Only April 10th, 2009, the recent Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayer upheld a ruling of a district court that a photojournalist’s photographs were only worth seven dollars each.
The district court awarded photographer Chris Usher $157,000 for 12,600 lost photographs. The photographs were submitted to Corbis, one of the largest stock photography agencies which is owned by Bill Gates. Some of the photographs included the 2000 Presidential campaign.
Naturally most of the professional photographer organizations are up in arms over this decision.
National Press Photographers Association
Photojournalist Chris Usher Wins Lost Images Lawsuit Against Corbis
White House News Photographers Association
Greenberg: Victory in Usher v Corbis
Black Star Rising
Why Chris Usher’s Loss Is a Defeat for All of Us
