Copyright and the Council

WillowTheWhisp · 03-02-2007, 17:38

It's rare to see our council leader without a beaming smile on his face but I see him looking rather dour on page 7 of Thursdays Lancashire Telegraph - how did we miss that?

It seems that he must pay legal costs in excess of £6,000 plus £550 damages to labour group leader and AccyWeb member Graham Jones for unauthorised use of one of his photographs on a promotional poster leading up to the local elections. (On closer inspection it seems that not only a photograph was used but also the accompanying blurb.)

Councillor Jones will apparently be donating the damages to charity. Nice gesture Graham.

Hmmm - I wonder if I should sue the Obsverver for using my photo of the Arndale Clock on their front page 2 years ago and donate the money to Maundy Grange?

Mick · 03-02-2007, 17:41

Or he could donate it to Accyweb he is a member after all

Less · 03-02-2007, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

Or he could donate it to Accyweb he is a member after all

Stick with your original plan Willow, because it just so happens that Maundy Grange is what I will be changing my name to by deed poll.

garinda · 03-02-2007, 17:46

I hope Cllr. Jones got the warden to sign a model release form, otherwise the owner of the legs in the photograph might be suing him.

WillowTheWhisp · 03-02-2007, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Less

Stick with your original plan Willow, because it just so happens that Maundy Grange is what I will be changing my name to by deed poll.

Just let us know when to start calling you Maundy

The article states that Graham Jones took the photograph of the community support officer with the consent of the police.

Gayle · 03-02-2007, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

It seems that he must pay legal costs in excess of £6,000 plus £550 damages to labour group leader and AccyWeb member Graham Jones for unauthorised use of one of his photographs on a promotional poster leading up to the local elections. (On closer inspection it seems that not only a photograph was used but also the accompanying blurb.)

This is interesting - I saw it in the Observer too!

I wonder if it puts his election expenses above the permitted amount and what the implications of that will be?

jambutty · 04-02-2007, 14:53

The copyright laws are quite clear. http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/general-advice/copyright-basic-facts-about-copyright.html

If someone publishes a photograph without the permission of the person who took the photo, that is a breach of the copyright laws even if the photographer is credited with taking the photo. The content of the photograph is irrelevant even it is a breach of someone’s privacy. The privacy breach is different issue.

I wonder if people are aware that the copyright of your wedding photos is held by the photographer who took them and not the wedding couple, unless the photographer has sold you the negatives? Selling the negatives implies a transfer of copyright.

Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (including a photograph) lasts until 70 years after the death of the author.

maxwell silver · 04-02-2007, 15:43

You'd have thought someone like PB,who is somewhat media savvy & surely must have his solicitor pour over every document/statement,would have realised he was in the wrong.Never mind "we used to go the pub & sort this kind of thing over a pint".This is 2007,get up to scratch,no wonder the towns got thousands of our ackers going down the pan

chav1 · 04-02-2007, 17:14

just one question

who pays the damages , do they come out of the councilors pocket or does it come from his partys pocket or will it end up been paid out of teh councils kitty which is basicly our money ?

sory no idea how this works and not sure if the person is accountable or the party that issued the posters

double win for graham though

1. got one over on teh oposition

2. loverly publicity donating to charity and it didnt cost a penny