Member Outrage Over Theft of Intellectual Property Posted on WEVA Forums
March 26, 2006
Sarsota, FL - WEVA International members outraged over the theft of intellectual property, including content taken from the websites of professional videographers by other videographers in different states, have increasingly turned to WEVA's online Advisory Forums to seek solutions.
Recently, when a new thread appeared on the Forums headlined, “Another Website Thief” other WEVA members immediately jumped online to discuss and protest what has become a growing problem in professional wedding videography.
Now that high-speed Internet access (broadband) has reached market penetration, almost anyone from across the country, and around the globe, can quickly and easily steal images, trademarks, video, and text displayed on any video business website.
“When will this thievery end?” wrote a WEVA member from South Carolina. “This is exactly why we are going to Flash video with watermarked and locked content. It is a helluva lot harder to steal,” he added.
Since the original posting appeared, WEVA members have jumped back online to say the instance that prompted the posting may have now dissipated due to publicity and reactions from other videographers.
“We know many WEVA International members are outraged over the theft of intellectual property and the ease by which it can be accomplished using the Internet," said WEVA Director of Association Communications Dan Argenas.
"WEVA itself," Argenas said, "has had to go to Federal District Court in order to protect the association’s own intellectual property and seek permanent injunctive relief.”
WEVA International news releases relating to the Federal Court matter can be found at the following three WEVA NewsLinks:
WEVA NewsLink #1
WEVA NewsLink #2
WEVA NewsLink #3
The defendants in the Federal Court case, who include former subcontractors for WEVA, were ordered by the Court last month to pay attorney fees and costs to the association, but the matter is still in litigation.
“Having to go to court to protect your intellectual property, or to seek return of your physical property, is burdensome on any small business,” Argenas said.
“Unfortunately,” he noted, “that is the only form of relief left when other avenues fail. If, as a business owner, you are unable or unwilling to protect property in which you have a significant investment, the reality today is that you will likely lose it. WEVA does not support the theft of intellectual property by videographers or anyone else. We also know the vast majority of WEVA members do not support such theft either, or support those who engage in it."
Argenas advised WEVA International members to check the Web regularly for theft of their intellectual property, including their logos, trademarks, video and textual content. He suggested members review the products and services of companies that can help in the fight against theft. One is Lexis/Nexis which offers a service called "CopyGuard" and another is Copyscape which offers instant online search.
“Companies and services like these can help videographers identify the sources of theft. And, it's important to know that both state and federal laws exist to protect intellectual property,” said Argenas. “But it’s still the responsibility of individual business owners to seek enforcement of the laws. And, in today's new ‘broadband world’ it's clear that videographers ultimately have to be prepared to seek protection of their intellectual property, and their legal rights, through the Courts.”
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