UPDATE: On 12.1.09, SportsFags was contacted by agents representing Grady Sizemore who asked us to remove the photos they claimed were stolen from Grady’s ex-girfriend’s computer. We were not the only website contacted but I have decided to remove the photos not because I had to but because if they were in fact stolen it’s the right thing to do.
There are other websites who undoubtedly will refuse to take down the photos either to make a name for themselves or to stand up for a ‘journalistic principle’ but I’m going to do what I feel is the right thing to do morally.
All I had to do was ask myself, “If my photos were stolen how would I feel if someone was refusing to take them down”? Of course, if I looked as good as Grady I don’t think I would mind all that much but everyone has their own level of acceptance. The reason I had them posted was because as I stated in the original post I felt like he was possibly complicit in leaking the photos but from his reaction I can see that this may not be the case.
If we find out later that these photos were not stolen but this was part of some failed or extremely successful publicity stunt we will repost them but until then I would feel like a total douchebag for not complying with Grady’s wishes.
Letter received from Grady’s representatives
Ladies and Gentlemen:
THIS MATTER REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
Please be advised that CAA Sports represents Grady Sizemore. It has come to
our attention that you are posting a number of photographs of Mr. Sizemore that
are his property (the “Photographs”). The Photographs, which were stolen
from a personal computer, are posted on your “SportsFags” website found at
the link http://sportsfags.com/2009/11/30/sizemores-revealing-iphone-photos/
(the “Website”).
You have not been granted any right whatsoever by Mr. Sizemore to use the
Photographs. Further, the posting of materials known to be stolen is an
invasion of Mr. Sizemore’s privacy and may be actionable at law. Such posting,
therefore, subjects the Website, you, your employees and principals, and all
individuals/entities associated with this activity to serious potential
liability.
Accordingly, you are hereby directed to cease and desist immediately all
postings and other uses of the Photographs on the Website.
We trust that you can appreciate the serious nature of this situation and will
therefore act accordingly.
We ask that you preserve any records associated with the submission of the
Photographs to you in anticipation of a criminal complaint to be filed with
local law enforcement.
Should you fail to comply immediately with the terms of this letter, we will be
forced to explore all available remedies against the Website and you.
All of Mr. Sizemore’s rights and remedies, both at law and in equity, are
hereby reserved.
Sincerely yours,
