Wednesday, September 5, 2012

“DON’T BE BULLIED”

Recently I did a post that contained segments of Video tapes taken by Steve Weed at the request of the Town of Cape Vincent. Today the following comment came into my blog concerning my use of these video tapes.

Please Note that this video is property of the Town of Cape Vincent and Steve Weed Productions.These videos are not authorized to be listed on YouTube or to be Edited in any way. Clipping out a segment and posting it on YouTube is not acceptable without written permission. Please remove these videos from YouTube and this blog immediately. You can link to the videos on our website or the Town of Cape Vincents website. Again Please remove these videos from YouTube Immediately or a cease and desist letter will follow. Thanks for your cooperation any questions can be referred to Steve Weed Productions at swprod@yahoo.com
By Merrick on Video Documentation Edsall accuses the Cape Vinc... at 8:44 AM
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In response to this I called
Robert J. Freeman, Executive Director of State of New York
Department of State
Committee on Open Government




Mr. Freeman was incredulous when I explained the situation to him, he said  the Videographer (Steve Weed)  is… WRONG, I have a right to use this material in any way I so choose, additionally he said

“DON’T BE BULLIED”

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First, as you may be aware, the Freedom of Information Law pertains to agency records. Section 86(4) of that statute defines the term "record" expansively to include:

"any information kept, held, filed, produced, reproduced by, with or for an agency or the state legislature, in any physical form whatsoever including, but not limited to, reports, statements, examinations, memoranda, opinions, folders, files, books, manuals, pamphlets, forms, papers, designs, drawings, maps, photos, letters, microfilms, computer tapes or discs, rules, regulations or codes." 


 Irrespective of where records may be kept,

 Link here to the FOIL advisory opinions 

 Link here to the original post  with the Edsall Videos