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The White House is insisting that it can copyright White House photos, despite official federal government policy that such photos (shot by employees as part of their job responsibilities) are public domain. (Disclaimer: I'm the author - I don't know if I'm violating a Newsvine rule or norm -- hope not.)
White House Makes Full Copyright Claim On Photos
Seeded on Sat Feb 6, 2010 8:12 PM EST
Article Source: The Moderate Voice- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (10)
This is reversal of earlier White House actions. In May 2009, the White House and Flickr created a category for government photos that links to the "generally" public domain nature of government photos.
- 4 votes
#1 - Sat Feb 6, 2010 8:13 PM ESTInteresting read... thanks
If they did not want the photos seen / used... why are they on Flickr? Boggles the mind.
As far as I was aware, anything from the gubment is public domain. (I might have been wrong all this time?)
Have fun
John
- 3 votes
Hi, John - thanks! And nope, you were not wrong! The U.S. Government cannot "copyright" its work. I just posted the law in a separate comment.
- 3 votes
I sure don't need to expose myself to a law suit for posting a picture on Newsvine, or for any other reason for that matter.
- 2 votes
#3 - Sat Feb 6, 2010 11:07 PM ESTOh. Here's the law - the White House has no legal authority to assert copyright.
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#105
§ 105. Subject matter of copyright: United States Government works
Copyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States Government is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise.
- 2 votes
#4 - Sun Feb 7, 2010 2:25 AM ESTI've tried to be careful about attribution and copyright, but they make me feel uneasy. I appreciate your article and the information you have provided.
- 2 votes
So, the White House is trying to restrict public use of photos paid for by the public?
- 3 votes
#5 - Sun Feb 7, 2010 11:07 PM ESTIt seems to me that at some point the White House and the administration will experience major negative public relations.
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