Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I discovered on Thursday evening last that a local up-market newspaper had published a picture of mine -- attributed, mind you, to one "Mary" Small -- in an article of a local jazz drummer. This fellow has admitted giving the magazine the picture but his comment was, "so what"? (He is a REAL straight-shooter, no drugs, no alcohol, Thinks Good Thoughts and kayaks down the South Slope of Mount Everest, plus he has a couple of doctrates in optical science.) This fellow wanted me to shoot a CD cover. I shot several rolls of film of him in the fall of 1998, in downtown Roanoke, with Hasselblad. He reviewed the prints and wanted a second shoot, which I did, these being on the Blue Ridge Parkway. These were with Leica, some with a 2.5/12.5cm Hektor, the rest with a 2.8/90 "skinny" Tele-Elmarit. The final picture selected for the cover was one taken with the "skinny" Tele-Elmarit. The picture printed improperly by the magazine was the one in the first batch. Last year, an article about this fellow appeared in the local paper with some of my pictures. I then fussed at him and reminded him that the B&W work I did for him was for use in his fliers only. On Friday, I called the magazine. They must be used to this: they put me through to the publisher, who was polite, took my information, and stated he had to speak with the author and would be back in touch with me on Monday (tomorrow, as I write these words). I suspect the magazine will apologize and offer a token payment. I want to sue both the magazine and the drummer and take an ounce of their hides, but that may just be a surplus of testosterone flocking through my blood -- as a trial attorney, I recognize that most juries regard copyright suits as Big Yawns. And, don't forget, they attributed the picture to "Mary" Small. Advice? Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!