you can`t have a pig named Napoleon in France. Some strange French laws are clearly well-intentioned. The maintenance obligation makes it clear that family members must take care of each other, even if they steal or fight over inheritances and marriages. Again, this is not a legitimate example of strange French laws, but simply the excessively harsh application of another standard rule for rail transport. The rule states that animals travelling on the rail network must have a ticket. Rightly, the limits of this rule have been tested by a famous French delicacy, the humble snail. The 20,000 lights that make up night lighting are considered artistic works. Like any artistic work, it is protected by copyright. If the photo remains in the private environment, this should not be a problem.
If, on the other hand, they are shared or used for commercial purposes, this may result in legal action against the publisher. The France, like many other countries, has its fair share of strange laws. And as you`d expect from the French, some include kisses, snails and, of course, Napoleon. The France has passed several laws to protect the French language. A 1975 law ruled that advertisers are not allowed to use foreign words unless there is no French alternative. Of the approximately 15,500 French laws, some would raise eyebrows (sometimes two). Obviously, someone simply forgot to adjust the ones dating back to the Middle Ages – but it`s doubtful you`ll get in trouble because you don`t have a spare bale of hay in case the king walks past your farm. Other strange laws shout “triggered!”, and it is amusing to discover what anecdote spawned the craziest French regulations. What`s not so funny, though, is how many strange laws in France still violate women`s rights.
Come take a look at these 12 weird French laws you`ve probably never heard of. The French Senate even has an office tasked with removing obsolete laws from the country`s legal systems – it`s known as the Bureau d`abrogation des lois anciens et inutiles (BALAI). I thought it would be interesting to research some of Frances` most bizarre or unusual laws in the books. Yes, France has its fair share of quirks – and some of its laws are no exception. This paid off, as newspapers around the world published articles about this strangest of the strangest of French laws.