Marty Chavez caught ripping off a "Bralley."

Disclosure to the bone numbingly oblivious; Mark Bralley
posts his photographs on this site often.

Marty Chavez has stolen one of Bralley's photographs.

It was stolen from a story on Bralley's own website, link.

The photo was taken at an AFSCME forum; the forum that Chavez "no showed", and then received the AFSCME endorsement anyway.

It turns out that the endorsement didn't actually reflect the will of the rank and file, link.

The ripped off photograph showed up next on Joe Monahan's site, link.

Did Chavez steal it personally? I'm sure that he will argue that those who stole the photograph did so without his knowledge or permission. Just like he will argue that the two of his minions that shook down a local businessman, on videotape, link, did so without his knowledge or permission also.

It doesn't make any difference. You have heard the disclaimer at the end of every ad;

my name is so and so, and I am responsible for this message.

Well this time the "so and so" took responsibility for felony theft.

He may argue that this isn't stealing. It is instead, a kind of "finders keepers". Except that just because you find something on the internet doesn't make it free.

Mark Bralley lives by number of rules, two of which are;
he doesn't use, or allow the use of, his photographs for the
purpose of negative campaigning, and
you don't get to use his stuff without asking.

To him it is simple; there are two kinds of "stuff" in the world;
the stuff that belongs to you, and the stuff that doesn't. And,
if it doesn't belong to you, don't mess with it.

Mark Bralley is a professional photographer; he takes his
photographs as seriously as his livelihood.

Every picture he takes is copyrighted. What that means
is that you can't take one of his photographs and put it in
one of your campaign fliers.

Compare Bralley's picture with Chavez's flier. Is it the same
photograph?













Bralley reports that is common practice for those who rip him off to think they can get away with using it if they simply flip the photo, a mirror image.


I suspect that Marty Chavez is about to find out that that's not the way it works.




photos Mark Bralley