Photo Agency Sues Blogger Over Celebrity Pics

[Dave_Z]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...0,7885328.story?page=1&coll=la-home-headlines

On Nov. 30, X17 Inc., known for the aggressive pursuit of celebrity prey, filed a $7.6-million federal copyright infringement lawsuit against Hilton, alleging that he has used 51 photos without permission, payment or credit.

This part is why I'm siding with the complaining party:

Hilton, he said, "is basically free-riding on the labor and efforts of X17 and its photographers who stay up all night and roam the city, and he simply right-clicks and posts their photos

But...it's anyone's guess how this will turn out.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Not that I'd ever like to encourage the paparazzi or anything, but I can't let my own opinions get in the way of the fact that they are being blatantly ripped off.
If a teenager in Russia did it, it would be an open and shut DMCA notification, site closed, etc.
But because a semi-celebrity does it we look the other way?
Nah.
-Allan

 

[labrocca]

I side with X17 here. He is making enough money that he should be working an agreement out with agencies to use their images. He is obligated to remove photos if requested and told of their copyright. His attitude and blatant disregard for the intellectual property of others has made him a target.

Maybe he should move to the Netherlands.