JAMESBOPP,JR.I
Borr, Cor-nsoN & Bosrnorr ATTORNEYSATLAW
Senior lssociales Rrcrr,^,RD E. COLESoNI BARRYA. BOSTROMI RANDYELF2 JEI-FREY P. GALLANTJ ANITA Y. WOUDENBERGI JoslAH S. NEELEY4 CLAYTONJ. CALLEN5 JoSIPHE.LA RUE6 SARAHL. IROUPIS' I(AYLANL. PlxLLIPso JosEPrrA. VANDERHULST' ScoTT F. BIENEK,
THOMAS J, MAMEN (1946-2007)
(nota paftnership) E.MAIL ADDRESSES
TFIENATIONAL BUILDING I SouthSixthStreet TERREHAUTE,INDIANA47807-3510 Telephone 812/232-2434Facsimile812/235-3685
radmitted in lDd. 'adrniued inhlYandPenn.
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
May l, 2009 in olt. "rdrnilred 'rdrnilted in Ill.
ToddRubenstein Morris Yorn Barnes& Levine Third Floor,North Tower 2000Avenueof the Stars CA 90067 LosAngeles,
Re: Our client, National Organizationfor Marriage, Inc., and your client, Mario Lavandeira a,/k/a PerezHilton
DearMr. Rubenstein: This law firm representsthe National Organizationfor Marriage, Inc. Q'JOM),a nonstock Virginia corporation. This is our responseto your ceaseand desistletter datedApril 30, 2009,sentby email. No permissionwas required and no permissionwas soughtfrom Mr. Lavandeirafor use of the approximatelythree secondclip ofthe video he postedon the Internetofhis unjustified and unprofessionaldiatribe againstand personalattackon Carrie Prejean,Miss California, for her responseto his questionat the Miss USA Competition,April 19, 2009. NOM's use of this threesecondvideo clip is protectedby l7 U.S.C.$ 107for the purposeof criticism,comment, news reporling, and educationas it relatesdirectly to NOM's exemptpurpose. NOM's use is not a commercialuse,but as an issueadvocacyadvertisementit is protectedby the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the fair use doctrine of the Copydght Act. The fair use doctrine under federalcopyright law haseven wider applicationwhen use relatesto issuesofpublic concernand/orpolitical use,e.g.,same-sexmarriage. SeeNational Rijc Associarionof Antcricav. HundgunConrrolFederationof Ohio. l5 F.3d 55q (6'hCir. 1994); andHustler Magazine v. Moral Maiority,796 F .2f 1148 (9thCir. 1986).
ToddRubenstein May 1,2009 Page2 theNationalOrganization For the abovereasons, for Marriagerejectsyour demandthat it its lawful televisionadverlisements ceaseanddesistfrornbroadcasting or postingthe ad on the Intemet.Further,it is ironicthatyourclientis claimingcoplrightprotectionfor useof this clip, whenhis own website,a commercialventure,containshundredsof imagesandclips ofcelebritiesandothers,mostlikely withoutobtainingpermission. shouldbe directedto me. Thark you. Any furthercommunications Sincerelv. Boer, ColrsoN & BosrRoM
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BarryA. Bostrom