Journal Threatens Legal Action Over Inadequately Cropped Image

A Physiotherapy Practitioner based no fewer than 12,000km away from the Stalinesque gold plated and jewel encrusted gates of the Journal of Sports Physio Treatments (JOSPT) headquarters has been served with a request to remove a “negatively cropped image” from a social media page, or risk litigation in relation to copyright infringement. A spokesperson for a JOSPT advocacy group, Professor Finny Binn-Thinskin provided context for the brewing legal battle to our reporter.

“It all started when the Journal published a new paper in late 2021 that was widely shared across several social media channels. It’s always great to see the global Physiotherapy community engaging and discussing recently published works. But in this case, the tone of the commentary regarding the published paper’s content from one individual in particular, was unmistakably negative, which of course, renders it unprofessional, thereby constituting a blatant breach of copyright law. And I must say I agree with the Journal’s position”.

According to Professor Binn-Thinskin, the key propositions with respect to the relevant section of copyright law are unambiguous.

“Firstly, we must consider the nature of any commentary attached to the copied material. Is any commentary attached to the reproduced material disparaging or critical in nature? All commentary should be “professional” explained Professor Binn-Thinskin, “If it’s not, then it’s a copyright infringement. I’m sure you’d agree that is a straightforward proposition. Secondly, are any reproduced images from the original document appropriately cropped inline with unpublished and unknowable cropping guidelines to serve an unstated purpose? If not, then, well, do I need to state the obvious… it’s copyright infringement.”