Doctored Kerry photo brings anger, threat of suit

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Doctored Kerry photo brings anger, threat of suit

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer


The photographer who snapped John Kerry attending a 1971 anti-war
rally says he and his photo agency intend to track down -- and
possibly sue -- whoever doctored and circulated a photo that made it
appear that the then 27-year-old Vietnam veteran was appearing
alongside actress Jane Fonda.

Ken Light, now a UC Berkeley professor of journalism ethics, says he
photographed Kerry at an anti-war rally in Mineola, N.Y., on June 13,
1971.

The decorated Vietnam veteran was preparing to give a speech at the
rally -- but Fonda was never at the event.

Light's photo gained prominence when someone took it and merged the
shot of the now Democratic presidential front-runner with another
separate photo of Fonda -- one taken by photographer Owen Franken as
the actress spoke to a 1972 rally in Miami Beach, Fla.

The fabricated Kerry-Fonda photo was circulated with an identifying
logo of the Associated Press and became the subject of talk show
fodder after it was placed on many Web sites as evidence of Kerry's
"anti-American" activities after his war service.

Light said this week that the use -- and misuse -- of his copyrighted
photo might result in legal action.

"(We're) doing everything possible to track down who it was and bring
them to justice,'' said Light, who said the Associated Press also
intended to examine the issue of who would use the agency's copyright
for fraudulent purposes.

A spokesman for Light's photo agency, Corbis, said its photographers'
work and copyrights are treated seriously.

The agency will "investigate this matter and take appropriate action
as necessary,'' the spokesman said.
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