Louie Psihoyos, who is a prominent contributor to Getty Images’ image partner Science Faction, is suing Apple for ripping off his photo below for their Apple TV ad campaign. That Louie’s original photo below probably brings to mind the Apple TV campaign without me even showing any actual campaign photos or clips means that he probably has a good case, but for a better illustration go here. That Apple had previously been in negotiations for use of the photo but backed out is even more incriminating.
Maybe this shouldn’t be too surprising though, considering Apple has been quite busy building a long sordid history of this type of thing, compiled nicely here by engadget.
Here‘s a funny follow-up to this story comparing the packaging from the Atari 2600 Packaging circa 1982 to the Apple TV site. Oops – curiously the pics are gone from flickr, but you can see them here.
Even large corporations need to be careful where they get their pictures from. Seems like Apple has been copying ideas from other sources as well and not remembering to credit them. Whether its a photograph, a sound clip or video, getting the author’s permission is important in order to avoid getting any copyright law suits.
If Apple has been doing that for so long and does not seem to be bothered a lot by lawsuits, then will it continue? Seeing how internet piracy is becoming a hot issue now with SOPA and PIPA against internet piracy and copyright infringement, a story like that today will definitely gain a lot of attention.