Walmart sues photographer's widow over family pictures

[groundloop]

Yet another reason to boycott Walmart:



http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/05/20/walmart-sues-photographer-s-widow?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=news-list&utm_medium=text&ref=title_0_3

According to non-profit organization Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Walmart is 'bullying' a small Arkansas photographic studio over rights to images of the Walton family. The images were taken before the family business became the globe-spanning, multi-billion dollar business that it is today.

According to the article, Bob’s Studio of Photography - started by photographer Robert Huff in 1946 - is in possession of images taken at the studio which feature members the Walton family, the founders of the Walmart empire. The Walton family is apparently demanding that Helen Huff, the widow of David Huff, son of the founder, turn over the boxes of prints, negatives and proofs.

The Walton family appears to be claiming that it has intellectual property rights to the images, but the defense in the case, which has moved from state to federal court argues that Huff owns the copyright to all the works that her late husband and father-in-law created for the Walton family. Helen Huff’s lawyers have also counter-sued the Walton family and Walmart for reproducing the images without permission.

The parties are currently awaiting Walmart’s response to the counter-suit.

Just fyi, a photographer owns the copyright to photos he's taken unless he gives up the copyright through contractual agreement. Unless the Waltons can come up with a contract giving them rights to those photos they don't have a leg to stand on.

[Frustratedlady]

1. And, when the photographer releases professional negatives,

reputable developers will not process them without written permission by the studio.

The family should set a price and see how determined the Waltons are. They probably felt they could bully the widow/family and they'd fall to their knees in compliance.

Greedy idiots.

[pepperbear]

2. seriously.....they aren't even rich enough to graciously make an offer to the studio?

[gratuitous]

4. The Walton family didn't get rich by paying for stuff

They cut corners with their suppliers, cheat their employees, and demand concessions from the localities where they site their stores. You don't build a pile of money that big by dealing fairly.

[liberalhistorian]

6. They have more money than God, they're

just too selfish and greedy and nasty. Which is why they have more money than God.

[liberalhistorian]

5. That's because the

WalFarts think that they're above the law and can do whatever they want, hence their squeezing, bullying and stiffing of suppliers, which has lowered wages and working conditions all throughout the service and retail industries and into others as well and their rise has led to the demise of unions, and their horrendous treatment and stiffing of employees and all the odious policies they've enacted in that regard. Unfortunately, they do happen to win far more than they should in court because they have more money than God and the ability to withstand and wear down challenges. Disgusting, greedy, pigs.

[warrior1]

3. I'd burn them