KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas, is disputing the use of its footage in a political ad for Dan Branch, who is running for Attorney General of Texas. The NBC legal department has sent a letter to the campaign requesting to stop the ad, which “features extensive use of a copyrighted KXAS report and includes the voice and likeness KXAS anchor Bianca Castro,” from airing:
In fact, with the exception of two seconds of music at the beginning, the entire audio track of the commercial consists of the KXAS report. This use has been made without permission of KXAS or Ms. Castro, and the manner in which this material is used and the extent of the material taken inaccurately suggests that KXAS and Ms. Castro have consented to its use an agree with the position espoused by the commercial. Aside from the copyright issues, this is use of the voice of Ms. Castro and the KXAS logo exploits her and the journalistic credibility of KXAS.
KXAS objects to any use of its journalists and our copyrighted material that suggests to the public that we or our journalists are taking sides with any individual or organization involved in a political campaign or dispute, and we request that your organization respect that concern. Accordingly, we request that you immediately cease any further dissemination of the commercial consisting almost entirely of the KXAS report.
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