[Sherman Logan]

The picture was taken by an employee of The Record, owned by North Jersey Media Group. It is private intellectual property and cannot be used without permission, most particularly by someone with whom the owners disagree politically. Exact same principle as a painting, book or software code.

This is not something conservatives should disagree with. It’s their property. If conservatives disagree with how they want it used., they should get together and buy the rights, not appropriate someone else’s property for personal use.

The web has made it extremely easy to swipe images, text, etc. That doesn’t make it right or legal.

It is entirely possible Sarah didn’t realize this was private property. When pointed out to her, she apparently took it down, which was the right thing to do.

[skr]

I think it’s the likelihood of Palin being targeted more so than the legalities. One wonders how often the photo was used but not dragged into court.

[OCMike]

Exactly right. Some here need to brush up on Copyright Law. I am a professional photographer and I have successfully sued several persons and corporations for using my registered copyrighted images without permissible use licensing. The law is very clear. If you click the shutter, you own the image.

The image depicted here was not used for editorial use or personal use. It was used commercially. Palin’s marketing people should know better. Just because it’s “on the internet” doesn’t mean you can infringe on the rights of the photographer or copyright owner.

[9YearLurker]

I understand the principle of photo ownership and copyright, but I think there should be a fair use standard applied to photos or video footage that are newsworthy, which I consider this photo to have become.

[diverteach]

As I understand it that unless an image is tagged with a copyright once it hits the internet that enters the public domain and is free to be used.

[Windflier]

The picture was taken by an employee of The Record, owned by North Jersey Media Group. It is private intellectual property and cannot be used without permission, most particularly by someone with whom the owners disagree politically.

It is entirely possible Sarah didn’t realize this was private property. When pointed out to her, she apparently took it down, which was the right thing to do.

That picture has been shared millions of times on Facebook without a peep from those who own it. But Sarah Palin does the same thing, and they slap her with a federal lawsuit.

Does that not give you even a little twinge of outrage?