THE Sponsor OF SOPA IS A COPYRIGHT VIOLATOR

Lamar Smith, the US Congressman who is the sponsor of SOPA, has violated copyright laws.

This is a screenshot of his official campaign website on July 24th, 2011:

This is the background image:

The image was traced back to DJ Schulte, the photographer who took it.

DJ Schulte was not credited and Lamar Smith did not request permission to use the image.

On DJ Schulte’s Flickr page the photographer calls out Lamar Smith for having his image used improperly (stolen).

He also expressed his opinion on SOPA:

“My take on SOPA: Unfortunately, our U.S. Congress is trying to take more control of the internet for large media corporations via the SOPA bill than actually protecting the rights of creatives and the work they produce. I have had images used improperly (stolen) by everyone from some guy in Pakistan to the Republican Women’s Club of Missouri to a Chinese firm selling my images in bulk so protection of rights is needed but the SOPA bill is not the answer. This bill is a control grab of the internet for the big entertainment corporations and will hurt an innovative and open internet where new ideas and art are shared and nurtured.”

Credit