Obama Adminstration Claims White House Photos Are For News Organizations Only

  •  February 9, 2010

Normally photos taken by government employees in the course of their duties fall in the public domain. That is apparently changing under the Obama administration, which is now claiming full copyright privilege in asserting that its photos can only be used by news organizations. Why this is happening isn’t entirely clear at this point, but it represents a reversal of longstanding governmental policy. A cynical aside: the White House seemed okay with third parties making use of their photos when it suited them. I’m thinking of the iconic Obama poster by the recently-arrested Shepherd Fairey. But lately, some not-so-flattering uses of White House images have made the rounds. Might this be a response to backlash by a notoriously thin-skinned administration? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, it seems like Obama is creating an unnecessary controversy.

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  • http://Array sayanything-287

    There is a thing called common sense and “if” the goal in withholding them was to respect the families, I support that common sense choice, for a time specific limit. Otherwise, those photographs belong to you and other “people” and you have a right under the Freedom of Information act to request copies, unfortunately probably at your personal expense.

  • sayanything-203

    This latest bit of arrogant, leftwing silliness will be easily made right by an FOI request and a quick trip to the courthouse.

  • Lock ‘em up

    Another typo?

    You meant “FOX News to be “NOT a legitimate news organization, could this be an attempt to block the RNC from using the photos?” Right?

  • lock’em’up

    “every product produced, every document, every photograph by the government belongs only to “the people,”‘ So why couldn’t we see/have/publish the pics of flag draped caskets coming off the planes from Iraq?

  • http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

    One example of a photo the WH didn’t like anyone using is here:
    “No Reflection on You, Mr. President”
    http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/2010/02/no-reflection-on-you-mr-president.html

  • sayanything-2

    Sorry, wrong. All photos taken by government employees are property of the citizens, not the photographer or government, and can not be blocked from public access.

  • sayanything-203

    The two least common things in life are common sense and common courtesy.

    The trolls on the Left are familiar with neither.

  • sayanything-5371

    Great avatar, Sparticus. I laughed when I saw it, for a long time.

  • sayanything-287

    Wait! Just hold on a minute! I thought “the people” owned the government, that they pay for everything done by government and thus every product produced, every document, every photograph by the government belongs only to “the people,” not to any person or agency in the government.

    What is going on here? Who owns the White House, every federal building? Isn’t every federal employee “our” employee? Isn’t every elected and appointed official our servant, accountable to us? Thus, we own every photograph and we and we alone are due every cent earned by the use of those products and I believe, even all the proceeds from books, articles and lectures produced by our employees!

  • sayanything-1641

    Sorry about typo. I meant to say:

    Since The One’s disciples have declared FOX News to be “NOT a legitimate news organization,” could this be an attempt to block FNC from using the photos?

  • sayanything-1641

    Since The One’s disciples have declared FOX News to be “non a legitimate news organization,” could this be an attempt to block FNC from using the photos?

  • spartacus

    There is a thing called common sense

    If this sense you speak of is so common why do the lib trolls infesting this site lack it?

  • http://sayanythingblog.com robport

    Next thing you know, Obama will be charging people money for autographs and pictures.

  • bikebubba

    When Obama isn’t using my money to get those pictures taken, then, and only then, can he assert his copyright. Watch for the courts to tell him to pound sand the first time he actually shuts someone off from using those pictures for exactly this reason.

  • sayanything-6955

    Spart, that avatar makes me want to kiss you, with my boot! My is she not a gem?

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