Remember back in May when we told you about the photographer who had his storm cloud photo appropriated by streaming giant Netflix for use in concept art for their ratings hit “Stranger Things”?
Apparently things have escalated since last we looked at the story and now photographer Sean R. Heavey is moving forward with a lawsuit against the company.
Image via Netflix.
Basically what happened is that Sean R. Heavey took an absolutely epic photo of a storm that someone over at Netflix’s marketing department thought was so cool and apocalyptic in appearance that it would be a perfect photo for inclusion in a concept art reel called “Beyond Stranger Things.”
In keeping with the sci-fi theme, or as a turn of painful coincidence, the photo Netflix used is titled “Mothership” by the photographer.
PetaPixel has composed a nice side-by-side comparison you can view here.
The complaint filed in Montana outlines the various things that Sean R. Heavey had to do to get such an epic photo as well as the ever important inclusion of a copyright that he filed in 2010. Heavey further alleges that his photo of the storm supercell can be found in the Netflix show “How It Ends.”
For its part, Netflix says that there are no merits to Heavey’s case.
“Netflix’s appropriation of ‘The Mothership’ photograph has encouraged further, widespread copying of ‘The Mothership’ photograph…Despite being repeatedly made aware of the above-detailed information, as of date of this filing, Netflix has refused to remove the infringing material,” PetaPixel quotes from the photographer’s complaint.
Though it feels like photographers are under increasing attack every day to defend their rights to their work it also seems like more and more are fighting back.
And after rulings like this one in which photographs are called “factual depictions” and thus not subject to copyright, it’s no wonder. Of course, we'll bring you more updates as they arise.
Light Stalking https://ift.tt/2PRCoMx
Sourced by Time Trap Photography sharing the best photography tips, news and tricks throughout the industry. Time Trap Photography is dedicated to freezing those special moments in life that can be revisited and admired for generations to come. - Shannon Bourque
Please visit our main site for booking availability and rates.
Receive valuable industry knowledge delivered free to your email each day.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you so much for your comment. A moderator will review and approve all relevant posts. We appreciate your support and encourage you to stay with us by subscribing to our email updates. Where you can easily pick and choose what photography subjects interests you. Subscription link: http://bit.ly/photo-sub