Surf Photo Copyright Scandle Swells

Avid readers of the Old Farts Surf Co. blog may be aware of our quiet little web site.  Fairly innocuous you might think, however, recently it has become embroiled in a copyright controversy that is set rock the electronic media universe.  The controversy surrounds a couple of photos used on the site including the following photo which appears on the home page:

(One of the controversial photos)

The drama unfolded when the Old Farts Surf Co. Head Honcho, The Mexican, received the following facebook message from Wild Hog, the founder of the famous facebook page Talking Surfing History in Tasmania  (aka Talking S.H.i.T.):

 Hi Mex,
I was just alerted to the fact that you are using some photos from our facebook history site on your website.  It would appear they have simply been lifted off our facebook site due to the pixilation of them.  I'd appreciate if you'd do the right thing and remove them, unless you got approval from Briels for the use of his photos on a commercial site.  Maybe you're just mucking around with them on your web site as I can see its not finished yet.
Whilst we are flattered that you have chosen to go down the history path using local photos from our site, I would have thought a point of difference might have been the way to go.
Cheers Mate.
Wild Hog

Taking Umbrage at these farcical allegations the Mex responded:
Hog, Rocky gave me those photos a few years ago and I was unaware there was any sensitivity around them.  Having said that I specifically asked the guy who set up the site (as a favour) to replace them with some of my own about 18 months ago but unfortunately he has gone AWOL along with the info on how to access and edit the site.  I certainly didn't lift them from your site and I had them posted before they appeared on it, and in some other publications.  My site hasn't changed for about 2 years because I haven't the expertise to deal with it.  I haven't been pushing my site because it was never really complete to my satisfaction.  I will have another crack at changing it.  There is a photo of Rockhead I cut out of one of the photos that is posted on the blog on 1 June 2009.  Rest assured that I would not copy photos from your S.H.i.T site without asking or if I received them from another source.
Cheers,
Mex.
PS - it is a great honour to have my site called "commercial", I prefer to think of it as an expression of the altruistic element in my personality.

(A young Rockhead and beer)

Hi Mex, Thanks for the update. Rock filled me in last night on how you got the pictures. Really sorry for jumping to conclusions on how you got them. The photos aren't Rocks to give actually, they are John Brierleys photos, so he's the guy you possibly should talk to if you decide to go further with your site.
cheers mate
Wild Hog

 

No worries, gives me some fodder for the blog. I hope you won't mind if I didn't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Cheers,
 Mex

Hog, FYI, the guy who did my web site apparently turned himself in for topping his mother in Launceston a few days ago. Could be a while before I get access!

Oh S*#$!!! Not good to hear. Was she ill and it was a helped suicide, or simply a rush of blood do you reckon.

Hog

Of course the Old Farts Surf Co. has its own original photos such as the classic below that appeared on the back page of the 2012 Old Farts Surf Co. Calendar:

(Rouge, Graham, Maurice and Agent 66 at Southport 1975)

Please leave comments below.

Click here for a previous surf photo controversy.

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Moose's Super Mum in Hawaii

The Oldfartsurfer has to state here and now that THIS IS NOT A SUP BLOG.  Just because we've published two blogs in a row featuring oldfartsurfers riding SUPs along with previous features of Oldfartsurfer No. 6, Spot, and the Oldfartsurfer No. 4, Mex, riding SUPs, doesn't mean that we have departed from our fundamental value of STAYING STOKED on surfing.  However, staying stoked sometimes involves all manner of oldfartsurfcraft and this time we are honoring Oldfartsurfer No. 33, Moose's Mum (MM), aka Supermum, or Superb Susan.

(Moose's Mum paddles out)

Having toured Australia a couple of years ago and learnt to surf under the tutelage of Spot on an east coast oldfartsurfsurfari, MM has pursued a range of endeavours including marathon running in a quest to get stoked surfing.  She recently undertook an expeditionary oldfartsurfsurfari to the home of modern surf stoke, Hawaii, in order to hone her oldfartsurfing skills.  "I'm planning to take on Sunset and Pipe next year" said the supermum.  "After that I plan to paddle into Jaws".

(Moose's Mum paddles in)

MM is planning to prepare for these feats by competing in the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon.  "'The fitter you are the more stoked you can be' is my motto" said the supermum, "staying stoked is all about wave count and wave size". Her theory is that the fitter she is, the more big waves she can catch, and we can't argue with that logic.  Old fart Surf Co. Head Honcho, the Mex, said "MM is an inspiration to oldfartsurfers around the world, its never too late to start surfing and getting stoked"

Please lease comments below.

Click here for  previous related article.

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