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'Hit Piece' Slamming Bill Cook Pinched BCN's Property to Do So
A variation of this passage was posted on Facebook, by me, moments after I witnessed an ad on WCTI using my property of content without my expressed permission.
"The National Resources Defense Council, who is sponsoring a 'hit piece' slam on NC Senator Bill Cook, may want to save the Polar Bears, but they don't mind taking property that is not theirs, and in this case mine.
The National Resources Defense Council, or those that they sponsor, are using an image of NC Senator Bill Cook in that 'hit piece' ad, which I own and was used on Beaufort County NOW, which means it is also the property of BCN. It is the only still image used in the 'hit piece' ad.
I have contacted WCTI, where I just now saw the 'hit piece' ad, and through their Facebook site, moments after I witnessed the ad, I implored that they take the ad down. If anyone else knows of this ad being run on any other media outlets, please let me know immediately.
We need to get the word out on this one: Just because some partisan special interest group wants to save the Polar Bears does not give them the right to seize someone else's property for their own specific benefit."
Upon some additional research, and with the help of those that acknowledged may Facebook blast her above, I have discovered other television stations, along with WCTI, that are currently running this 'hit piece', and I shall be calling them tomorrow, and will vehemently request them to take this ad down until the National Resources Defense Council takes my picture off their 'hit piece', or they properly remunerate me for the use of my property; their choice.
Most reasonable folks in these parts, who actually know me, know that I am a fair minded man, and I would be more than happy to allow the National Resources Defense Council, or those that they sponsor, to 'beg for my forgiveness', since they were not so inclined to 'plead for my permission'.
Until such time, I will contact all media outlets informing them to take the ad down until my reasonable wishes can be met. I'll keep all of you informed as this story of content theft continues to unfold.
Here below is my image of NC Senator Bill Cook that has only been published, by permission, on my Moderated Informational Platforms, such as is Beaufort County NOW. Now that photo has been pinched by the National Resources Defense Council, or those that they sponsor, to make a partisan slam against NC Senator Bill Cook.
NC House Representative Bill Cook, Summer, 2011: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage This image is one of many that I took that day, and yes, I do have the large files, which no one else has in their possession. Below is a screen shot of my picture lifted from this 'hit piece' video: Below.
Here below is the YouTube file of their ' hit piece' video. The picture in question is the only still image that they use.
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"The National Resources Defense Council, who is sponsoring a 'hit piece' slam on NC Senator Bill Cook, may want to save the Polar Bears, but they don't mind taking property that is not theirs, and in this case mine.
The National Resources Defense Council, or those that they sponsor, are using an image of NC Senator Bill Cook in that 'hit piece' ad, which I own and was used on Beaufort County NOW, which means it is also the property of BCN. It is the only still image used in the 'hit piece' ad.
I have contacted WCTI, where I just now saw the 'hit piece' ad, and through their Facebook site, moments after I witnessed the ad, I implored that they take the ad down. If anyone else knows of this ad being run on any other media outlets, please let me know immediately.
We need to get the word out on this one: Just because some partisan special interest group wants to save the Polar Bears does not give them the right to seize someone else's property for their own specific benefit."
Upon some additional research, and with the help of those that acknowledged may Facebook blast her above, I have discovered other television stations, along with WCTI, that are currently running this 'hit piece', and I shall be calling them tomorrow, and will vehemently request them to take this ad down until the National Resources Defense Council takes my picture off their 'hit piece', or they properly remunerate me for the use of my property; their choice.
Most reasonable folks in these parts, who actually know me, know that I am a fair minded man, and I would be more than happy to allow the National Resources Defense Council, or those that they sponsor, to 'beg for my forgiveness', since they were not so inclined to 'plead for my permission'.
Until such time, I will contact all media outlets informing them to take the ad down until my reasonable wishes can be met. I'll keep all of you informed as this story of content theft continues to unfold.
Here below is my image of NC Senator Bill Cook that has only been published, by permission, on my Moderated Informational Platforms, such as is Beaufort County NOW. Now that photo has been pinched by the National Resources Defense Council, or those that they sponsor, to make a partisan slam against NC Senator Bill Cook.
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After 6 days since I first contacted them, the National Resources Defense Council did return my call. They were oblivious to the theft of my content, but would get back with me with an answer of who stole the photo.
Betcha tomorrow will be the last day that the ad is run, and then they get back with me with some superfluous answer. Could I be right, or am I just cynical? |
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It has been well over 90 hours since I first contacted Carolyn Stevens at WCTI about the stolen content that they were running on a ad sponsored by the NRDC.
In that conversation, I begged for the contact information of the producers of this 'hit piece' ad that stole my content. Ms. Stevens, and every other TV station administration personnel, running this 'hit piece', have given me the same bogus contact information of the people that stole my content, and now many days later, I am still no closer to discovering the real names of the thieves than when I began. No one now is calling me back to clear this all up; not the: TV stations, the ad brokers, not the NRDC, no one. What I have discovered this week; however, is that some TV station managers firmly believe that since Bill Cook is a public figure, and since Beaufort County NOW is not a TV station website, then there are two sets of rules that apply to ownership of 'public domain' content. Rule 1) If the image is of a public figure, such as a politician, and that image is taken from a publication such as BCN, where the theft of our proprietary content is expressively forbidden, with traffic between 5,000 and 7,000 people a day, it is public domain content and the public has a right to it. Rule 2) If the image is of a public figure, such as a politician, and that image is taken from a publication such as a TV station, where the theft of their proprietary content is expressively forbidden, and traffic is also very good, it is not 'public domain' content and the public does not have a right to it. As time permits, since I have been told, or it has be implied that none of these TV stations will honor my written Cease and Desist request, I have two questions where I need answers, just so I will know the future 'rules of the road.' Question 1) Who is required to know who actually produced the content for political ads? Someone must be required to know. Question 2) Since there are two sets of rules for public domain content - one set of rules for TV stations, and a second set of rules for other publications, like BCN: What are those two sets of rules, where can they be found and when does one entity qualify for copyright protection, such as a TV station; and when does the other entity, such as BCN, not qualify for copyright protection for the same 'public domain' content? Someone, some people, at some point must know the answers to these specific questions, and they will inform me. I will not stop untill I get these answers. |
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Although, I had few call backs today except two: NC Sec. of State's office and WITN Station Manager Mark Gentner did call me back, which makes me think that Mark is a serious guy.
In the last two days, I have been so utterly underwhelmed by so many, who really should be much more competent at what they do for a living, that I was actually impressed that he had the gumption to call me back. When few that I have talked to know anything of translatable value in real terms, and call backs are at an absolute minimum, I suppose I am rather easily impressed. Regardless, thanks Mark for the call back. |
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After 24 hours and 3 phone calls, I finally got a call back from WITN, and now I have finally sent my last Cease and Desist that the NRDC 'hit piece' be taken down until my stolen content can be removed from that ad.
I don't hold out much hope of that happening anytime soon. They, all of the TV stations, are making too much money running this ad with my content stolen and present in the ad. The way I have been led to understand this, from what station managers that would engage me in this conversation, is that their lawyers have told them that on this very case (funny that they have all talked to their lawyers on this specific case, but will not give a call back) is that my content, on my BCN, is part of the public domain since Bill Cook is a public figure and the NRDC 'hit piece' is a PAC ad, and they are clear to run the ad. When I posed the possible, maybe probable scenario that one day my media group, SNI, may have need of some of their content on their station's website - since it is all in the public domain for the image or images of public figures - to produce a political ad for some politician or PAC's benefit, which I will make money from, they should not have any problem with my lifting that content from their site. 'To a man,' they were somewhat less than enthusiastic about that scenario of this public domain question. In fact one told me YOU CAN NOT DO THAT. Oh, the not so sweet smell of a fresh, and most perfect hypocrisy. |
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Today's update on who created the content for the NRDC 'hit piece', and who stole my content to do so.
It is about 12:30 pm, 043014, and I have received one phone call after making a possible 20 calls, that still deserve call backs. The one call back I did get was from the North Carolina Secretary of State's Office, who was referred to me by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). It was an enlightening conversation. So, with no calls back, or e-mails for that matter, from those that were called yesterday where we still have unfinished business, who: either are running these ads all over northeastern North Carolina; or those that were involved in the buying and selling of this 'hit piec' ad; or from the principle, NRDC, who allegedly paid for these ads; or from those that created this ad, who actually stole the content from me, which got all this started; I thought it might be wise to call the Canal Partners Media / Washington, DC office, which was referred to me their Marietta, Georgia office, which was referred to me by WCTI's Station Manager Lyle Schulze (see earlier in the this thread), where I spoke to one Jeff Scattergood, who as one might now expect, had no knowledge of who created this NRDC 'hit piece' ad that stole my content. Sorry about this incredibly long sentence. He did, however, inform me that if I presented a formal complaint, he would try to run that down who created the ad. Therefore, I asked for his email and I sent him this link to this post on BCN, which is not only a very formal complaint, but a very public, and succinct, and, obviously, an ongoing one as well. You know, I'm the kind of guy that likes to keep this kind of thing out in the open, since the theft of my content has become a very publicly expressed reminder of the offense at hand here. Also, it has been over 29 hours since I requested: Who created the 'hit piece' ad, who stole my content? Ultimately, I am still no closer to discovering who it is after requesting this information from those representing 7 TV stations. Kind of remarkable isn't it? In an unremarkable sense, this level of accountability well reminds me how difficult it is to discover the real truth from the Obama administration on all of their vast multitude of scandals that are very real that we real patriots well understand. Kind of makes one wonder: What has happened to the prevalence of ethics, honesty in our nation by those that should know better? |
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None of these TV stations are interested in removing the ad, and, remarkably, none actually know who really created the content. They have a broad idea of who it is, but not really a name, a verifiable location, or an accurate phone number.
WCTI General Manager Lyle Schulze came the closest, by providing me a phone number; however, the number he gave me for Canal Partners Media of Marietta, Georgia had no real knowledge of any content that was created for the NRDC 'hit piece' at that location in Marietta. They did send me to their Washington, DC office, to see if they had any knowledge of the producers of this content that pinched mine without my expressed permission, but I have not gotten a call back as of yet; maybe tomorrow. What is also really odd, from all of these TV Stations stretching throughout northeastern North Carolina and into southern Virginia, is that none of these TV Station personnel, who actually took the time to talk to me back today, have a concerted understanding of who is at fault in my content theft: 'Is it the creators of the content, whomever they may be, or the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council)?' When they make their specious arguments explaining how they are not connected or responsible, their tone rings noticeably hollow when I push them a bit with the who pure logic scenario. I don't think they get much of that in their line of work. The NRDC has not bothered to call me back either after two calls. I may give them a rest tomorrow to see what they are made of. I will get to the bottom of this with or without the help or those who are broadcasting this 'hit piece' against NC Senator Bill Cook, with my owned content, stolen, and at its center. You know, if someone accused me of stealing their content, I would want to clear that up immediately. So far, I am just getting different levels of abject obfuscation. Kind of reminds one of the Obama Administration, eh? |
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Interestingly, there was no ambivalence at the FEC (Federal Elections Commission).
I think they are pointing me in the right direction. |
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I know there is an answer here somewhere. To that end, I have contacted the NRDC about their reported (from TV stations and Katz Media Group) theft of the content, and also the FEC (Federal Elections Commission) as to the rules on the theft of content for political ads. In other words: Is it okay to do so?
This will be interesting. |
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I am on a merry-go-round of ambivalence where no one will own up to stealing my property to produce this content.
What I am understanding from the television stations and the purveyor of the content, Katz Media Group, that is handling the business end of my stolen content has no knowledge of where the content came from as if it materialized out of thin air. What I am gathering from everyone involved in the airing of the stolen content is that: A) We have no clear understanding of where this content comes from, B) Ultimately the responsibility rests with the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). The ambivalence shared by everyone is overwhelming. The answer I am getting is that since this is a partisan political ad from the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) that it is fine to take the content of others. I really don't think there will be any resolution without a great deal of struggle. Regardless, I can still write about it and tell the abject truth. I know they can't stop that without a great deal of commotion on my part. My next stop will be the Federal Elections Commission. |
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Well, contacting Katz Media Group's representative Niles Noyes was rather unproductive. Mr. Noyes was unaware who created the content, or who was responsible for it, and felt that it was WCTI's responsibility to deal with all issues regarding content that they broadcast. He instructed me to take up any problems I may have with my property of content being taken should be addressed to Lyle (whom he called Len) Schultz with WCTI.
It does appear that I have been placed on the Ambivalence Merry-go-round, where somewhere betwixt and between there lies some modicum of truth. I do believe that I am going to require a bit more than a modicum at this point. |
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WCTI's representative, Carolynn Stevens, was the first to contact me back, and informed me that it is their policy to not take ad down until those responsible for the ads give them the directive to take it down. Furthermore, I was informed that their policy is that they are not responsible for the veracity of the content, or even if the content is actually owned by their client.
Ms. Stevens was however helpful in supplying to me the names of the producers of the content, which is Canal Partners Media of Marietta, Georgia, and those conveying the media - Katz Media Group of Washington, DC. I will keep everyone informed, and if anyone wishes to challenge the veracity of my statements, please feel free to do so right here. |
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Rob is a personable guy, even lived in Washington, NC for a few years, so I feel we had at least had one thing in common. I clearly doubt, even though I consider myself an ardent conservationist (a practical one), that we have the same priorities toward how to be good stewards of our planet; however, Rob impressed me as reasonable man, and he did what no one else would actually do - he was forthcoming to the extent he could be, and exhibited follow-up to my satisfaction.
I thanked him for that.
Rob said that they lifted the image from Senator Bill Cook's site, and I can't completely refute that, but we did agree on one issue that bothered me greatly: That other producers and TV station exec.s might feel that they could wantonly steal content from BCN, at will, claiming public domain, and then ward everyone off their TV station sites' content of public figures as if it is copyrighted and mine is not, is a false understanding of the 1st Amendment, and the common decency of keeping your hands off of what is not yours.
Obviously, there are too many in positions of authority that may not have a proper understanding of a doctrine of fairness, or maybe they have incompetent lawyers - Lord knows I have met my share of them over the years.
At first blush, Rob Perks of the NRDC is not one of those that would hide behind false narratives, and therefore, I consider this matter closed.