The Knesset today turned to the Flash 90 photography agency through a law firm specializing in intellectual property, demanding monetary compensation in the amount of NIS 5 million. The claim is that Flash 90 published hundreds of photographs over the years by the Knesset photographer, whose copyright belongs exclusively to the Knesset.
Flash 90 also allegedly listed those photographs offered for sale in its database as the rights belonging exclusively to them.
Flash 90's alleged copyright infringement was revealed following many requests to MKs in which the photo agency claimed Knesset members used photos from the Flash 90's database in their Facebook pages, allegedly infringing Flash 90's copyright, leading to an investigation into the matter.
Following a letter the Knesset sent Flash 90 in the past, most Knesset photographs were removed from Flash 90's database, but there remained dozens of photographs whose copyright belongs exclusively to the Knesset. Therefore, apart from the demand for financial compensation, the Knesset demands that Flash 90 immediately remove from its database all Knesset photographs within 48 hours and undertake not to make future commercial use of any Knesset photograph.
Insofar as Flash 90 does not act in accordance with the Knesset's requirements, the Knesset intends to exhaust all means available to it by law, including filing a claim against Flash 90.