Rochdale High Street Foundation vice chairman in copyright controversy

Photo: Journeaux

Greg Couzens

Greg Couzens, Rochdale town centre hairdresser, and vice chairman of Rochdale High Street Foundation, has been taken to task for breach of copyright after using a photograph of Marks & Spencer in Rochdale belonging to the Local Data Company (LDC) of Hammersmith London without their permission.

Managing Director of LDC, Matthew Hopkinson, said: "LDC spends a significant sum of money each month collecting and updating over 550,000 premises up and down the country.

"Our data and technology is copyrighted and therefore anyone who uses LDC imagery or data without permission is in breach of copyright law for which LDC is entitled to pursue for damages."

Mr Couzens posted the photo on a group he started on Facebook.

A member of the group, John Butterworth, asked Mr Couzens if he had the permission of the copyright holder to use the photo - Mr Couzens didn't.

Though Mr Couzens removed the photo when challenged, he attempted to defend his actions by saying he wasn't using the photo for profit. However, copyright law makes no distinction between use for profit or non-profit, with very few exceptions, a photo may not be used without the permission of the copyright holder.

Mr Couzens suspended Mr Butterworth from the group and accused him of nit-picking over copyright.

Mr Butterworth said: "Mr Couzens is a former councillor, a prominent businessman in the town and vice chairman of the High Street Foundation, he should know better than to use a photo for his own purposes without the permission of the copyright owner.

"It is somewhat ironic that a 'mission statement' on Mr Couzen's Facebook group says it was set up to hold 'elected members [councillors] to account' and yet when he is held to account he seeks to try and justify the unjustifiable and suspends me from the group."

Mr Butterworth also revealed that Mr Couzens has previously sent private messages to him threatening him with legal action for defamation because Mr Butterworth accused him of spin. Mr Butterworth said: "I have since taken advice and for Mr Couzens to be threatening legal action for my opinion was laughed at."

Mr Couzens has been invited to comment but no comment has been forthcoming.