GREY2K CROSSES ETHICAL LINE BY STEALING NGA MEMBER PHOTOS

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Most people in the racing and adoption community have become accustomed to watching Grey2K USA lie, distort and deceive the public about greyhound racing. Even so, Carey Theil’s December 26 blog about “the video greyhound breeders don’t want you to see” has many scratching their heads.

The reason? The “secret” photos Theil hypes so dramatically in his latest fundraising video have been available online for months—courtesy of at least two NGA members, who liked the pictures so much they posted them for public viewing.

“Our members posted these photos to their own websites some time ago, so the public could see how well greyhounds are cared for at every stage of their lives,” said NGA Executive Director Gary Guccione. “They were meant to be seen, for sure, but not to be stolen and misused by Grey2K for its own financial benefit. Once again, this ethically-challenged organization has crossed the line.”

 
Former greyhound breeder Wendy Brotherton and retired communications professor Ray Wong, who now races greyhounds, were two whose photos were used without notice or permission by Grey2K. The photos were woven into a typical “tear-jerk” fundraising video, accompanied by dark, brooding piano music and grim black title slides to convey a negative impression—even though the pictures themselves show well-treated, content greyhounds in a variety of settings.
 
“The only thing missing is the mournful vocals of Sarah McLachlan,” said Guccione, referring to a frequently aired fundraising commercial for Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
 
Brotherton and Wong lodged protests when Grey2K posted the fundraising video, complete with stolen photos, on YouTube. However, YouTube rules provide little recourse for anyone whose material has been misused after being posted on the site. Federal courts are still deciding how to apply traditional copyright protections to online material.
 
Grey2K went to extreme lengths to defend its theft of material against Brotherton’s challenge. Grey2K founder and attorney Christine Dorchak, who is married to the group’s co-founder, Carey Theil, sent YouTube a lengthy legal memorandum explaining all the reasons why Grey2K believes it has the right to use any material posted on the internet without permission, in part because the use is “non-commercial.” She omitted to mention that the material was used for fundraising purposes, which arguably could be considered commercial.
 
Although it is not yet clear whether any laws were violated by the unauthorized use, Guccione said Grey2K’s actions were clearly unethical—but typical. “We’re disappointed but not surprised,” said Guccione. “We expect this kind of thing from Grey2K. Apparently they’ve decided that telling the truth and treating others with respect just doesn’t raise enough money.”