Why "no photos"?

Generally it's because there are artisanal, handmade products, or original designs, so they want to avoid copies. It happens a lot in Venice with the masks.

Also in ceramics shops.

I think people in general, and business people, are very sensitive about any private images uploaded to social media because they cannot control any unpredictable outcomes.

When I was in Milian, I stopped by a Ferrari store. I have a friend who owns a Ferrari. I thought it would be funny to take a picture of a toy Ferrari and tell him I bought a Ferrari. It took the store clerk about 5 seconds for him to tell me no pictures in the store except one of a real Ferrari. Oh well. I decided not to buy the toy Ferrari.

Your title gave me hope, all too briefly, that Italian museums were going to not allow any more photos. Ah, being able to enjoy art in the museums without all of those selfies.

Sometimes it's because they don't want photo-takers to take up space that might be used by someone who was actually going to spend some money. But I agree that most often it's for protection of the images of artisanal designs.

I'm a marketing professor and take photos of American brands in other countries for my classes; I got told "no photos" in a McDonald's in Milan!

In Volterra, some friends of mine passed a store with original artwork and started to take a picture of the window. From inside the store we heard someone yelling "No photos." But we couldn't see them.

I've seen No Photo signs in Manhattan floral design windows. But the Supreme Court has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy in a public place. That affected efforts to prevent photographs of U.S. bridges and buildings after 9/11.

Since "Rick" is partly about proper behavior while visiting other cultures, it would be helpful to know if these Italian merchants are overreaching, or just implementing real, local standards of conduct.

They want you to buy their products, or in the case of museums and churches the photo albums they have assembled for you. It's all about the money. ;-)

But their rules because it is their rules. I follow them.

Whether the merchants are "over-reaching" or not, if they don't want photos taken, are you going to invoke the proper legal ordinance? Or just politely move on?

Happened to my Dad at a Rolex shop in Knightsbridge London i think it was incase you take pictures then go back and smash the place up and rob them, but for ceramic things it most likely is a case of protecting their work from copycats

Most items are mass produced these days, even ones that look unique....it's even arbitrary to define what is "artisanal" since it has become not much more than a marketing term

What I really like to ban is the selfie-stick and perhaps a ban on a certain group that seems addicted to them. That is what should be ban.