Juvenile politician accuse copy rights violation for publishing his photograph

By Ranjan Perera

(May 02, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) On Monday, April 26, 2010, Sri Lanka Guardian published a news item ‘Sri Lankan government is suspected of creating problems for Tamil supporting British MP’s’. In that news, reference was made about an Independent candidate challenging a Labour MP Mr Barry Gardiner.

We commented amongst other issues that , ‘an independent candidate Jannen Vamadeva, said to be connected to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London is contesting Brent North as independent candidate to undermine the Tamil votes for Barry Gardiner MP.

’Jannen too is taking a very hard-line against the sitting MP. In the Brent North about 5,000 Tamil votes are registered and is an important stake for any party to gain the support of the Tamils. According to sources, placing Jannen as candidate is to fracture the Tamil vote bank’.

Following the publication of the news, letters were received from Jannen Vamadeva threatening the Sri Lanka Guardian for reporting about him. In the latest letter he has stated: ‘We are also advised that you have used a copyright photo of Mr. Vamadeva within your article without permission from Mr. Vamadeva. We raise this as an entirely separate point to your reach of criminal law and civil law detailed within our first letter today’.

We made further inquiries and his website that revealed ‘© 2010 Jannen Vamadeva. Hosted by ……Anytime Doctor. Promoted by….., on behalf of Jannen Vamadeva at: MP Campaign Office …..’. This copyright highlight failed to give the extent of the copy right cover. Further his printed leaflets distributed in the constituency did not claim copy rights protection. Putting himself forward as a politician, he should have expected his photographs will be picked by the media. Even if he limits its use, will he be able to control the media to take some shots of him?

What is interesting is his campaign website was promoting Viagra sales until the Sri Lanka Guardian gave publicity about the issues involved in his contest. Viagra advertisement has been removed since, possibly knowing that the publicity will invite negative reporting in the media.