You have got to be joking me?
That photo belongs to one particular person?
And they are insane enough to deprive any American of its use?
Gibbs head slap x2...
It belongs to whoever took the photo, or in this case, that photographer’s employer. It’s considered an original creation and is protected just as a book, a song, or any other original creative work. The firefighters themselves have no right to stop use of them (or demand compensation) as this was in public where no one has any legitimate expectation of privacy. EXCEPT if that image were used as a commercial advertisement to promote a product, which is not the case here obviously. An example of this would be, say, if MillerCoors were to take this photo and add graphics saying, “After you defend our country’s freedom, it’s Miller time”. Then the firefighters can sue over their images being used without permission, but only if they were personally identifiable in bthe photo.
But back to the original point, yes, the newspaper who empllyed the shooter who took the photo owns it and its use. They can license it to whomever they choose, or refuse to allow its use, except under one of the exceptions called “fair use” by the supreme court, which ironically enough includes parody of the photo.
The the families of the terrorists should sue as well; without their hard work the photo would not have been possible.