If All You Have Is a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail. By Paul Melcher

Supreme court justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor, it was just revealed yesterday, was one of three judges who handled the Chris Usher vs. Corbis (owned by Bill Gates). It should be noted that if she is appointed, which she probably will, photographers and photography will undoubtedly be mistreated if any case bubble up to the Supreme Court. By Paul Melcher

A Corbis lawyer said, “Why would photographers be immune from the laws of economics?” he said. “If I had a 20-year-old business selling nails, and you were interested in buying my nail business, would you not look at how it performed? Would you not look at the gross revenue over 20 years and at the net and what the competition is, in order to fix a price? Why would photographers think they’re immune from these things? It’s a commodity.”

Chris Usher's web site here.