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Date Posted: 15:08:17 01/24/08 Thu
Author: JMR
Subject: Brazilian Magazine Translated


http://www.parkear.com/Newspapers/metropolitan/01/index.php?direct_page=

FRAMINGHAM

A local opponent of illegal immigration said his civil rights were violated after his public access television show was pulled off the air by the town's cable station last week."This is an abuse of power," said Jim Rizoli, who leads a local anti-illegal immigration group and hosts a weekly TV show that targets illegal immigrants.He said his show was cut short last Thursday and replaced mid-broadcast with another program because it included 20 minutes of footage shot by the town's government cable channel. He said the town's director of media services, Ron Rego, told Rizoli that footage was the town's copyrighted material and could not be used for his own show.Rizoli said Rego doesn't control the copyright on town video footage, and questioned how Rego could block its broadcast. "Does Ron Rego own that material for the town? That's the crux of the question," said Rizoli.
But Stephen Innis, the station's executive director, said Rizoli's use of town footage, with new graphics and commentary added by Rizoli, could confuse viewers that they were watching the government cable channel instead of the public access channel.
"Basically, the deception of the viewer, that's what we're looking at right now," said Innis, who noted the station never received a complaint about the Rizoli show using copyrighted content.
The footage, shot by the town's government channel, was from a June meeting of town officials and the local Brazilian community. Rizoli said he used the footage for about six months, and added new graphics and commentary to the segment. Rizoli said he has removed the footage from future broadcasts.
Rego, when reached by phone, would not comment on the matter.
"I believe that everything was done appropriately," he said.Rizoli said Rego overstepped his bounds as a board member and should resign over the incident.
In a follow-up e-mail to the Daily News, Rizoli said he is planning to bring the case to the attorney general's office and will call the American Civil Liberties Union.
Innis said the matter is being reviewed by the access channel's attorney, and that review could include whether any copyrights were broken. He said show creators have to sign a contract that forbids airing copyrighted material on the public access channel.
Rizoli's future shows are still scheduled for broadcast, said Innis.
A recent episode of Rizoli's weekly hourlong program, which airs locally Thursday nights, featured Rizoli standing in front of a flapping U.S. flag while reading and commenting on stories from the Daily News. Segments include a so-called "illegalologist" named Curt Shakewell - an actor wearing a set of Groucho Marx glasses, mustache and a wide, black wig - who cracks jokes about Brazilians and illegal immigrants.
But the whole matter may be academic: Last Thursday, the entire program - including the town's footage - was aired a second time, said Rizoli.
"If they were that upset about it, why did they let it play (a second time)?"' asked Rizoli.

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