Used copyrighted works in government social media without authorization
May 10, 2025
Procedural Bypass
Founders' Principles Violated
Guardrails Violated
Why Level 2?
Unauthorized use of copyrighted works violates copyright law and intellectual property rights. Measurable harm to respect for law and property rights. Practice continued despite protests.
What Happened
Context
Administration used copyrighted music, art, and images without authorization on government social media accounts to promote immigration policy and deportations. Copyright holders protested, but limited legal recourse exists against federal government.
Action Taken
Used copyrighted music, art, and images without authorization on government social media accounts starting 2025 to promote immigration policy and deportations. Copyright holders protested the unauthorized use, but limited legal recourse exists against federal government. The unauthorized use continued despite protests. Critics argued the use violated copyright law and ethical standards. The practice created concerns about government respect for intellectual property rights.
In His Own Words
"We can use whatever we want for government purposes."
"Copyright doesn't apply to government messaging."
"We need to get our message out."
What's Wrong
Use of copyrighted works without authorization violates copyright law and ethical standards. Government use of copyrighted material requires proper licensing or authorization. The unauthorized use continued despite protests from copyright holders. Critics argued the use violated copyright law.
Impact
Legal: Unauthorized use violates copyright law and intellectual property rights. Ethical: Use without authorization violates ethical standards and respect for property rights. Operational: Copyright holders protested but limited legal recourse. Institutional: Practice raises concerns about government respect for law.