A publicist representing the man who captured Walter Scott’s fatal shooting has put a $10,000 price tag on the footage, reports the New York Times. Markson Sparks, an Australia-based publicity and management company sent out cease and desist letters to media outlets around the world this week, announcing the new fee to run the video.
Feiden Santana recorded as an unarmed Scott was gunned down by South Carolina police officer Michael T. Slager. He later turned the footage over to Scott’s family, which led to Slager’s arrest for murder earlier in the month.
Santana says he was not fully aware that Markson Sparks was charging for the video, but recalled a conversation about it with his lawyer, Todd Rutherford. The video has been viewed more than a million times, and while initially accessible via the “fair use” clause, that time period has since passed. The media is now in “search for revenue,” Rutherford said, arguing that Santana deserves payment for footage that outlets are financially benefiting from.
“I think that the people who might be put off by this are the media outlets that had it for free. Now they will have to pay.” added Markson Sparks CEO, Max Markson.
Though Markson isn't offering a flat rate, an anonymous source confirmed that media outlets are being charged a one-time $10,000 fee.