What Goes Around Comes Around
Brian from snappedshot notes some copyright irregularities in the legacy media. The wire services have been lifting some photos of "Kristen" without permission:
Three attorneys who specialize in copyright law say media organizations are sailing in dangerous waters if they publish a personal snapshot without permission.
"Whoever took that picture owns that picture," says New York attorney Nancy Wolff. "It's either an infringement or they [the news outlets] have to make a fair use argument."
Wolff says the news organizations probably decided the risk of a lawsuit was low. They also probably considered competitive pressure as other sources published the same photos. "It's a fast business decision," Wolff says.
Of course, given enough publicity, the risk of a lawsuit
increases dramatically. I wouldn't be too comfortable if I were the wire services. Kristen is happily making a bundle on this whole mess. A friend of hers who took that photo probably wouldn't mind getting in on the action.
Click on over to Brian's for more links about a photographer who risked life and limb for photos that CNN has repeatedly used without permission. Also, our very own doubleplusundead has an amusing question and observation.
Posted by: Gabriel Malor at
03:42 PM