Landscape, Nature And Travel Photography

Last week in my post Here Comes Another Fair Use Dispute I discussed the on going dispute between the Lane Hartwell and the Richter Scales over the unauthorized use of copyrighted imagery. The latest update is that the dispute has gone unresolved. The Richter Scales rather than dealing with their actions and seeking resolution with the artist have chosen to turn their back on the issue and have re-released a new version of the video less Lane Hartwell’s photo.

Here are the latest statement on the dispute from:
Lane Hartwell on Here Comes Another Bubble

The Richter Scales on Here Comes Another Bubble

Considering that Lane proposed giving any payment from the use of the image to cover legal expenses and to make a donation to the Kids With Cameras charity it seems particularly unseemly that the Richter Scales continue to think selfishly of themselves with no regard to taking ownership for their misdeeds. As they claim in their latest  statement they make little to no money, but the issue isn’t the groups income. The issue is the unauthorized use of someone elses property. If I steal the property of another person just because I don’t make enough money to purchase it, it hardly justifies my theft. Clearly the Richter Scales received benefit in the form of publicity/awareness with their million view video. Their choice to re-release the video with out closure to the issue with Lane Hartwell gives the world a window to their true character where they’ve in so many words announced the world that its OK to put their own artistic work first even if it means doing so by climbing on the back of other artists who are looking to make a living from their craft.

So concludes the latest chapter of the Richter Scales transition from 15 minutes of fame to 15 minutes of shame.

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