This shady publicist is trying to charge media organizations $10,000 to post the Walter Scott video
It was quite literally a shot heard 'round the world. And now a publicity company is saying media organizations cannot post the video of Walter Scott's killing without paying a $10,000 fee, according to The New York Times. The video was shot by Feidin Santana, who apparently is unaware that Markson Sparks, based in Australia, is sending cease-and-desist letters to news outlets.
The announcement about the fee seemed to come as a surprise to Mr. Santana.He later recalled that his lawyer mentioned something about charging for it, but said he did not understand.The lawyer, Todd Rutherford, said it was only fair for Mr. Santana to start getting paid for something that news outlets benefited from. [The New York Times]
The video was widely credited with debunking police officer Michael Slager's claims that he shot Scott because he feared for his life.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.
-
How will China’s $1 trillion trade surplus change the world economy?Today’s Big Question Europe may impose its own tariffs
-
‘Autarky and nostalgia aren’t cure-alls’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Japan’s Princess Aiko is a national star. Her fans want even more.IN THE SPOTLIGHT Fresh off her first solo state visit to Laos, Princess Aiko has become the face of a Japanese royal family facing 21st-century obsolescence
-
Paramount fights Netflix for Warner as Trump hoversSpeed Read Paramount Skydance is seeking to undo Netflix’s purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery
-
Paramount, Comcast, Netflix bid for WBDSpeed Read The outcome of this bidding war ‘could alter the trajectory of the entertainment business’
-
Laurence Fox suspended by GB News after 'unacceptable' Ava Evans commentsSpeed Read Broadcaster issues apology after actor goes on a tirade during a live interview with Dan Wootton
-
Fox News apologizes to Gold Star family for false story Marine Corps called 'disgusting'Speed Read
-
Tucker Carlson Tonight is being replaced by Fox News TonightSpeed Read
-
Judge delays Fox News-Dominion defamation trial start, reportedly to allow settlement talksSpeed Read
-
Judge orders Dominion lawsuit against Fox News to go to trialSpeed Read
-
Fox News seeks gag order for producer who claims she was coerced to mislead in Dominion depositionSpeed Read