There are two issues colliding here. One is the unspeakable tragedy of Christina's murder. The other is the property rights that Jon Wolf has in the image that he made. There is no serious legal doubt that Wolf is in the right. There is also no doubt that making money off of such a tragedy is distasteful to the general public.
Jon Wolf may be within his legal rights, but he was unprepared for the public backlash from a public that does not understand copyright law. Photographers make money from images of tragedy all the time. Unfortunately, the juxtaposition of circumstances in this case left Wolf dangling in the public eye, vulnerable to the outcries of a public that is still shocked by the tragedy of the shootings.
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This case is not remotely close to Fair Use. If it were, then no photojournalist could make money from any of their works.
Mark Loundy
http://www.loundy.org/commoncents/
Twitter: @MarkLoundy
Jon Wolf may be within his legal rights, but he was unprepared for the public backlash from a public that does not understand copyright law. Photographers make money from images of tragedy all the time. Unfortunately, the juxtaposition of circumstances in this case left Wolf dangling in the public eye, vulnerable to the outcries of a public that is still shocked by the tragedy of the shootings.
Mark Loundy
http://www.loundy.org/commoncents/
Twitter: @MarkLoundy