Creative consultant Debra Weiss is moderating a panel discussion on copyright issues tomorrow in Santa Monica as part of Month of Photography—Los Angeles (MOPLA).
The program, presented by APA National, will cover “what you need to know to effectively exercise your rights and protect your work. Topics to be discussed with panel members Jessica Darraby and Ed Greenberg (IP attorneys), Jeff Sedlik (PLUS CEO and Expert Witness) and photographer Karen Knauer will include Registration, Fair Use, Appropriation, Retaining an Attorney, the Anti-Copyright Movement and more.” (That’s according to the event info at Debra’s Facebook page.)
Admission is free, but a $5 donation to the Lucie Foundation is gently requested.
Specifics:
Saturday, April 24
4:00 – 7:00pm
Pier 59 Studios West
2415 Michigan Avenue (off Cloverfield Blvd), Santa Monica
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2 Comments
What could have been a wonderful and informative evening turn out to be an exhaustive event for most of the photographers in attendance. This was a 3 hour event that allowed basically no room for questions. It was mostly a “beat your chest of my accomplishments” of the undistinguished distinguished panelists. You would never believe Jeff Sedlik was a professor with his more than difficult explanations of the Copyright Law. When will Ed Greenberg finally get his own TV reality series? The most enlightening aspect of the event was photographer Karen Knauer who told the real truth behind her experience with infringement. Then the attorneys took offense to her reality bite with attorneys. Know it or Blow it, these panelists sure did Blow it!
Did you notice that Ms. Knauer never disclosed the results of her litigation? Despite prodding from the panel and some attendees, she never disclosed the final result which I am given to understand, (I have no personal knowledge) was the receipt of monies which far exceeded her attorneys fees.
Perhaps I (and the other panel members) am/are misinformed regarding the outcome of her suit. If so Ms. Knauer could set us and you straight by merely stating how much, if any, money she collected. She complained about her experience but never specified the basis for her complaints.
While I don’t know what your comment about me means, I do know that Ms. Knauer’s statements about what cases I do and don’t take were blatantly and factually inaccurate. She has never been a client of ours nor has any knowledge of our office practices. Nevertheless, she stated repeatedly – even after being challenged by me – that our office “does not represent photographers in infringement cases where the work was not ‘pre-registered’”. Such statement was and is false, she was advised by me and my wife (who works in the office) that it was blatantly false but she repeated it again and again nevertheless.
Finally, forty of the approximately 100 attendees signed up for our private (and free) posts, several others purchased our book “Photographer’s Survival Manual” and dvds authored by Jack Reznicki and yours truly. After the hundreds of speaking engagements I have done over the years I well know not to expect that alone and/or with Jack will reach everyone in the audience. If I failed to convey to you the simple message that (at least) every image you shoot should be registered, no exceptions, always – then I have cause for regret.
Best wishes,
Ed Greenberg