The image was being used on a PAC webpage. PAC’s raise money...so the image is in a sense being used commercially without permission of the copyright owner. There is nothing sinister about the copyright owner complaining about unauthorized use of their photo for commercial purposes.
Whoever it was on Sarah’s PAC who used the photo without permission needs a little talking to about copyright law and intelectual property.
Using it on a personal page or non-proit website is a totally different matter.
Oh, they didn't just complain. They slapped Sarah with a federal lawsuit, despite the fact that she was merely using the picture as part of a tribute to the victims and heroes of 9/11 on a Facebook page (like millions of others have done).
I am not sure if it was ever posted on the actual SarahPac website. I think it might have been her FB page and linked to by her twitter account. The SarahPac watermark was in one corner, but that has been on a lot of her messages lately. There was no real solicitation of funds from this message. She may have to pay for usage but damages? How were they damaged? Pretty much a liberal hit-job they filed a lawsuit in two days then ran to the press.