Pixiq

DA doesn’t want to file charges? That’s what writs of mandamus are for.

Theft and battery? Theft is the act of taking something that does not belong to you by stealth or in the absence of the owner. What Lawson committed was the far more serious crime of unarmed robbery. Given that many cameras exceed the threshold value to elevate a robbery from a gross misdemeanor to a felony, I have to wonder: Can a felon be elected?

Lawson’s staffers uploaded the *stolen* video? Mason should file federal publication copyright claim.

It looks like Al Lawson is guilty of theft and battery.

Also, he has no right to release this into the public domain. Ralph Mason owns the copyright. Claiming that they have released this into the public domain is slander of title. Uploading without permission is copyright infringement!

What is it with these Democrats and their attacks on cameramen? Bob Etheridge, and now Al Lawson. So much for the party of “tolerance.”

I tried to email Rep. Ethridge and found out that his web site has a zip code filter. I live in an adja-
cent NC district. If you don’t have a 9 digit zip
from his district the web site will not accept your
comments. My own congress man just gives out
his email address.

I guess Rep. Ethridge wants to track all comments and handle all questioners.

Exactly. Stole the camera then uploaded a stolen video.

Theft of property, actual and intellectual, as well as a copyright violation of federal law.

Nice to see the prosecutors, who have no problem prosecuting jay walking, rolling stop signs, etc, don’t have time for a felony theft.

Mike S

“Despite the obvious assault, theft and destruction of property, the State Attorney refused to prosecute the congressman, according to Florida Capital News.”

Why does the State Attorney get to make this call? Isn’t it up to the victim to decide whether or not to prosecute? I would hope, at the very least, that the photographer will file a civil suit. I also hope that Lawson replaced the camera he destroyed with the same or equivalent camera, not some cheap piece of crap.

Well, according to the article at the Florida Capital News, Lawson’s team replace the camera with a identical model, so that answers that. However, there is still no good reason that politicians should have a right to break laws and infringe upon citizens rights and get away with it free and clear. It is quite obvious that the US has become a class system, with different rules for each class.

It is ironic that public figures get paranoid about being filmed because they are afraid of being made to look bad…then proceed to act in the worst way possible in their attempts to stop the photography. If they just ignored the camera and photographer, they would be much better off.

Unfortunately, the general public probably considers photographers in the news to be paparazzi and probably side with the assaulter when they read articles like this.

I still can’t believe that Lawson’s team had the temerity to post the video to youtube.

Mason was probably “ordered” by Boyd or his team to let it go and not press charges so that Boyd would look like he’s taking the high road.

they’re moderating comments on youtube as well. does anybody know how to complain to youtube about them uploading stolen material that they do not own

They’re only tolerant when one of their own screws up, so expect a bunch of spin from the democratic party on this blaming the videographer.

Lawson’s dumbass claims Ralph was trespassing. I can tell you right now, for a fact, that there isn’t a single “No Trespassing” sign outside Lawson’s campaign hq in Tallahassee. Even if there were, it doesn’t give Lawson a pass to lay a finger on the videographer, much less steal his camera.

I seriously hope Ralph, the videographer, files his own charges against Lawson for theft, assault and/or battery, numerous copyright violations, as well as tampering with evidence (which he did after uploading the video to youtube with subtitles).

In the video description on youtube, Lawson’s slimeball campaigners added “Paid for by Al Lawson for Congress”. What a dirty, slimy bastard!

I’m pretty sure that you can do that only if you’re the copyright holder, but yes, it’s pretty simple to make a claim.

If you go to https://writerep.house.gov, and use 27601-1742 (Raleigh, NC) for the zip code filter you should be able to write him. I wrote to him using his own address, though I’m not holding my breath for a response either –

Raleigh District Office
333 Fayetteville Street, Suite 505
Raleigh, NC 27601-1742

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/06/23/louisiana-off-duty-cops-w...
has an article about photography problems in LA with BP and the local police.

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/06/23/louisiana-off-duty-cops-w...
has a story of a photographer in Louisiana having problems with BP security and local police.

You’re correct. Legally, only the copyright holder can make a claim to youtube about that. Anyone else, other than Ralph Mason, that flags the video for copyright infringement would be just as guilty of infringement at the uploader.

Well, we can see how that goes!

democrats suck!

Lawson is quoted in the Tallahassee Democrat as saying “I saw Allen and said, ‘You had a guy at my campaign office, filming me on private property. I think that crossed the line. I would not do something like that to him, and it’s not the way we play politics up in North Florida. We don’t need to have people coming on private property and harassing the volunteers.”

In the video, you can see an air vent as well as reflections on a window between the camera and plants. This makes it look like it is inside.

If Lawson was in fact on private property then he was at least justified in telling Mason to leave and to not film him.

The camera grabbing was of course illegal and stupid, but at the same time, someone who goes into their opponent’s headquarters to film them paparazzi style does not enjoy the same right to film as they would if they stayed on a public street.

Tallahassee.com says “Boyd’s campaign issued a statement saying Mason, 22, arrived before Lawson about 8 a.m. and identified himself to Lawson campaign manager John Reid and aide Josh Robinson. The statement said Lawson had publicly invited people to join him at his East Jennings Street headquarters, posting a notice on Facebook on Friday.“.

That leads me to believe there was an open invite to anyone that wanted to come check things out. A “meet and greet” if you will.

Details are fuzzy since there are conflicting stories circulating on both sides, so I imagine we will find out what happens in the coming days. Lawson still has no right to use the video and claim it as his on youtube though. That’s copyright infringement all the way.

The Ralph kid was actually on private property, the campaign headquarters. The facebook event was just a meet up for volunteers to drive to another event and not a rally. So please tell me where a person can come on your private property and film you; and then have rights to the film.

Lawson could’ve pushed for Ralph to receive trespassing charges for entering private property.