While we've already poured over the debut issue of Hachette Filipacchi's Shock magazine, we're revisiting the ode to the gratuitous and obscene today for two reasons. First, Shock hits newsstands today, which means your average subway rider just got the visual payoff that Page Six provides with words. And second, because the debut issue of Shock could very well be its downfall, thanks to the copyright-infringing coverphoto they chose.

The photo of an American soldier in Iraq rescuing a little girl belongs to lensman, author, and SpecOp Michael Yon (seen here). From what we understand, Hachette never asked or received permission to use the photo. In fact, Yon explicitly states on his website:

Countless people have asked for reprints, but I wanted to give the matter some thought. I did not want to diminish the symbolism of this photograph, and the American soldiers who risked their lives to save this little girl.

Certainly they can reach some sort of amicable agreement to settle this little copyright matter. Or Yon can drag this into court and provide months of HFM entertainment now that our ELLEgirl amusement has retreated. Guess which we'd prefer?

When you steal from a MilBlogger [BlackFive]
Strength and Compassion [Michael Yon Gallery]
Earlier: We Managed to be Somewhat Shocked by Shock Magazine