Mediaboss Marketing

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Shepard Fairey, the Los Angeles designer who created the famous poster of then-Senator Barack Obama next to the word hope, using an Associated Press photo as a base, was sentenced in a New York court earlier today as a result of APs litigation against him. He will face two years of probation and a $25,000 fine.Mr. Fairey had admitted that he tampered with evidencein his own legal efforts against the AP.

In 2009, Fairey initiated litigation against the AP in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking a declaration that the Obama works did not infringe the APs copyrights, and that his use of an AP photograph was protected by the fair use doctrine of copyright law, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara office explained in a press release.In Faireys complaint, he alleged that he had used an AP photograph of then- Senator Obama and actor George Clooney taken at an April 2006 National Press Club event as a visual reference. This claim was untrue. In fact, he had used another image from the same event a tightly cropped image of then-Senator Obama gazing up, which was also an AP photograph.

In order to cover up the fact that the assertion in his complaint was untrue, Fairey created multiple false and fraudulent documents that attempted to show he had used the photograph of then-Senator Obama with George Clooney in it as his reference, the statement continued. Fairey also attempted to delete multiple electronically stored documents demonstrating that he had, in fact, used the tightly cropped image of then-Senator Obama as the reference. The false and fraudulent documents were produced to the AP during discovery, and the documents that Fairey attempted to delete were not initially produced to the AP.

Update: The Associated Press has passed along a statement on the sentencing from theirCEO Gary Pruitt:

After spending a great amount of time, energy and legal effort, all of us at The Associated Press are glad this matter is finally behind us. We hope this case will serve as a clear reminder to all of the importance of fair compensation for those who gather and produce original news content.

View the press release below:

Follow Colin Campbell on Twitter or via RSS. ccampbell@observer.com

More:
‘Hope’ Poster Artist Sentenced to Two Years Probation

NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Steelers inside running game: Pittsburgh lost first-rounder David DeCastro (knee), but their interior offensive line trio of Willie Colon, Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster is a massive group that could be able to dominate Denvers suspect interior triangle, which could be the teams biggest weakness. Also, DE Elvis Dumervil will be at a disadvantage in the running game against Steelers OT Max Starks, and LB D.J. Williams will miss this game because of a suspension. That leaves the Broncos very vulnerable against a power running game, particularly up the middle. Pittsburgh will mix in small doses of Chris Rainey, but for the most part look for it to feature Isaac Redman and/or Jonathan Dwyer, two heavier power backs who could wear the Broncos down. Of course, this approach also would be very beneficial for keeping Peyton Manning on the sidelines as well as possibly opening shots deep downfield off play-action to Mike Wallace or Antonio Brown.

Bad draw for Browns, Weeden: The Browns Brandon Weeden is my least favorite of the five rookie starting quarterbacks starting across the NFL. He is a very good pocket passer with a big arm, but Weeden doesnt move his feet well, can stare down receivers and hasnt shown he is adept at handling pass-rush pressure. Well, the Eagles are a brutal opponent for this aged rookies first start, as their pass rush and defensive line rival any in the league. Philadelphia is extraordinarily deep up front and will consistently rotate fresh bodies into the game to attack upfield and disrupt Weeden, who can be statuesque in the pocket. Compounding matters, the Eagles corners figure to play a high percentage of press-man coverage, and the Browns young wide receivers have yet to show they can consistently beat such coverage at this level. This doesnt bode well for the Browns or Weeden.

Wheres Ike? Almost as much as any team in the NFL, Pittsburgh likes to match up its top cornerback, Ike Taylor, on the opponents No. 1 receiver. When the Steelers and Broncos met last postseason, it was Demaryius Thomas against whom Taylor most often lined up. That ended poorly for Pittsburgh on what was Tim Tebows best day as a professional throwing the football. But Eric Decker was knocked out of that game and was not a factor. Because of his sticky hands and precision route running, Decker looks to be the more Peyton Manning-friendly target. It will be very interesting from the start of this game how Pittsburgh views the Broncos two starting wide receivers. It could be a tactic that Denvers future opponents mimic going forward.

Cincinnatis run game: Bernard Scott is a better outside runner, but BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the reliable between-the-tackles back who can sustain a large workload. Running against the Ravens is never an easy task, but in this matchup, going to the outside might be the preferred route, as Baltimore lost two elite outside run stoppers in Jarret Johnson, who is now with San Diego, and Terrell Suggs, who is sidelined with an Achilles injury. However, Scott might not be healthy for this contest and Cincinnati favors Green-Ellis overall. So assuming Green-Ellis is the main ball carrier, most of the Bengals runs should be aimed up the middle. That could be a problem considering Cincinnatis interior line has been decimated with injuries and simply put, the Ravens are fantastic at stopping the inside run. So expect the Bengals to have to rely on Andy Dalton and the passing game plenty on Monday night.

Follow this link:
Final Word: AFC North

Over the weekend, I visited an Italian festival in Scranton, Pa., where the crowd, mostly older and white, had gathered in the town square to hear music and eat cannolis. But when I brought up politics, especially Medicare and Social Security, the mood got dark. People worried about making ends meet. They were not much interested in Vouchercarethe Medicare fix advocated by the GOP. But they seemed mostly disillusioned with the Democrats, too. I would like someone as president who is a patriot and dedicated to the people. I feel like a subject in a kingdom, one woman said. You know a kingdom with royalty and the subjects.

This is another in CJRs ongoing series of CJR Town Hallsconversations with citizens about the issues they are following in the press, and the second in several Town Halls focused on Medicare. We hope journalists everywhere will get out and talk to ordinary people and hear what they have to say about Medicare, Social Security, and other pocketbook issues that will help decide this upcoming presidential election.

Paul Noreika

Fifty-seven-year old Paul Noreika has three years to go until he retires from the railroad, with 40 years of service. He worked his way up the ranks with New Jersey Transitfrom trackman to machine operator to foreman. He lives north of Scranton in rural Pennsylvania and commutes 100 miles each way, every day, to his job. He hopes he has bought his last car, a Honda Civic that gets 40 miles to the gallon. Still, rising gasoline prices are a concern. They blame it on the weather, he said, skeptically.

Noreika will have a good pension from the Railway Retirement System, but he worried that they would like to get their hands on the railway pension. They passed something that took money out of it, he told me. The conversation turned to Medicare, and the second I mentioned Paul Ryan and his voucher plan, Noreika said, Dont mess with it. We talked a bit more about how such a plan would work. Hes going to take care of the rich and eliminate the middle class. Without overtime, he earns a median incomearound $50,000. Who do you trust more to take care of your financial concerns, I asked. I know what I have now. I like what I have now. I will vote for Obama.

Phyllis Rieger

Phyllis Rieger was munching an Italian sandwich when I stopped to chat. At 61, she has another year to become be eligible for a state pension, earned as a special education teacher in New Jersey public schools. Rieger was eager to tell me about Medicare and Social Security. She said she reads a lot of newspapersThe New York Times, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and the Newark Star-Ledgerand often reads them online. I hear Social Security is going bankrupt, she said. That upsets me because I have put my time in and will have to depend on it when I retire.

Rieger formerly worked in financial services in New York City and contributed to Social Security through those jobs. She didnt know how large a benefit she would get because the Social Security Administration no longer sends http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/the_case_of_the_disappearing_b.php out yearly benefit statements. The government makes a computer tool available if people want to calculate their own benefits. I read online that this was supposed to save a lot of money, she said. But a lot of people dont know how to use the computer and a lot of disabled people cant get out to go to a library to use one.

Excerpt from:
The word on the street: disillusioned

September 4, 2012

Michael Harper for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

UDID leak? What UDID leak?

Its incredibly likely Apple planned to send out press invites to their next mega press event today. Though we had all more or less known theyd be holding this event on September 12th, not having any official word from Cupertino left even the tiniest shred of doubt that Apple would do as we expected.

As the 12th gets ever closer, today, the 4th, is a fine time to announce this next press event. However, announcing the press event just hours after a huge story began to circulate about an attack on an FBI laptop and the subsequent leak of 1 million Apple Unique Device Identifiers (UDIDs) is pure genius.

iPhone rabid fans have been successfully silenced as the pre-iPhone frenzy begins to kick into high gear.

In accordance with their long-held traditions of subtly tipping their hand as to what will be announced, the invite only says, Its almost here, above a giant 12.

The 12, however, is casting a very interesting shadow.

Ever since Apple released the new iPad with Retina Display this spring, theres been a raging war between those who expect the new iPhone to also lose its numerical identifier, taking on the same moniker as the new iPad.

This invite seems to crush this argument entirely, as the shadow being cast from the giant 12 actually displays a 5.

Original post:
Apple Press Invites Sent Out Today: iPhone 5 On The 12th

Updated: September 4, 2012, 6:35 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- Joe Haden's case remains mysterious and unresolved.

The Browns cornerback, and one of Cleveland's best players, is awaiting word from the NFL on a possible four-game suspension for failing a drug test. On Tuesday, Browns president Mike Holmgren revealed in a local radio interview that Haden has already had his appeal hearing with the league.

"Now it's up to someone else," Holmgren told 92.3 The Fan. "And we don't know."

Holmgren's comments were the first confirming Haden's suspension. Haden reportedly failed a test for taking Adderall, which is on the league's banned substance list.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email that the league "has nothing to report at this point."

It's possible the league is still weighing Haden's appeal and a ruling may not be known for days, if not weeks. In the meantime, Haden is wondering if he will be able to play in Sunday's season opener against Philadelphia.

"I have no idea," Haden said when asked on Monday.

At this point, it appears Haden's safe for this week, but it's possible he may still have to sit out some games. The league does not announce suspensions until the appeal process is completed in order to protect the player's privacy.

The Browns can't afford to be without Haden for long. They're already missing three defensive starters -- defensive tackle Phil Taylor and linebacker Chris Gocong are injured and linebacker Scott Fujita is serving a three-game suspension for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal -- and Haden is their best coverage defender.

More:
Browns CB Haden awaiting word on suspension