Comments on: Dashnaktsutyun Copyright Infringement?

By: Ani

Ani — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:23:17 +0000

Onnik,

Bill them! As long as you keep letting it go, it’s gonna keep happening, and the more often you let it go, the weaker your position is if you sue somebody else. They paid for the hall, they paid for the food, and (probably) the entertainment, so they should undoubtedly pay you too. It’s not even a question, so don’t wave it off. Otherwise, put a watermark on all your large images so nobody can use them. If you don’t want to bill them, have it marked as an in-kind donation to ARF, but don’t let it just go.

By: Onnik

Onnik — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:04:23 +0000

Simon, I’m not going to ask for any money, but as I recently told A1 Plus who also infringed my copyright and gave the same reason, taking images off Google is NOT an excuse.

Firstly, when I search Google, it gives me the link to the original page probably because of copyright issues. Secondly, even if it didn’t, you managed to take the image which implies you could see the URL.

It doesn’t take much work (a few seconds?) to go up to the root level and in order to discover whose property the image is. Besides, YOU SHOULD NOT be taking images off the net without checking copyright.

PERIOD.

Anyway, I’m getting close to suing the next person who steals any of my images without adhering to what are very acceptable and generous Creative Commons terms. In legal terms, nobody should be using any images unless they’re sure they have permission to do so.

By: Simon Aynedjian

Simon Aynedjian — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:53:19 +0000

Dear friends at Caucasian Knot,

You probably realise what has happened here.
Gibrahayer e-magazine didn’t realize the image was copyrighted, nor was the said “infringement” malicious on our behalf..

We goggled the image and did not take it off your website.

I know the difference is little…

We did not knowingly use an ANM gathering picture to promote an event in Cyprus.

I would like to apologize for not asking the owner of the picture - Onnik Krikorian - for its use.

If you feel there is an amount we need to pay for using the said image, we will gladly do so.

After all it was an image of tremendous quality to which you are entitled its rights.

Warmest regards from Cyprus.
Simon Aynedjian

By: khrimian

khrimian — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:15:34 +0000

You’d be surprised how behind Hayastan is, of many else things, the development of political institutions.

By: me

me — Sun, 25 May 2008 19:41:11 +0000

I was watching H1 a few weeks ago (yes I am a masochist), and Shushan Petrosyan, Alla Levonyan, and two other people who I didn’t recognize were talking about the complete lack of respect for an author’s rights in Armenia. In music for example, it’s pretty common to take the performances of famous singers and put them into song collections such as Paylogh Astgher, or Sirvats astgher, without asking the singer’s permission or paying them royalties. Alla L. sheepishly, and Shushan with her signature hawkish style promised that SS was a copyright protection crusader and one of the reasons they voted for him was b/c they knew he’d work to protect their rights. Hope this trickles down to you as well

Meanwhile, I’d at least point out that they are using your photo without permission. I’m actually pretty shocked, that’s one of the signature photographs of the “Levon movement”. At the very least, old friend Vahan will definitely recognize it, and I’m sure will be none too pleased.