What are the copyright issues involving a photograph a public outdoor art sculpt

Question:

What are the copyright issues involving a photograph a public outdoor art sculpture?

I took the photograph of the beach, ocean and sculpture, and wish to use it in a (possibly)commercial project. Do I need the permission of the sculptor if the sculpture was outside in a public area? Would it make a difference depending on what country it was taken in (the photograph was taken in Mexico)?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

There is no copyright issues because the scultpure is out in plain sight for anyone to see and take pictures of. If you are using it in a book or something like that it would be nice and ethical of you to give the sculptor his due credit and put in his name and maybe even contact him to tell him, just send him a brief email. But he can't get you in any trouble since it was clearly sitting right out in the open for the general public to shoot if they felt like.