Mail Online
Airbnb guest 'shaken down' for $10K over selfie inside California home
A TikToker says he was charged $10,000 after a brand-tagged selfie taken during his Airbnb stay at California's viral
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Viral 'Invisible House' Rental Sparks $20,000 Photography Fee Controversy
A recent social media post by user @seanmdavis has brought attention to the 'Invisible House' located near Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, California, detailing a contentious incident involving photography fees. The user, who rented the unique glass-walled property, claims to have been 'shook down for 20k' after taking photos outside the residence without explicit permission, despite tagging a brand that was not their own. In the video, @seanmdavis describes the house, known for its reflective exterior, as visually 'cool' but a 'complete nightmare' to stay in. He stated, "You can’t see out of the house at night but can see In perfectly. Worst part is it cracks like a sky scrapper all night and is so loud." The dispute over photography rights and fees has sparked discussion among viewers, with some questioning the legality of charging for exterior shots on private property and others noting that brand shoots often incur higher rates than standard rentals. One commenter queried, "Genuine question for whoever can explain in the comments: what if I decided to drive out there one day and took organic photos with the house in the background? No brand attached or anything. Is it a privately protected 'monument'? Does the house have a radius limit around it of how close you can be to it to capture it?" Another user highlighted the common practice, stating, "my uncle has an air bnb and daily rate is $1,000 but brand shoots are $10k. Seems pretty standard." The incident underscores the growing complexities surrounding property rights and commercial use in the age of social media content creation.
The Daily Dot
"Sleeping there is the worst part": Traveler shares how the Instagram-famous "I…
"That's about right."
