The Indian Travelist

Yes, you read that right. While the Eiffel Tower itself is in the public domain during the day, its spectacular evening light show is classified as a separate artistic work.

Under European copyright law, taking photos or videos of the illuminated tower at night and sharing them commercially without permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE) is technically illegal! While they don’t usually penalize everyday tourists sharing personal photos, it’s a bizarre rule most people have no clue about.

Diaspora Debate: Back home, our historical monuments are lit up with pride for everyone to shoot, share, and celebrate freely. Do you think strict European copyright laws like this protect art, or are they just a bit too extra? Let me know your thoughts! 👇

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Yes, it’s true. Under Article 185 of the Dutch Road Traffic Act, cyclists are classified as “weaker road users.” If a car and a bicycle collide, the driver’s insurance is legally required to pay at least 50% of the damages, even if the cyclist committed a traffic violation. If the cyclist is under 14, the driver is 100% liable.

Because drivers know the law is stacked against them, they drive incredibly defensively around bikes. It creates a culture of mutual respect—or absolute fear, depending on how you look at it!

Diaspora Debate: Could an absolute “protect the weaker vehicle” law like this ever work back home, or would it just cause absolute chaos on our roads? Drop your thoughts below! 👇

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