http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/11/26/predatory-websites-turn-mug-shots-into-an-extortion-racket Comments On: Predatory Websites Turn Mug Shots Into an Extortion Racket by Paul Constant en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Sat, 18 May 2013 01:15:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by stopextortion]]> Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:31:53 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Frenchy2012]]> Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:47:08 -0800 The Stranger Posted by mark friedland]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:28:30 -0800 The Stranger Posted by takedown]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:21:20 -0800 The Stranger
So what other recourse do we have? Does anyone have advice on how to locate the actual site/business address of these predators.

Some of us have lived exemplary lives since our blowups, and would like to contribute to society in a meaningful way, and now some profit motivated hasnamuss is running a racket.

C
Posted by csc113]]> Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:51:55 -0800 The Stranger
So what other recourse do we have? Does anyone have advice on how to locate the actual site/business address of these predators.

Some of us have lived exemplary lives since our blowups, and would like to contribute to society in a meaningful way, and now some profit motivated hasnamuss is running a racket.

C
Posted by csc113]]> Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:44:39 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Blaine]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:56:01 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Yelp! Someone's fucking my wallet]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:29:57 -0800 The Stranger Posted by six five]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:08:55 -0800 The Stranger
(Seriously, extorting a guy who thinks it's OK to beat up women? You think that kind of coward won't respond violently, possibly with a gun?)
Posted by Sir Vic]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:50:23 -0800 The Stranger
Being a "public record" has no bearing on ownership. Section 102 does not exclude "public records" from protection. But if you still find the Copyright Act unconvincing, Wikipedia's Public Domain page speaks plainly on the subject:

"Public records are not necessarily in the public domain. Citizens generally have the right to access many items in the government's public records, but this right to access does not include a right to republish or redistribute the works so accessed. In general, copyright is neither lost nor waived when a work becomes part of the public record. Being in the public record and copyright are two orthogonal concepts. Uses of works from the public record must comply with copyright law."

Again, state disclosure laws differ--some may permit further distribution, others may not, as @10 points out. If you're aware of a law that excludes public records from copyright protection, or categorically precludes copyright ownership by public entities, please point me to it.

I think the stronger argument against copyright of mugshots is lack of originality.
Posted by California]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:35:51 -0800 The Stranger Posted by leroy jenkins]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:41:23 -0800 The Stranger
All that said, I'm annoyed at the idiocy in this thread with regard to copyright. PUBLIC RECORDS HAVE NO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION, PERIOD, FULL STOP. Copyright is granted only to private, not public entities. Other laws may restrict the use of public records, but copyright has nothing to do with them. Until and unless other laws exist to curb this practice (or the courts find something of a penumbra of privacy protection for people shaken down by these - currently legal - rackets, there's nothing to be done.)

It's a really brilliant business model, though. For dicks.
Posted by coxsackie]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 20:50:07 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Sir Vic]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:55:48 -0800 The Stranger
In Washington State we are insulated from this because by statute mugshots are confidential records and are not releasable without signed authorization by the subject.
Posted by wl]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:59:42 -0800 The Stranger I love this...shutting down an entire website for attacking a person.

I wonder how far it extends.

Imagine if all the Google bombers could be served their just deserts and have their website shut down and the offenders tracked down and sued...

I am waiting for the day when someone makes the technology to track down the offenders as easy as pressing a button...
Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:59:34 -0800 The Stranger Posted by schmacky]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:06:38 -0800 The Stranger Posted by California]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:06:27 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Max Solomon]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:00:33 -0800 The Stranger Posted by arizona]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:57:42 -0800 The Stranger
http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/nov/16/is…
Posted by internet_jen]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:51:16 -0800 The Stranger
Oh wait, there is! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality…
Posted by K]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:47:43 -0800 The Stranger vice versa (as was the case with a photo allegedly of my younger brother), they can extort to their little ole' hearts-content, but it won't mean squat.
Posted by COMTE]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:41:13 -0800 The Stranger Posted by California]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:12:49 -0800 The Stranger