Associated Press
AP Protests Use of Photos by Cops
By JOHN KEKIS Associated Press Writer
ROME, N.Y. (AP) - State police said today that they will continue to post several Associated Press photographs
in their cyberspace investigation of crimes at Woodstock '99, despite demands from AP that the photos be removed.
Police posted 14 photographs on their Web site last week, including 10 used without permission that were shot by AP
photographers. The AP protested Monday, as soon as it learned of the unauthorized use.
Lt. Jamie Mills said today that the photographs will remain on the Internet site. She also said police have received 40 e-mail
messages in their probe, but wouldn't discuss what information was provided in the messages.
The photos show concertgoers breaking into pay phones, tearing down a 3-mile-long ``Peace Wall,'' looting a vendor's truck and
robbing a cash machine. Police officials have asked the public for any additional photos and details of the identities of people
shown.
Sam Boyle, chief of the AP's New York City bureau, discussed the site with various state police officials Monday, and denied them
permission to use the photos.
``We have two concerns - violation of copyright and the journalistic separation from law enforcement,'' Boyle said
A letter faxed to state police Monday night from Robert Penchina, a lawyer representing the AP, stated: ``We demand that the state
police immediately cease and desist from any and all acts infringing on AP's copyrights, including but not limited to removing all AP
photos from the state police Web site.''
Police said the AP photos were posted their Web page on Friday. Glenn Valle, chief counsel for the state police, said his review
indicated use of the photos was appropriate.
``We don't think that we're violating the copyright or infringing on the copyright in this manner,'' Valle said. ``It was material that
was already published. It's like walking around with the front page of the (New York) Daily News asking, 'Do you recognize this
guy?''
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