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| Via Amazon |
We're used to the format: Ironic vintage photo with snarky caption. It's a specialty of Anne Taintor, and we see it on cards, mugs, magnets and other novelty items.
Do you ever wonder where these retro photos came from, and whether they're rights-cleared? Well, here's one case where a stolen photo came back to bit the thief.
The flask pictured above, which is still on sale at Amazon and other outlets, apparently features the unauthorized image of a woman named Veronica Vigil in New Mexico. It's her 1970 graduation photo. Oh, and she's a teetotaller.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Ms. Vigil has filed suit against the Anne Taintor company, and a local gift shop carrying the item, stating:
“Plaintiff is an active member of her church and does not consume alcohol or drugs. Given the seriousness of the issues of substance abuse in the community in which plaintiff resides, she has held herself out by reputation for her children and her community, to refrain from abuse or even use of alcohol and illicit drugs and has set an example that the issue is a very serious one that destroys families and lives.”It really can. Reminds me of the Christian college professor who got fired when his image was used (unauthorized) on beer labels.
Image licensing is responsibility that is too easily ignored. Even in the corporate world, one istock photo can be used several times on different projects when, legally-speaking, a multi-seat license should be purchased. That's why I'm a huge fan of Creative Commons licensing, and sites like Flickr that promote sharing and reuse. I follow Vice magazine's example on my blog (www.bettercommunicator.ca) and always credit the author of the image. Although, in my case the credit is given at the end of each article.
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