On November 3rd 2009, I was surprised to see that CJOH TV (Max Keeping) was showing a video that I created, on his televised news report.  I was surprised because I am positive that a news station is aware of their own copyright laws.  CJOH TV showed my video on 3 of their televised news shows and they sell copies of that on their website.

A few reporters have asked me for permission to use my photographs, video, and to interview me about the recent events that I was involved in, around Akwesasne.  I told every reporter that I do NOT give them permission to use any of my photographs, video, or stories for any reason.  So, you can imagine my shock when I saw my video being used to promote CJOH TV.

I don’t usually bother to complain when I see another using any of my media, as long as they are decent enough to give me credit and link to my own website or contact information.  So, I decided to find out if CJOH TV just assumed they would compensate me for my work, when I contacted them.  All reputable media companies are accustomed to compensating those that create the media, right?  I assumed that they knew that I never agreed to provide any type of slave labor, charity, or favors for their benefit – while I lose as a result of their actions against me.

All of my contact information is on all of my videos, photos, and stories, yet not a single person had ever attempted to contact me from CJOH TV, as of Thursday morning November 5th, 2009.  On CJOH TV, when Max Keeping showed my video, they covered up the bottom portion of my video, where my contact info is typically shown.  CJOH TV and Max Keeping did not even have the decency to give credit to the video creator (me).

Today, Thursday afternoon October 5th 2009, I decided to contact CJOH TV, to let them know that I am the video creator and that they never contacted me to request that they can use my work for any of their benefit.  I planned to let them know that like all videographers, reporters, and freelancers, I am compensated and credited for my work and that they were causing undue financial loss to me, as a result of their actions.

I phoned CJOH TV at (613) 224-1313 and the operator said she was surprised that CJOH TV would use my video on the televised news and sell it on their website, without asking for my permission first.  She told me to phone Scott Hannant (a news director for CTV Ottawa) at (613) 274-4347 and that he would be most interested in correcting the situation.  I phoned that number and a man named Paul from the news room, became angry with me and tried to start interviewing me about the incident on the video.

I told Paul that I am not contacting him to be interviewed and we need to correct the situation of how CJOH TV is using my video – while never asking for my permission.  Paul finally gave me the direct phone number to Scott Hannant, the news director for CJOH TV (613) 274-4336.  I left a short voice message on Scott Hannant’s direct line and he finally phoned me back at 1:56 pm.

Scott Hannant insisted that CJOH TV has a right to use anyone’s video without their permission.  I reminded Scott that this whole situation was silly and that we have many local photographers, videographers, and reporters in Akwesasne that are happy to help CJOH TV get the stories about our own local community.  Scott responded that he would never agree to compensate any freelancers or reporters from Akwesasne for their work, because he would rather compensate his own Union of workers in Ottawa.

I was surprised again that yet another employee of CJOH TV, behaving as if it’s normal to  blatantly steal from anyone in Akwesasne – then earn a profit from that very theft.  Why is it normal to compensate and credit anyone else, as long as they are not from Akwesasne?

CJOH TV has been selling copies of any of their televised news (including the ones with my video) for $60.00 per copy.  It’s difficult for me witness CJOH TV, make excuses for earning profits from media created by Onkwehonwe freelancer, and even intentionally try to block Onkwehonwe freelancers, from benefiting from their own labor.

Scott continued to make one excuse after another.  Scott stated that it is a common practice of  CJOH TV,  to  use video on their televised broadcasts and the internet, without notifying, without asking permission, without providing credit to the video creator, and without compensating the video creators, as long as it is only 30 seconds of video.

Scott also went on to state that he does not understand how to find the copyright owner of videos on YouTube.  I gave him some basic instructions on how to read the Copyright Policies on Youtube and how to look at my video where it’s embedded and states ‘Copyright Monica Peters. All Rights Reserved’.

So, then Scott,  stated that he received my video, with the copyright removed, from an R.C.M.P. officer named Michael Harvey and to just contact Michael Harvey to pursue the Copyright Violation, by email at michael.harvey@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.  Sounds like Scott just wants to blame someone else, anyone else.

Scott angrily rambled one excuse after another about how he only compensates his own special group of Union workers and will never agree to give credit to me for my work, he will never agree to discuss working with anyone from Akwesasne either.

Scott demanded that I give him my email address so that he could have his lawyer contact me.  I asked Scott to give me his lawyer’s contact information on the phone, but he declined. I did my best to keep him calm and the discussion friendly, but even my patience wore thin from his ugly excuses, so I ended the conversation.

I guess I am sheltered here in Akwesasne, where our close-knit community tends to circle around each other during times of trauma and crisis.  Even as the government agents, C.B.S.A. union agents, U.S.A. Border Agents, NY State Troopers, Cornwall Police, Massena Police, R.C.M.P., Ontario Police threaten to block our roads / bridges,  silence us, herd us into our ‘reservation’, silence us, publish their own twisted stories about us, and do whatever they can to cause distress to us, I had actually forgotten that even more corporations and unions have such detest for anyone in Akwesasne.

So now my Onkwehonwe friends and family can know how and why CJOH TV, stole from yet another Onkwehonwe Akwesasneron.  I know, I know, this is nothing surprising or shocking and Yes, You did Tell Me So.

Ne tsi satati ne Kanienkeha! Nia:wen ko:wa for the help Elvera

Kenoronkwa Akwesasne tahnon Onkwehonwe,

Monica

• Videos that this post discusses US & Canada International Border Marker Removed out of Kanatakon
• CJOH TV
• YouTube CopyRight Policies
• Scott Hannant Scott Hannant’s Blog
• What kinds of activities are probable violations of copyright law?