Anthony Mazur
I AM Anthony
My name is Anthony Mazur, and I’m a sophomore at Flower Mound High School. At the start of this school year, I joined yearbook class, and quickly fell in love with photography, particularly sports photography. I’d go to every game I could and learn as much as possible. I never knew that one day it might launch a future career into photojournalism and content creation.
My yearbook class asked me to take a trip down to San Antonio, where the Texas Association of Journalism Educators held a conference, inviting schools from all over Texas to listen to speakers, experts, and professionals give advice during classes and seminars about journalism, photography, and design. For the $100 I was asked to pay to go on the trip, I think it was well worth it. In one of the classes I took at the conference, the speakers, a journalism teacher from Argyle and her student now working as an intern for the Dallas Morning News, told us the student began selling his work to media outlets and organizations, and telling us how photographers own the work that we shoot.
At the end of the class, I approached the teacher confused, and asked that because I was using a school camera, and using a school press pass, do I still own my pictures? She replied that I did. From that day on, that student and teacher from Argyle inspired me. I was filled with joy; I realized fully that this may be something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was my passion. So, I started selling my pictures to parents, tried licensing them to news organizations and get internships to learn as much as possible. It felt great to receive such amazing support from parents, players, and friends. I believed I found my place. One day, that all changed…
I was sitting in chemistry class when a blue office slip was delivered to me. A principal wanted to see me. When I entered the principal’s office, he asked me to close the door, and on his computer screen was my Flickr website where I posted all my pictures. Angrily, he told me I had to take it down, that I didn’t own my pictures, that what I was doing was illegal. I told him about Argyle, about the trip, about US Federal Copyright Law, which states whoever takes the picture owns the picture and can sell it. He didn't listen. Instead, he threw stacks of papers in front of me, threatened me with ISS (In-School Suspension), banning me from school activities, games, and from school camera equipment.
In addition, he gave me a concealed threat about asking for any money that I made off the site be returned to the school. He also made reference to reporting me to the IRS. Alone in a room facing him, with him threatening me like this, I’ve never felt so coerced before. In a later meeting with my parents, we were forced to sign an Administrative Directive agreeing to take my website down as to not have In-School-Suspension appear on my record.
My parents and I filed an appeal to the directive, citing Title 17 of US Copyright Law, the Texas Association of School Boards, and even LISD Policy (CY Legal/Local) which states that students own the pictures they take, even when using school equipment and on school assignment. Yet still, the principals of Flower Mound High School refused to listen, insisting that I was working on behalf of the school and that they expected them to be used only for school purposes, and claimed I violated students’ privacy by posting their image, despite the principals themselves posting pictures of the same sporting games I went to, on their social media.
Appeal after appeal, they have refused to listen. They have ruined my efforts to start a career. They have violated my copyright. They have violated my free speech. They have committed Prior Restraint against me. They have misinterpreted and misapplied federal laws and District policies.
I need your help. Now, it is time to stand up. This isn't just about me, or getting my website back up. This is bigger than that. All photographers, musicians, painters, writers, filmmakers- we are all ARTISTS. Our work is our own, and now, more than ever, it is necessary to support one another. Our art is being stolen. Our rights are constantly trampled on, and it is time to say we’ve had enough. I appreciate ANY support you can give. Just sharing this within your social network is a big help. Referring me to ANY lawyers or legal advisers is also appreciated! Flower Mound High School has chosen where they stand. Now, it is time for us. For the rest of history, our names will either be on the side supporting free speech, Title 17, and artists worldwide, or on the side of intimidation and coercion. It’s time for you to make that choice.
Thank you.
#IAmAnthony
@mazur_anthony
I AM Anthony
My name is Anthony Mazur, and I’m a sophomore at Flower Mound High School. At the start of this school year, I joined yearbook class, and quickly fell in love with photography, particularly sports photography. I’d go to every game I could and learn as much as possible. I never knew that one day it might launch a future career into photojournalism and content creation.
My yearbook class asked me to take a trip down to San Antonio, where the Texas Association of Journalism Educators held a conference, inviting schools from all over Texas to listen to speakers, experts, and professionals give advice during classes and seminars about journalism, photography, and design. For the $100 I was asked to pay to go on the trip, I think it was well worth it. In one of the classes I took at the conference, the speakers, a journalism teacher from Argyle and her student now working as an intern for the Dallas Morning News, told us the student began selling his work to media outlets and organizations, and telling us how photographers own the work that we shoot.
At the end of the class, I approached the teacher confused, and asked that because I was using a school camera, and using a school press pass, do I still own my pictures? She replied that I did. From that day on, that student and teacher from Argyle inspired me. I was filled with joy; I realized fully that this may be something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was my passion. So, I started selling my pictures to parents, tried licensing them to news organizations and get internships to learn as much as possible. It felt great to receive such amazing support from parents, players, and friends. I believed I found my place. One day, that all changed…
I was sitting in chemistry class when a blue office slip was delivered to me. A principal wanted to see me. When I entered the principal’s office, he asked me to close the door, and on his computer screen was my Flickr website where I posted all my pictures. Angrily, he told me I had to take it down, that I didn’t own my pictures, that what I was doing was illegal. I told him about Argyle, about the trip, about US Federal Copyright Law, which states whoever takes the picture owns the picture and can sell it. He didn't listen. Instead, he threw stacks of papers in front of me, threatened me with ISS (In-School Suspension), banning me from school activities, games, and from school camera equipment.
In addition, he gave me a concealed threat about asking for any money that I made off the site be returned to the school. He also made reference to reporting me to the IRS. Alone in a room facing him, with him threatening me like this, I’ve never felt so coerced before. In a later meeting with my parents, we were forced to sign an Administrative Directive agreeing to take my website down as to not have In-School-Suspension appear on my record.
My parents and I filed an appeal to the directive, citing Title 17 of US Copyright Law, the Texas Association of School Boards, and even LISD Policy (CY Legal/Local) which states that students own the pictures they take, even when using school equipment and on school assignment. Yet still, the principals of Flower Mound High School refused to listen, insisting that I was working on behalf of the school and that they expected them to be used only for school purposes, and claimed I violated students’ privacy by posting their image, despite the principals themselves posting pictures of the same sporting games I went to, on their social media.
Appeal after appeal, they have refused to listen. They have ruined my efforts to start a career. They have violated my copyright. They have violated my free speech. They have committed Prior Restraint against me. They have misinterpreted and misapplied federal laws and District policies.
I need your help. Now, it is time to stand up. This isn't just about me, or getting my website back up. This is bigger than that. All photographers, musicians, painters, writers, filmmakers- we are all ARTISTS. Our work is our own, and now, more than ever, it is necessary to support one another. Our art is being stolen. Our rights are constantly trampled on, and it is time to say we’ve had enough. I appreciate ANY support you can give. Just sharing this within your social network is a big help. Referring me to ANY lawyers or legal advisers is also appreciated! Flower Mound High School has chosen where they stand. Now, it is time for us. For the rest of history, our names will either be on the side supporting free speech, Title 17, and artists worldwide, or on the side of intimidation and coercion. It’s time for you to make that choice.
Thank you.
#IAmAnthony
@mazur_anthony