Unintentional Foul

While I generally take pride in pushing people's buttons and spurring on heated debates, things I do occasionally bring anger in my direction even when I'm not actively in the market.

Take today's post at Keyboard Kimura or, more correctly, the picture that used to go with today's post.


Like 99% of bloggers out there, I'm what you would call a photo poacher. I hit up my search engine of choice, enter what I'm looking for and slap it up on these here pages. Not exactly the way business is supposed to be done, but I ain't the first and I won't be the last.

Today, I was contacted by Martin McNeil, an exceptional photographer who does a lot of work in Mixed Martial Arts. As it turns out, the image that originally accompanied my preview of this weekend's Dan Hardy vs. Marcus Davis fight was one of his and he wasn't very happy to see it on my site.

Just so happens that a previous picture - also since removed - served as the visual introduction to something I wrote earlier, which led Mr. McNeil to inform me I am currently sitting with a two strike count.

I hopes of not striking out - or getting sued for the $13.00 I have to my name - I'm trying to get in touch with Mr. McNeil to look into future licensing / authorization to use his photos as they are unquestionably the best in the business. Check out his Flickr page and see for yourself.

As a writer - and one who has been stiffed on paychecks on more than one occasion - I can understand the frustrations with seeing your work being used without compensation and I sincerely apologize.

I'd normally launch into some diatribe here about the ridiculousness of this potential situation, but my attorney has advised me to shut the hell up ... and stop using pictures with all my blog posts.

Happy reading - go get your visual stimulation elsewhere.

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