donal brown

Seattle: Photographer falls into legal soup with photo of public art

You would think that a sculpture commissioned with public funds and displayed in a public place could be photographed and the photo published, but Mike Hipple found himself sued by the sculptor who claims the exclusive right to reproduce the work and create derivative work from it. -db Suffolk Media Law Commentary February 17, 2010 By Justin Silverman To photographer Mike Hipple, the claim is baseless. The photo he took about 10 years ago of a

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Local education activist sues Alameda unified schools

The founder of Alameda Concerned Parents is suing the Alameda Unified School District for violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act. -db San Francisco Chronicle Opinion February 18, 2010 By Susan Davis This just in — Kerry Cook, founder of Alameda Concerned Parents, which protested Lesson 9 last spring and fall — is now suing the Alameda Unified School District, as well as its Board of Education, for Brown Act violations alleged

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Open meetings a work in progress in Victorville

An open government activist says there are still gross violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act, after the City Council had taken steps to conduct business in a more open manner. -db Victorville Daily Press February 15, 2010 By Brooke Edwards VICTORVILLE, Calif. – After continued rumblings from citizens and the Daily Press about Victorville improperly using closed session meetings, it only took one letter from a successful open-government activist to spark changes

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TV cable broadcasts of city council meeting in Norwalk censored

During broadcasts of its meetings on a government access cable channel, the Norwalk City Council blacks out public comments. Legal experts says the practice is legal but express dismay that the council feels it’s necessary to censor the public. -db The Los Angeles Times February 20, 2010 By Jeff Gottlieb Like most towns, Norwalk broadcasts its City Council meetings on its government access cable channel. But unlike most cities, Norwalk blacks out the portion of

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Half Moon Bay officials plan private meeting to discuss safety issues of surfing contest

Half Moon Bay public safety agencies are meeting to air concerns about safety issues concerning the Mavericks Surf Contest but don’t want to open it to the public in the interests of encouraging an open and frank discussion. The editor of the Half Moon Bay Review argues that to close the meeting is not only illegal but denies the public a chance to offer ideas about solving problems that concern the entire community. -db Half

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