Something to think about regading our Pics...
 

Just in case you were one of the folks who thought that we shouldn't maintain strict control over our (aka my) gun images, here is something.....

I just forced a GUN CONTROL SITE that calls for the banning of ALL semi automatic weapons to remove MY pics from their promotional page. It was a flagrant copyright violation and I even threatened to sue. I also emailed them and said that I ALWAYS actively went after anyone who pirated one of my pics, regardless of who they were (but of course, you guys know I'm gonna give these guys 'special attention').

So if we were to be like Wikipedia, and let anyone use IMFDB gun pics as long as they gave attribution, how would you feel if the Brady Campaign to ban gun used MPM photos on one of their 'ban guns' posters and gave IMFDB fair credit for the image....:eek:

Sometimes, it PAYS to be strict when guarding one's copyright. :D

What pics did they use? Probably the AKs and M16s because they are scary.

I...I'm so...torn...

yeah, nice to know that you're torn about some gun control group using IMFDB pics. Still trying to see how you sympathize with them :confused:

Not with them, but with the idea of using IP for informational or nonprofit purposes without claiming credit.

Point taken, and no, I would not want the anti-gunners to use our pics for their own purposes.

That being said, I'm sure you've supplied weapons to movies and TV shows that had anti-gun messages (and if you haven't, I know some of your fellow armorers have). Some of the very weapons you've photographed for IMFDB have been used in anti-gun productions (including the pistols from the "Lethal Weapon" films). So my point is, isn't that a much bigger problem than our images appearing on anti-gun sites?

At least they'd be getting paid.

Nope. We have no control over the script and we have no say. In fact many times we don't have any idea of the script except for specific scenes (SCENE 5 has a shootout between cops and robbers - schedule THREE days of filming - we need XXXXXXXX). And the rabid antigun movies aren't that common. And we HAVE taken stands in the past.

In the about WACO, the armorer and the armories would not let the production use full auto weapons for the Branch Davidians (which is historically correct). The ONLY full auto weapons were for the ATF agents who raided (and eventually burned the place to the ground with everyone inside). Another incident was in 1994 right after the passage of Clinton's AW ban and the Brady Bill, a script was shopping around to do a 'heroic biodrama on Sarah Brady' (another television movie was done much earlier witth Beau Bridges as Jim Brady and it focused more on the family's activities than a purely anti gun hit piece). the script was appalling. I got to see an early draft of it. In the script gun owners were buying full automatic AK-47s and M16s off the shelf in gun stores and immediately spraying down dozens of innocent bystanders. It was crazy and very fictionalized. But.....I can't recall a single armorer or weapons house who was 'available' to do that movie, mysterious wasn't it? Another television movie was eventually filmed heroically portraying House Rep Carolyn McCarthy, who is a raving anti gun politician.

Back to the pirates:

What I think you missed was that (A) they DID pirate the pics and (B) no way in hell am I gonna help them and (C) did they pay us? or me? Are supplying them with stuff helping my livelihood in anyway?