Symbol of the Revolution?

Related posts:

• Copyright Concerns
• Armenia Election Symbolism & Slogans
• Armenia: A1 Plus Violates My Copyright (Again)
• Levon Ter-Petrossian: Return of the King
• Rallies, Revolution & the Numbers Game
• Dashnaktsutyun Copyright Infringement?
• Levon Ter Petrossian Vanadzor Rally
• Armenia: Revolution Underway?

1. Dean 01.23.08 / 1am

   Sue the bastards!!
2. Onnik 01.23.08 / 2am

   Well, I suppose I could even though copyright is not even understood here — go into any DVD shop and understand that. Still, the courts here should theoretically be very kind to me as my complaint will be against Ter-Petrossian, but unless a lawyer approaches me and says he’s willing to help me through the mess that is the Armenian judicial system, I don’t know.

   I am considering a complaint to the Central Electoral Commission, however, although I wonder how that would affect me as a journalist. Still, having this image used as a revolutionary symbol doesn’t help either. Wouldn’t be so bad if Ter-Petrossian’s team allowed me proper access to Ter-Petrossian for photographs, but they don’t even extend that to me as way of an apology and thanks.

   Anyway, problem is that this is Armenia, it’s election time, and any court case would be politically charged. Dunno. Let’s see.
3. GT 01.23.08 / 2pm

   Onnik, I have warned Bekaisa, that you were not happy on the way LTP team uses your pictures. Then I saw a discussion on her page with your approval. It was obvious from the postings on that page that the pic is going to be turned into a campaign poster and sign. I am not sure why now such harsh reaction from you?
4. Onnik 01.23.08 / 2pm

   I don’t think I’m reacting harshly in this post at all. In fact, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that the fist image is being used although I still want people to know how they illegally obtained it and how they used it without permission. No harshness there. That comes from another photographer who suggests I sue.

   Incidentally, the reason for now thinking about the use of this image is an afterthought given Aramazd’s attitude on my other posting. Like I said, in the case of this image there is no harsh reaction. In fact, I’ve said it looks good, and that it’s funny to consider how the image was first illegally obtained from me for use by LTP’s team.

   Indeed, I made this post only after being confronted by the image at the LTP rally yesterday. So, seeing as LTP’s people are using it as a symbol for fighting illegalities, promoting the rule of law, and respecting people’s rights, I thought it kind of ironic how they did completely the opposite when they stole it.

   Aramazd was also dishonest by not telling me how the image would be used, and I suspect he knew all along which is why he was so eager to get me the $100 before the campaign period officially began. Still, that was me being too naieve and it would be up to a lawyer to determine whether I should resign myself to this or take further action.

   For now, as you point out — with this image at least — I am resigned to the fact that LTP’s people conned me. Still, while I might be quite calm about that fact, it doesn’t prevent me from considering making a complaint to the CEC. However, I’ve already said that I don’t want this to turn into a political row although its tempting.

   Regardless, nothing stops me from letting the story behind the image and its use be known.

   Indeed, thanks to Aramazd’s arrogance and lack of humility or decency, I’m going to make damn sure that everybody know that the image was first stolen from me. However, like I said, I think they’ve done a good job with the design. They did, however, break the law and my copyright, and Aramazd shows no remorse for later copyright infringement.

   Unless you can point out any examples in my text, where’s the harshness on this page? Only in EurasiaNet’s Dean Cox who recommends I “sue the bastards.” With me it’s nowhere, and I explain why I’m reluctant to take this further. The harshness is in the other post about LTP’s team then going on to steal 10 more of my images for their website.

   Still, as copyright of this image still belongs to me, I realized earlier I can actually give it to others, including allowing modification of the image. I was thinking of doing something with the fist illustrating how LTP’s regime is accused of pillaging the country, and that their campaign team show no sign of changing by doing the same with my images.

   No harshness there. Just satire. Indeed, if others have any need for the image, contact me and we can discuss it, including allowing use in this pre-election period if they have a good idea which I am happy with. That’s why first and foremost campaign teams should respect the law and purchase images by arrangement and contract detailing exclusive use.

   As it is, as there is none given that they first stole my image and merely “compensated” me for its use on the web site, there’s nothing to stop the image being used by Serge Sargsyan’s campaign or anyone else for that matter. It could also be turned into an anti-LTP image, for example. Depends on me and what I want.

   It’s up to me to decide how this image is used by others, basically. The amateurs at Ter-Petrossian’s HQ instead thought they could just take it, use it as they wish, pay me $100 when I found it out, and then steal some other images and get away with it by sticking my name under each photo. Well, if anything, they might at least understand something about copyright infringement now.

   For me, though, this is all about transparency, so let everyone know that the image they’re using to represent empowerment and justice was first stolen from me and that in general, the theft of my images represents anything but those values that Ter-Petrossian’s team say defines their campaign.

   Like I said. No harshness there. Quite calmly stating the reality, including the fact that unless a lawyer out there would like to take this case up for me, I’m not going to do anything other than let people know the story behind the image which might yet be used for protesting an election that actually Ter-Petrossian loses.

   I know, I know, I should apparently be proud, according to Aramazd at LTP’s campaign office, but I fail to see how I can be proud an image is being used by a former disgraced president who falsified elections, closed down political parties and media outlets, as well as allow criminality, nepotism and cronyism to engulf Armenia.

   Still, like I said, nice design.
5. Onnik 01.23.08 / 3pm

   GT, let me get this post and comments back on track. While I am not happy with the way they first took this image, I was at least paid for it when I raised the issue. Like I said, it’s more an issue of the story behind the image being somewhat funny and ironic. I have otherwise raised no complaints about this image although copyright was infringed when it was first taken off my site and used for two purposes by LTP’s campaign team.

   Moreover, Aramazd says that other people in LTP’s team lied to him and said I had not only given permission for its use, but I had also been paid. This was not true. In fact, by Aramazd’s own admission, the image was stolen and whoever did so in Ter-Petrosian’s campaign team lied.

   Where I have real reason to be harsh and very angry is with regards to the use of the other images on their gallery pages. Aramazd removed them, but still denies that he breached the law and my copyright. This is where my main disagreement lies.

   Still, as he refuses to admit their fault in that case (the fist image he does admit was taken without permission), I can’t help but wonder if this image can’t be used for other purposes in lieu of an apology for the initial theft of 10 images which were then taken down, but which Aramazd shows no regret or shame for.

   Meanwhile, as pertains the fist, I just find being confronted by this image when photographing Ter-Petrossian’s rallies quite amusing.

   Anyway, this comments section is now closed because I can see the danger of this turning into the same conversation as occurred on the other post even though the nature of it is not the same. Your comments about harshness, which really relate to the theft of images for their gallery section, can be continued there.
6. Armenia Election Monitor 2008 » Blog Archive » On The Campaign Trail: Tavoush Region 01.27.08 / 3pm

   […] a brighter note, there were also many Levon Ter-Petrosian campaign posters — including that with my photograph of the clenched fists — around. There had been one or two attempts to remove them, but otherwise they were intact […]
7. «??????????? ??? ?, ??? ????????? ????????? ??… « ???????? ????????? ???? 01.31.08 / 1pm

   […] ??????? ?????` ????? ????????????? ?????????? ??????, ??????? ??????????` ??????????? ?????? ???????, ????????????? ?????? ???` ?????? ??????????? ???? […]
8. Armenia Election Monitor 2008 » Blog Archive » Pop Music & Pre-Election Crusades 02.04.08 / 11am

   […] out the country’s musical talent, while Ter-Petrossian continues on his crusade, ironically under one of my photographs. As the race for Armenia’s presidency heats up, with candidates hurling abuse at each other […]

Powered by Hemingway flavored Wordpress. Modified by Oneworld Multimedia.

Entries RSS Comments RSS