As others have tried before, Time Inc. is preemptively taking a stab at protecting an investment — in exclusive photos. The publisher is sending out notices to celeb blogs far and wide that People is the only outfit licensed to publish the first pics of Patrick Dempsey and his newborn twins, which they've purchased exclusively.

Naturally, in this era of celebrity blogs, no photos are safe. And there's no such thing as a respected embargo when 13-year-olds are running the show.

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From: [redacted]@timeinc.com
Date: Feb 28, 2007 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: DMCA Copyright Notice
To: [redacted]

Dear Website Proprietor:

I am an attorney for Time Inc., the corporate publisher of People Magazine. This will put you on notice that Time Inc. has concluded an agreement with a photo agency for exclusive rights to publish photographs of Patrick Dempsey and his family (including his newborn twins) in People Magazine and on People.com. These are the only photographs of Mr. Dempsey and his twins now in existence.

In the past your website has posted photographs which have been licensed exclusively to Time Inc. for publication in People Magazine and on People.com, in violation of Time Inc.'s exclusive rights.

This letter is an official notification under the provisions of Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that the posting of any photographs of Patrick Dempsey and/or any other members of his family with his newborn twins, would infringe Time Inc.'s rights in North America, Australia and New Zealand.

I have a good faith belief that use of such photographs in the manner set forth herein would not be authorized by of Time Inc., its licensing representatives, or the law. The information provided herein is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I hereby swear under penalty of perjury that I am authorized to act on behalf of Time Inc. for matters pertaining to notification of infringement of its exclusive rights in its copyrighted material.

Very truly yours

Nicholas J. Jollymore
Deputy General Counsel
Time Inc.
[redacted]@timeinc.com