Palin sued over alleged 9/11 photo use
NEW YORK (CNN) - Sarah Palin and her political action committee are being sued by a newspaper publisher over the use of an "iconic" Sept. 11 photograph.
In legal documents obtained by CNN, the North Jersey Media Group claims that Palin used their "WTC Flag Raising Photograph" without permission when it was allegedly posted on her Facebook page and the website for her political action committee, SarahPAC.
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The photograph, which depicts three firefighters raising an American flag over the rubble of the World Trade Center, was taken September 11, 2001, by Thomas E. Franklin, a staff photographer at the publisher's subsidiary, The Record, in New Jersey. CNN Films recently produced a documentary, entitled “The Flag,” that explored the story of the banner, which went missing.
The photograph has drawn national attention - being made into a stamp in 2002, and later enshrined in the Library of Congress, according to the photographer's website.
Screen captures sent to CNN by the publishing company show the picture on Palin's Facebook page, embossed with the words, "We Will Never Forget." CNN did not, however, independently view the photos on Palin's websites before they were reportedly taken down.
“It’s important to enforce our copyright on this iconic photo," Jennifer Borg, general counsel of the North Jersey Media Group, told CNN. “When neither Ms. Palin nor her PAC responded to our demand letter to remove the photo, we were left with no choice but to seek redress through the courts.”
In the federal lawsuit, filed Friday, the publisher asks that Palin and SarahPAC be forced to stop using the photograph and pay damages or defendants’ profits.
CNN reached out to Palin and her representatives for comment Saturday, but did not receive an immediate response.
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couldn't have happened to a nicer PAC...
I have seen that photo all over the place. Why is Ms. Palin being targeted while all the other sources, including CNN, were not named in the suit?
Our media could have reported on the rose friends hers from New York sent her; it’s handcrafted out of the remains of rockets fired at Sderot and other Israeli communities from Gaza. Or our media could have reported on Bristol Palin blog showing a picture of Sarah in tears after Todd gave her a new wedding ring for their anniversary. Or our media could have reported on Sarah Palin asking her Union brothers and sisters, demand a full repeal of Obamacare, an immediate defunding, and some resignations.
Who let her out of the trailer park?
Harlots and hypocrates like dum @#$& palin will have her day with Allah!
I am sure the firefighters in the picture never saw a dime for the photo fame.... Two shortsighted sides wasting time and money fighting... keeps the lawyers rich.
Ms. Palin could use her interview with the slaughtered turkeys in the background. Suits her better.
That makes no sense as that image is used in many ways by many people for use in memes and other ways. How is it that none of these other people get sued for that picture's use?
My God, when will people stop talking about this woman? She has truly no relevancy in American politics.She is nothing more than an embarrassment. Move along. Nothing to see here.
I have no love for Sarah Palin, but wouldn't a simple request to take down the offending image suffice? Indeed, her campaign took it down pretty quickly anyway. Obvious frivolous lawsuit is obvious.
Sarah still thinks she's teflon-coated. Ever hear her own one of her bleep-ups? Right. Ankle-biter.
Palin need to file a case against anyone taking her picture
That photo belongs to every citizen
scuzbag idiots.
Such BS
sue what? $billion?
She royally deserves to lose all her grifter money! Sue the @#$%^& pants off of her! Karma for an absolute fraud!
Sleazy little Sarah would stop at nothing to use in her shameless self-promotion.
Seriously, you asked her for a response? Nobody wants to hear from her at all, let alone more excuses.
She should changer her PAC to SarahGrifterPac. It would truly reflect what she and her antics are all about.
God told her to steal the photo, so it's all good.
Had it been anyone other than Sarah Palin, this would not have been ab issue. This famous photo could be posted on many FB sites with no one caring about it.
No Muslim Palin should ever use the 9/11 photo on her facebook page. It is distastful for Americans who died from the Terrorist attack.
There's nothing as American as capitalizing on one of America's darkest hours. Right?
If Obama did this Palin would be all over his case. Palin and McCain made a great team....dumb and dumber.