a lil controversy over this 24 lb fluke
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..and the controversy grows. Apparently, the gentleman who took those photos has copyrighted them, for whatever reason (greed I am thinking), and has proceeded to issue NB$ Sportfishing a cease and desist order regarding the usage of the photos. Well, we don't want a legal problem, so, they have been deleted from this site, in accordance with the legal threat. Shows what a top notch fella he is, wanting to charge for these photos, rather than simply share the photos with the fishing community. He must be sending ALOT of folks this email, as the pix are all over the internet, on nearly every major fishing site.
The pictures can be viewed
here, where Mr. Norris posted them himself (the copyright owner)...
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Below is the transcript of the email we received today on this matter:
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The funny part is Mr. Norris actually signed up for an account here today as well, under the username of
RobertN, using a differing email address than his
wnorris3@gmail.com address that adorns his photos. Must be to keep tabs on us here. Interesting how the legal positioning followed by an account creation under a separate email address, attempting to hide his identity, except when he sent the "Contact Us" email, he was already logged in to the site, revealing his username.
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Dear Webmaster:
It has come to my attention that you have made an unauthorized use of my copyrighted work, photos of Monica Oswald's World Record Fluke (the "Work") in world record fluke....or is it. I have reserved all rights in the Work, first published on Stripersonline.com and forthcoming in The Fisherman). You have included my Work in world record fluke....or is it without my consent in violation of my copyright.
As you neither asked for nor received permission to use the Work world record fluke....or is it nor to make or distribute copies, including electronic copies, of same, I believe you have willfully infringed my rights under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $150,000 as set forth in Section 504(c)(2) therein.
I demand that you arrange fair value payment immediately or immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works derived from the Work, and all copies, including electronic copies, of same, that you deliver to me, if applicable, all unused, undistributed copies of same, or destroy such copies immediately and that you desist from this or any other infringement of my rights in the future. If I have not received an affirmative response from you by September 5, 2007 indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, I shall take further action against you.
Very truly yours,
William Norris
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Referring Page: http://www.nbssportfishing.com/
IP Address: 66.90.152.115
User Name: RobertN
User ID: 1373