US BASED PHOTOGRAPHER CLAIMS COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT BY PM MODI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook account may land him in copyright trouble after Nepal Born, US based Photographer Bimal Nepal claimed that the Indian PM used his picture without permission on his facebook page without giving him credit. He said this was a copyright infringement.

In an exclusive talk with The Citizen, Bimal Nepal claimed that he is in touch with US lawyers and they will soon be sending a notice to the Prime Minister’s Office in India.“I am consulting US lawyers and soon they are going to contact PMO in India,” he said.

Nepal said he will be asking both for compensation and credit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This is a huge issue of international misuse of intellectual property and copyright and American professionals and Lawyers will decide on the compensation,” Nepal added.

According to him Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s facebook page has modified the same picture and used it to greet people on Dhanteras .

“Greetings on Dhanteras. May Lord Dhanvantari bless us with prosperity, joy and good health,” the photograph caption reads.

Unhappy with the use of his photograph, Nepal wrote a message on his Facebook page saying he was honored that the Indian Prime minister had used his picture, but was concerned that neither his permission was sought not credit attributed to him.

“I am truly honored that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using one of my photographs in his Facebook page. My greatest question and concern is - there is no credit for the photographer?! What will happen so called © copyright issue? He did not ask for the permission” Nepal wrote asking suggestions from his acquaintances in India.

Soon after his post, comments starting pouring in from a cross section of of people across the world with most posts blaming PM Modi and his team for the mess. Some even asked Nepal to take strict action for compensation.

“Just because he is PM does not give him the right to take what he has not paid for” commented Facebook user Donatella Lorch.

“This is simply unbelievable--PM of worlds one of the largest democracies uses others photo and doesn’t give credit. Goodluck for justice, it’s time to collect evidences and make ur claim strong;” posted another Facebook user Dinesh Karki

Some people advised Nepal not to pursue the case as it will harm India-Nepal relations.

“Nepal-India relation is really warming up these days so I don’t want you ruining this for all of us. Let it go PM Modi is not making money out of it,” wrote Rhododendron Arboreum.

However Bimal claimed that he clicked the picture at his home in Cambridge Massachusetts, with the help of his daughter, said that it disrespectful to use someones’ property without permission and claimed that all his pictures are protected under US copyright Law.

“No-one can use anyone's intellectual property/photographs without permission. If they would like to use it for commercial use, then the appropriate compensation should be granted to the owner. For non-profit use, permission sometimes can be given without payment” Nepal posted on his Facebook.

He added that “In both cases you need permission. It is disrespectful to use someone's property without giving them credit. You can't publish any photographs without permission, PERIOD. All of my photographs are protected by US copyright law. No one is above the law”.