By: Matthew Barakat, Associated Press
MCLEAN, VA. (AP).- A prominent courtroom sketch artist has sued The Associated Press and stock photo agency Getty Images, alleging they violated her copyright protections by reselling her work. Patricia Lopez of Ohkay Owingeh, N.M., north of Santa Fe, filed the lawsuit back in April in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. On Wednesday her lawyer filed court papers indicating settlement discussions are ongoing. Lopez has provided sketches at some of the nation’s biggest courtroom battles, including the Fort Hood shootings and the Enron and Oklahoma City bombing trials. Her lawyer, H. Jay Spiegel, said Lopez was typically paid $300 to $500 for her sketches but retained the copyright. AP and Getty allegedly violated the copyright by reselling her work to the public, at prices up to $12,000 for a one-month license, according to the lawsuit. “She just wants to be compensated when her wo