Armenia & the South Caucasus | The Caucasian Knot » Levon Ter-Petrossian Copyright Infringement?

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Global Voices Online » Armenia: Copyright Infringement? 01.19.08 / 1am

[…] Derivative Works license I have to ask on my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 blog, can an official presidential election campaign site for one of the main candidates also use them? Share […]
Onnik 01.19.08 / 2am

Incidentally, this is how I explained use of the images in a post on my Oneworld Multimedia blog:

Please note that images may be used on other personal blogs as long as full and proper credit as well as a link is included. However, the images may not be modified or used by other sites without permission.

Again, it’s also worth pointing out that the Creative Commons license clearly states that images may not be used for commercial purposes and on each page is a request for donations to Ter-Petrossian’s election campaign fund.

Maybe I need to seek legal advice?
Onnik 01.19.08 / 3am

Well, one interesting email I’ve just received from Global Voices Online’s Ethan Zuckerman is interesting and something to think about.

[…] The no-derivative works clause is more likely to help you out - if they’re incorporating these photos into a campaign site or into flyers, you can argue they’re making derivatives of your work. (” You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.”)

All these creative commons licenses include language about attribution - “You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor.” We have an attribution policy on the GV website that’s quite specific and requires people to link back to GV if they’re using our content. You might post an attribution policy on your personal site or Flickr feed that states that anyone using your images for political purposes must state in the attribution that you do not endorse the candidate in question.

Ethan also pointed me in the direction of a post he made on a similar, but more extreme situation. Admittedly, my case seems insignificant in comparison although on the other hand, in the situation that Ethan describes I wouldn’t even bother to be concerned with copyright.

As I’m not being commissioned to take any photos during the election and if I captured an incident of violence or serious concern I’d not be bothered at all about the use of the images. Obviously, the images needed to be seen and I’ve always allowed free use of images of poverty and political violence or human rights abuses when there’s been the need.

However, in this case, I wasn’t the only photographer there and it could needlessly affect my ability to photograph the campaigns of other candidates.

It wasn’t until Heavens covered the May 2005 elections that he understood just how far his photos might travel, and just how complicated the reuse relationships could get. Ethiopia’s elections were an impressive moment in history - the first democratic elections in thousands of years in the country. But they were widely viewed as being rigged in favor of the ruling party, and as results came in, opposition politicians took to Meskel Square to protest the results on June 2nd. University students protested as well, and those protests turned violent, with soldiers opening fire on the crowds with live ammunition.

Heavens took photos of the elections, the rallies, the violence and the hospitals and morgues. Some of the photos were purchased by Reuters and ran on their newswire - others ran on Andrew’s flickr feed. As Ethiopians around the world reacted with outrage to the violence, Andrew saw his photos appearing again and again - on a banner at a rally in Melbourne, in news photos of rallies around the world, on Ethiopian websites.

[…]

But the use of the images that really surprised him was in a viral video titled “Ethiopia’s June Massacre“. Five minutes long, the video shows a series of images interspersed with narrative text, over the haunting sound of a female Ethiopian singer. The narrative outlines the elections, the protests, the violence and makes strong - and perhaps unverifiable - claims, including that one of the people killed in the violence was a 14 year old child, killed while trying to flee. The video urges people to visit freeourleaders.org (down when I last checked it), a website which is strongly anti-government.

Roughly one third of the images used in the film are Heavens’ images, taken from his Flickr feed.

[…]

There were practical concerns as well: “My kneejerk reaction was, ‘Will my freelance employers be upset that this film is using my images?’” Would the film affect his press accreditation, which the government needs to renew each year for him to effectively work in Ethiopia. Would it compromise his image of journalistic neutrality?

His ultimate conclusion: if those photos had just belonged to Reuters, “they would have made a few Britons seeing them over breakfast uneasy for a few hours.” Instead, they’ve got a life a year after they were taken, memories of critical moments in Ethiopian history long after that day has passed. He concludes, “If you love your photos, set them free.”

http://ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=986

Incidentally, I would like to point out that Ter-Petrossian’s website people could have contacted me first before using the images. While I appreciate their inclusion of a credit which I think shows they didn’t purposely want to screw me over, they could have rung and asked.

For example, The Armenian Observer recently telephoned me to ask about using some of my images on Internews’ E-Channel site. I was pleased to know that he was interested in, but more specifically, even though he’s a friend, he bothered to ask.

Obviously, I gave him permission to use them freely, but anyway.
Onnik 01.19.08 / 3pm

I just sent this email:

Dear Aramazd Ghalamkaryan and Alexander Arzumanian,

Yesterday I discovered that you have used ten of my copyrighted images from various Levon Ter-Petrossian rallies on the official election campaign site.

As I mentioned, these images are copyrighted and are only licensed for free use for non-commercial sites under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

As you can see from the license, images may not be used for commercial or derivative purposes without permission.

Moreover, any use even under that license may not be attributed in such a way as to suggest that their use implies my endorsement of the purpose for which they are being used.

Therefore, I have to request that you remove the said images on your three rally gallery pages immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Onnik Krikorian
—
Oneworld Multimedia
http://www.oneworld.am
Armenia Election Monitor 2008 » Blog Archive » Armenia Election Symbolism & Slogans 01.19.08 / 4pm

[…] designed and created for the pre-election campaign of former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian. Given previous concerns about the use of my images without permission for Ter-Petrossian’s campaign, this image is used by commercial agreement and has provoked an […]
Tigran Khanzadyan 01.19.08 / 4pm

I don’t suppose that there is a translated version of Creative Commons License somewhere around? If it’s not then all Armenian bloggers and like should try to create one and point that out in their pages.

On the other note, those images are widely available and as long as there is no law in Armenian Constitution about the ways of practice then images will be “used” or rather abused - that’s I’m afraid is the unwritten law.
Onnik 01.19.08 / 5pm

Tigran, firstly, the Creative Commons license is available in many languages and most of the people I know from Ter-Petrossian’s campaign team speak English so they can read.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I am tired with people here living by the “unwritten law.” It’s one of the main reasons why this country is in the situation it is today.

Instead, international copyright is a global thing, and anyway, there is actually a written law which can be used by those whose copyright is infringed to sue for damages.

For example, what about the ACTUAL law of the Republic of Armenia on copyright?

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

LAW ON COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS

Adopted by the National Assembly
15 June 2006

Article 1. The Subject of Regulation of the Law

This Law regulates:

a) the relations connected with the rights of authors with respect to their works in the domains of science, literature, art (copyright);

b) the rights of performers to their performances, the rights of producers of phonograms in respect to their phonograms, the rights of film producers in respect to their fixed films, the rights of broadcasting organizations to their programs, the rights of publishers to the typographical arrangements of their editions, the rights of makers of database to the database made by them (related rights);

c) collective administration of economic rights.

[…]

Article 9. Origin of Copyright and Notification About It

Copyright in a work emanates by the fact of creation of a work. The work shall be considered created if it is expressed in an objectively perceivable form and does not depend on the official acknowledgement of that right, registration of the work and observance of any other formalities.

The holder of the exclusive economic rights (the author or another person who possesses these rights in the order provided by this law) may for notification of copyright, use the symbol of protection of copyright that shall be placed on the original or on each copy of the work and consists of the following:

a) the Latin letter “C” in a circle;

b) the name or denomination of the holder of the exclusive economic rights;

c) the year of the first publication of the work.

[,,,]

Article 12. Moral Non-Economic Rights of the Author

[…]

c) the right of prohibiting probable distortions, modifications or other trespasses to the work which may prejudice to his honor or reputation (the right of honor and reputation of the author);

[…]

Article 41. The liability of the Parties in Case of Infringement the Author´s Contract

The party who failed to carry out the obligations assumed under the author´s contract shall be required to compensate the other party for the caused damage, (including the lost benefit).

[…]

Article 71. Rights of Foreigners

Citizens or residents of other countries shall enjoy the same rights and have the same liabilities, specified in this Law, as citizens and residents of the Republic of Armenia , in accordance with international agreements signed by the Republic of Armenia or with the principle of reciprocity.

http://www.armpatent.org/english/database/copyrights.html

Anyway, I can only conclude two things. Firstly, the lack of a translated version of Creative Commons into Armenian actually supports my claim of copyright infringement because it is only through their license that I waived certain rights which are otherwise protected by Armenian law.

Secondly, it’s about time that this country ceased from being one which is governed by “unwritten laws” and became one defined by the rule of law. Wasn’t that one of the things Ter-Petrossian said he believed in? Isn’t it what we all believe in? Isn’t it what Armenia needs more than anything else?
Tigran Khanzadyan 01.19.08 / 6pm

Yes, it’s about time we actually try to follow the only law - The Constitution of Republic of Armenia. But it would be difficult for people since during Soviets it was actually “cool” to do everything under some “unwritten regulations”. For converting the national approach we need a generation change, the law abidance is not a common practice among this generation of rulers who are now actually in the government or in so-called opposition parties.
Aramazd 01.19.08 / 10pm

Onnik, I used the photos and gave proper credit to you. To my view, you should be proud we used your photos. But in any case I will remove those from the website. rest assured. But I am really surprised, frankly speaking.
Onnik 01.20.08 / 12pm

That’s a funny way to respond to the issue of copyright infringement — to talk of pride.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t feel proud when people break my copyright, violate the law, and ignore a Creative Commons license that does give people more access to free use of my images under certain circumstances.

I also don’t feel much pride when that copyright is broken after taking pictures many of which were a real pain to get in the first place because of heavy-handed security around Ter-Petrossian.

Anyway, thanks for taking the photographs down, but maybe it’s just me.

I would have thought an apology along the lines of “Sorry, we didn’t know. It won’t happen again,” would have been in order rather than acting as though you did everything correctly.

Anyway, to point out to other readers. Non-commercial use of photographs from my Flickr site is authorized according to the terms of my Creative Commons license. This certainly excludes media outlets, but not blogs as long as an appropiate credit and link is there.

Incidentally, the only media publication that is allowed full use of my images is Internews Armenia’s E-Channel. Last week I spoke to Gegham and we’ll be cooperating to some extent during this election period.
Tigran Khanzadyan 01.20.08 / 8pm

I suppose here I could only quote Victor Meldrew “I just didn’t believe it”!!!
Aramazd 01.20.08 / 11pm

Onnik, if you consider http://www.levonpresident.am as a commercial website, I have no comments.

As for the attribution: you know we have put the Copyright sign there and gave proper credit to you.

Anyway, hope there won’t be any such a need in future.

BTW, here is the link to the conditions of reuse on FLICKR: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en.

Giving a link is considered as non-mandatory but just “the best way”.
Blogian 01.21.08 / 12am

Aramazd, your reaction resembles the tragedy of Armenian politics which is the arrogant statement that “we haven’t done anything wrong.” Simply saying “sorry” is not going to hurt your campaign - actually you will gain more respect for the group you’re advocating for and especially for yourself.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 12am

Firstly, Aramazd, whether you are a commercial site or not, the Creative Commons license clearly states that attribution may not be made in such a way as seeming as though the copyright-holder endorses the purpose of use.

Secondly, as you have requests for money to be paid into a bank account for Ter-Petrossian’s campaign, I would think that yes, the site can be considered commercial. Basically, you are trying to get money which is not for a charitable cause.

Thirdly, the link you provided takes me to a non-existent page and I once again point you to the license I use on my blog.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

And what to say? It would have been courteous to ring up and request permission, but I’d also like to add that the picture of the fist now used for posters, the web site and the badge were taken and copyright was infringed in such a way that is astounding.

You’re very lucky I didn’t sue and settled for payment after the image was effectively stolen and I found out about it. More than that, I am still amazed that you can’t even apologize for what happened.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 12am

Ok, found it, although it’s version 2.0 of the license:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

So, now tell the whole world, please, did you email or telephone me asking how to attribute the work? No, you broke both Armenian copyright law and also the Creative Commons license.

Next time you will be sued.
nazarian 01.21.08 / 6am

The official site for the LTP campaign does not violate the creative commons license since there was attribution, it was not used for commercial purposes and was not altered and built upon so there is no case based on that.

But the blog entry (http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2008/01/10/2008-presidential-election-in-armenia/) promoting the flickr site states that

“Please note that images may be used on other personal blogs as long as full and proper credit as well as a link is included. However, the images may not be modified or used by other sites without permission”

so anyone who is not a blog writer will have to ask for permission which was not done.

But on the flickr site itself there is no mention of this limitation. Each of the photos only has the Creative Commons copyright. The LTP site has respected the copyright rules as available for the photographs.

Onnik, in order to make sure that your rules are respected, you might want to make them public and available in the flickr profile or in the photograph description.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 9am

Wow, you guys (Nazarian is a prolific supporter of LTP’s candidacy in the election) really can’t apologize or admit you made a huge mistake, can you? I understand now why some people who went along to LTP’s rallies in the hope that he would apologize for no electricity, rampant corruption, high profile assassinations, a closed political party and media outlets are so disappointed that they got nothing there either.

And yes, you are wrong. So totally, totally wrong, and I should have really taken legal action so LTP’s team can perhaps understand what the rule of law means. Firstly, copyright is implied and in place at the time a photograph is taken. So, you broke copyright.

Secondly, and most importantly, I made my images available for free use by bloggers and other non-commercial sites under the Creative Commons license which is clearly indicated on the Flickr pages. Under that license, commercial sites may not use the images and as LTP is trying to get money from people visiting his site I would say it is likely you could argue the official site is therefore commercial.

But if that’s a case for a court to determine in Armenia, the Creative Commons license clearly indicates that attribution must be made in agreement with me. Look at the page, see the three CC icons, click on them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24674184@N00/2094809333/

Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Nobody from Levon Ter Petrossian’s team contacted me about use of my images.and so therefore not only did they break the law of the Republic of Armenia they also breached the Creative Commons license. They also stole my image of the clenched fists and used it for derivative works,

Aramazd said he’d pay for breach of copyright on the website and I agreed rather than make it into something larger. He offered me $100 and I agreed but DID NOT tell me they had already used the images for large posters and then I find out, badges. Actually, the agreement we reached didn’t include additional use and there is no agreement to that effect.

Probably I could sue and demand all other use of that image to cease. I can also sue for damages. Uzogh, I’m surprised you aren’t blogging about this or that a pro-government media outlet hasn’t picked up on this yet. But as a simple apology isn’t yet forthcoming, I suppose it’s a matter of time before they do.

You all could have just apologized and let it pass, but you still refuse to admit the mistake made and the violation of both the law and Creative Commons. Amazing. A taste of what’s to come if the LTP team come to power, perhaps? As Blogian says, regret and an apology would have sufficed, but LTP’s people continue to dig a hole for themselves.

Amazing. Simply amazing.
nazarian 01.21.08 / 9am

Onnik,

I have used one of your photos only once on my blog and gave credit and provided link to Oneworld. I do not see any need for me to apologize.

I was just pointing out what a reasonable person (as accepted in a court) would have made out of this. The flickr photos do not specify the manner of the attribution - i.e. a person looking at the Flickr page does not know that you have specified the rule of usage in a blog entry.

As for commercial use, I think it’s a stretch to consider an election campaign a commercial enterprise. But we won’t know unless a court decides about it.

It’s really sad that the use of the photos has escalated to this. But I guess the Armenians didn’t have the concept of copyright as little as 15 years ago so it’s probably expected.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 10am

I was just pointing out what a reasonable person (as accepted in a court) would have made out of this. The flickr photos do not specify the manner of the attribution - i.e. a person looking at the Flickr page does not know that you have specified the rule of usage in a blog entry.

This is now getting too much. I say again that the CC copyright/license terms are identified on my flickr pages. Everything is clear. If LTP’s people prefer stealing and are so arrogant as not to check, that’s one thing.

If it was a simple mistake then Aramazd should apologize for the unauthorized use of the rally pictures but he has not. You know, I’ve decided, because my images have been used, are being used, or were being used for LTP’s campaign without my permission, I will give Aramazd until the end of the day to publicly apologize.

Otherwise, I shall be submitting my concerns about the breach of my legal rights and the RA Law to the CEC as it pertains to pre-election campaign advertising materials.
nazarian 01.21.08 / 10am

Onnik, I have no connection to the LTP campaign so my opinions are mine and do not represent the point of view of LTP, his team or Aramazd.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 10am

Nazarian, when you weigh in and incorrectly try to paint a picture of me being in the wrong even to the extent of ignoring CC markings and a link to the attribution page on my Flickr pages, you’re taking sides and again representative of the general attitude prevalent in LTP’s campaign team.

However, I think that now has come the time to demand a public apology from Aramazd or I will be submitting a written complaint to the CEC late this evening. Basically, I believe in a country where the rule of law exists. It’s now time for me to protect my copyright and make sure that happens.

Additionally, any further breach of copyright by Ter-Petrossian’s campaign team — or any other, in fact — will result in legal action. I also reserve all my respective legal rights in terms of copyright and Creative Commons licensing with these comments.
Blogian 01.21.08 / 10am

Hi Onnik,
I am 100% with you that Aramazd should release a public apology (I am not as concerned about how he allegedly misused the photos first but how he handled your discomfort about the unauthorized use). This is a question of principle. A principle of respecting others and challenging the Ottoman mentality that an apology is somewhat disgracing. Aramazd, there is nothing wrong about saying, “Sorry, Onnik.” And it is not too late to do so.
nazarian 01.21.08 / 11am

re: “Nazarian, when you weigh in and incorrectly try to paint a picture of me being in the wrong even to the extent of ignoring CC markings and a link to the attribution page on my Flickr pages, you’re taking sides and again representative of the general attitude prevalent in LTP’s campaign team.”

I didn’t mean to imply that you were wrong(you are the owner and you make the rules); only that that the manner of attribution is not clear when you visit the Flickr page for a photo.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 12pm

Nazarian, the Creative Commons license is marked on the pages. Plus, Aramazd was formerly the media person for UNDP in Armenia and is now in the same position for Grzo’s bank.

He knows what copyright is, and as the issue of copyright had been brought up before regarding the use of the fist, he should have known full well he needed to contact me.

This is absurd. Really quite absurd.

Not one valid reason has been given for this and it would just take a simple, “I/We apologize. It won’t happen again.” Instead, I get told I should be proud Levon Ter-Petrosian’s team not only broke my copyright but also RA copyright law and the Creative Commons License.
Onnik 01.21.08 / 1pm

BTW: This morning I received the following email. This is how it’s done. And note, these guys are definitely interested in my photos for fundraising for a charitable cause yet they still asked. There’s obviously a world of difference between what most people do and how they behave, and the Levon Ter-Petrossian campaign team.

Hello, Mr. Krikorian.

My name is Daniel Ohanian and I was hoping you would be able to help me out. I am part of a subcommittee to ARFYOC (Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Organisation of Canada) in Toronto, Canada, and we are currently working with an NGO you seem to be fairly familiar with - the HALO Trust. Having heard about this group and their work through I friend of mine, I decided to do some research on them and came across your blog, where you have posted your photographs of HALO workers in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). We are at a point in our work now where we have organised a kickoff event to mark the beginning of our fundraising campaign for HALO; our goal is to collect over $10,000.

So this brings me to my question. Would you allow us to use one or more of the photographs available on your website for our campaign? In the most general sense, this includes: a flyer advertising our event(s); a slideshow promoting HALO; a pamphlet with information pertaining to their NK operation; and as part of an audio-visual presentation. Now, I do not mean to overwhelm you! My intention isn’t to exploit your work. I just want to know how available these photographs are to us, if at all, and what steps you would like us to take in respecting your property.

With thanks on the great reporting you do,

-daniel

Oh yeah. Permission is obviously granted for use because not only do I support this cause, but also because they bothered to ask.
Tigran Khanzadyan 01.21.08 / 5pm

Wow, bravo Daniel! This is how things should be done in a law abiding society. Internet is a part of our sphere of interests and people should follow the same rules as in reality - if they follow those rules at all of course.
Aramazd 01.22.08 / 2pm

Well-well-well.

I know Onnik is interested in pushing the stats of his blogs, but this is really too much.

Now read carefully:

1. I, Aramazd Ghalamkaryan, whenever and wherever I used Onnik’s photos, gave proper credit to him.

2. The photo of fists was used not by me, I myself raised the issue of copyright with the designer and was assured that the photo was properly purchased from Onnik and paid for.

3. When Onnik contacted me on the issue of the photo with fists, and though I was not the one who illegally used that phot, I immediately arranged that issue and paid Onnik, and, BE CAREFUL HERE, apologised a number of times, including by phone! Here is a quote from our email communication with Onnik:

“Hi Onnik,

Sorry for a possible confusion: are you speaking about the the new photo with fists on the upper right part of the newly-designed website at http://www.levonpresident.am?
If that’s the case, I was told that you were paid. If not, I will re-check early morning tomorrow and get back to you.”

4. I would apologise once again without any problem if I breached the copyright. And moreover, intentionally. If I stole anything! This is absurd, and anyone knowing me would prove this.

5. And the notion that someone would associate Onnik with LT’s campaign is a very very weak argument. And I am not against being sued, BTW: let the court decide whether photos used in a campaign website mean that the photographer supports that candidate.

6. I am really sorry for this noise about nothing. I was one of those unique individuals who managed to have normal relations with Onnik. But now I see that making noise is more important that the truth. It’s a pity.
Aramazd 01.22.08 / 2pm

2 Blogian:
Re: “Aramazd, your reaction resembles the tragedy of Armenian politics which is the arrogant statement that “we haven’t done anything wrong.” Simply saying “sorry” is not going to hurt your campaign - actually you will gain more respect for the group you’re advocating for and especially for yourself.”

In fact I was and am one of those in Levon’s Team who argues for such a stance. And it is both unjust and in fact funny that I am accused in such a behaviour.
Onnik 01.22.08 / 2pm

Aramazd, that is attrocious and I have already made it clear about the fist image so you are avoiding the issue which is the gallery of images.

1. I, Aramazd Ghalamkaryan, whenever and wherever I used Onnik’s photos, gave proper credit to him.

I’m sorry, according to both national and international copyright law you MAY NOT use my images without permission. However, they were licensed under Creative Commons and so I say again, you breached that because:

Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

So tell me? When did you contact me about how to attribute the images? Who on earth are you to decide what is “proper credit?” They are my copyright and even under Creative Commons it is up to me to determine what is proper and what is not.

Of course, it’s not the first time I’ve seen such arrogance and disregard for the law from Levon Ter-Petrossian’s campaign team and I daresay it’s not the last. Most citizens, of course, will remember that such an attitude defined his rule.

No change there, then.

I was one of those unique individuals who managed to have normal relations with Onnik. But now I see that making noise is more important that the truth. It’s a pity.

Who are you referring to here, Aramazd? Your radical-opposition chums in civil society and the media who are behind you in your attempts at launching a “revolution” if Ter-Petrosian doesn’t come to power regardless of the fact of whether he actually gains enough votes.

Normal relations, hmmm.

Let’s see how they’ve been since May 2007 when I first met you. Well, I interviewed you, wrote about your effective dismissal from the UN and never saw you again until the recent LTP rallies. Then our only contact related to images and usually when my copyright was breached — 11 out of 12 times as I recall — and as comments on this page.

Yeah, pretty normal, I’d say.

Anyway, I’ve framed things in terms of the law. You have not been able to counter any of the breaches enshrined in national or international copyright law or Creative Commons. Excuse me if I snigger the next time I hear one of LTP’s people speak of the rule of law when there was none 1991-1998 and there appears to be none in your circle now.

Funny, steal my images and throw up so many red herrings to get out of the fact that you broke national and international law on those gallery images as well as breach creative commons and without being able to say sorry.

I know Onnik is interested in pushing the stats of his blogs, but this is really too much.

No, Aramazd, your arrogance and lack of humility as well as inability to admit you’re wrong is too much. Still, what can I say about increased hits? If that’s the case at least they’re genuine unlike the 60-100,000 people you guys give for LTP rallies when only 12-15,000 turn up.

It’s up to readers to decide based on what’s been said on this copyright issue in the comments section of this post. To be honest, I think only those who support Ter-Petrossian side with Aramazd. Those who care about the rule of law and the respect and protection of copyright do not.

Can’t say more than that, really.
Onnik 01.22.08 / 3pm

Incidentally, you violated my copyright with the issue of the fists which you had used without permission not only on the website but also for posters to launch your post-election revolution, but apologized only when I pointed this out. Probably you had no choice as you had already used the image for other materials too.

Gee, thanks.

However, what’s the logic here? Because you apologized for one violation, you could then go ahead and steal even more images (and yes, infringement of copyright is theft) ? Is that how the Ter-Petrosian team plan to act now that an apology for the corruption, criminality and cronyism of the 90s has been made?

Like Catholics, perhaps. Confess once, a few Hail Mary’s, slate clean, time to sin again. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.
Aramazd 01.23.08 / 12am

You are too “brave” in front of your screen, Onnik, but you saw me today and told nothing! You ran and did not say a word to me, the “thief”, according to you.

Go ahead, copy this comments page to the whole world. This is my last post in your blogs. And this is my last word: on the Flickr page there was no MANDATORY condition to contact you before using your photos. And the credit was there. Go ahead and sue me, and I will prove in the court that all this is hype and fake.

BTW, you lost a good client. I am almost sure you realize that this campaign of yours was a mistake, but you cannot admit it.

Bye.
Armenia Election Monitor 2008 » Blog Archive » Symbol of the Revolution? 01.23.08 / 1am

[…] rally held today in Yerevan. Even stranger when you consider the story behind the image and later problems with additional copyright infringement as well as the fact that if Ter-Petrossian’s people protest after the 19 February […]
Onnik 01.23.08 / 11am

Aramazd, I didn’t talk to you because I was leaving your little march and running towards the metro. Why should I stop to speak to someone like you who doesn’t even deserve any respect shown to them at all after your inability to apologize for breaking the law and my copyright?

Still, my glare as I rushed off to the metro should have made it perfectly clear what I think of people who do not respect intellectual property protected under national and international law, but more important who show no remorse when they get found out.

And you are once again showing your true colors when you again refuse to accept you broke the national law as well as my international copyright.

Yes, there was MANDATORY conditions expressed on the Flickr page. More than that, even if there wasn’t I don’t need to because the law recognizes me as the copyright holder regardless. However, there was. Firstly, copyright is automatically implied anyway, and secondly the CC terms are clearly labeled there.

Everything on this comments page showed you stole my images and are not man enough to except you broke the law. You are too arrogant when you’re in the service of your monarch/s (Grzo and LTP).

Anyway, you should know all of this already because you are a supposedly a media expert although obviously an amateurish one.

Moreover, your attitude on these comments pages show you more significantly quite a nasty little so-and-so who cares nothing for the rule of law.

I don’t feel brave in front of my screen, huh? Well, it’s true, I feel better I don’t have to see thieves like you.

As for suing, I was never going to sue you. I was going to sue LTP’s campaign and make a complaint to the CEC and OSCE as well. After all, you’re just a minion — a sycophantic minion for your King.

And I lost a client? Woe is me! My god! You mean you won’t STEAL any more of my images!!! Damn! What am I going to do?!?! Really! No, please, you mean you’ll respect my copyright from now on?!?!?!?

You should have done so in the first place.
Armenia Election Monitor 2008 » Blog Archive » Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Gets Dirty, Nervous? 01.27.08 / 5pm

[…] blog which has raised many issues reflected in conversations with the general public as well as matters relating to the copyright of my photographs taken during the official and unofficial pre-election campaign period. Moreover, there are attempts […]
Armenia Election Monitor 2008 » Blog Archive » Levon Ter-Petrossian’s Team Accuses… Me! 01.28.08 / 9pm

[…] That’s right. Little old me. A special agent of not just one, but apparently many “services” who incurred the wrath of Ter-Petrossian’s team because this blog will not pump out its propaganda 24/7 and because I express my concern when Ter-Petrossian’s campaign team infringes my copyright. […]

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