01-18-2026, 07:20 PM
Appropriately, the image is by a Japanese artist.
Without his permission.
Without compensation.
When contacted, DHS spokesperson said they would keep using artists’ works without asking or paying them.
That is because of a little quirk in copyright law that allows DHS, or any other government agency that uses copyrighted material without permission to face few consequences because copyright holders can only sue the government for monetary compensation, not for an injunction to stop the use or force removal of the content as a copyright holder could use against a private person or entity.
And while federal agencies are expected to obtain permission or a license from the copyright owner, but due to the limited remedies afforded copyright holders as defined in the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1498(b) limits a copyright owner's recourse against the U.S. government to a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for "reasonable and entire compensation" only.
Further, unlike private copyright infringement lawsuits, a copyright holder cannot obtain a court order to force the government to immediately cease the infringing activity or remove the content. This lack of an injunction provision in the law means the DHS et al, has less incentive to seek permission beforehand, as it can simply pay damages if a claim is successful.
Therefore, for many artists, especially those who suffer limited monetary losses, the time and expense of suing the government for a monetary award in a specialized court is never really worthwhile. This lack of practical recourse can allow the agency to more or less flout copyright law.
Copyright holders can use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to send takedown notices to various platforms hosting the infringing content, which does often result in the platform removing the material in some cases, not necessarily all.
Do Puna SNAP recipients get $50,000 when they register for benefits? Would anyone here grumble if they did, but not complain if ICE grocery thieves did receive and keep a bonus?)
I am sure a few would grumble about that SNAP recipient getting a 50k bonus under any circumstance but jump for joy at handing out 50k signing bonuses, along with a Glock, and a face mask, to unskilled, unqualified, non-vetted, drug test failing, and overweight individuals. Those few, who one could say are “dumber than a box of rocks” that is.
ICE officers were recently caught on video stealing the groceries of a man they detained, which seems to substantiate the general theme of this thread, food is simply unaffordable for some...
There are also dozens of reported incidents of ICE officers eating at various ethnic restaurants, mostly Mexican ones, only to come back hours later and arrest the owner(s) and employees.
As someone once said, “the paybacks have only begun.” Well, yes, they have, and here we are.
Without his permission.
Without compensation.
When contacted, DHS spokesperson said they would keep using artists’ works without asking or paying them.
That is because of a little quirk in copyright law that allows DHS, or any other government agency that uses copyrighted material without permission to face few consequences because copyright holders can only sue the government for monetary compensation, not for an injunction to stop the use or force removal of the content as a copyright holder could use against a private person or entity.
And while federal agencies are expected to obtain permission or a license from the copyright owner, but due to the limited remedies afforded copyright holders as defined in the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1498(b) limits a copyright owner's recourse against the U.S. government to a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for "reasonable and entire compensation" only.
Further, unlike private copyright infringement lawsuits, a copyright holder cannot obtain a court order to force the government to immediately cease the infringing activity or remove the content. This lack of an injunction provision in the law means the DHS et al, has less incentive to seek permission beforehand, as it can simply pay damages if a claim is successful.
Therefore, for many artists, especially those who suffer limited monetary losses, the time and expense of suing the government for a monetary award in a specialized court is never really worthwhile. This lack of practical recourse can allow the agency to more or less flout copyright law.
Copyright holders can use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to send takedown notices to various platforms hosting the infringing content, which does often result in the platform removing the material in some cases, not necessarily all.
Do Puna SNAP recipients get $50,000 when they register for benefits? Would anyone here grumble if they did, but not complain if ICE grocery thieves did receive and keep a bonus?)
I am sure a few would grumble about that SNAP recipient getting a 50k bonus under any circumstance but jump for joy at handing out 50k signing bonuses, along with a Glock, and a face mask, to unskilled, unqualified, non-vetted, drug test failing, and overweight individuals. Those few, who one could say are “dumber than a box of rocks” that is.
ICE officers were recently caught on video stealing the groceries of a man they detained, which seems to substantiate the general theme of this thread, food is simply unaffordable for some...
There are also dozens of reported incidents of ICE officers eating at various ethnic restaurants, mostly Mexican ones, only to come back hours later and arrest the owner(s) and employees.
As someone once said, “the paybacks have only begun.” Well, yes, they have, and here we are.