Internet Thanksgiving Night Piracy
Stealing of Intellectual Property By Trapshooting HOF

The Trapshooting HOF continues to use intellectual property and photographs that are the property of Richard Hamilton, former HOF web master. The stealing of this property by a national Hall of Fame is unprecedented and unheard of and reflects on the current dismal and arrogant leadership of the Trapshooting Hall of Fame. 

There was a simpler time when stealing someone’s physical items was clear cut. Intellectual property, the things created by your mind and heart, seem somehow even more precious.

Over the years I have accumulated an extensive trapshooting research library of hundreds of books, magazines, every issue of Sportsmen's Review and Trap and Field plus two complete sets of Average Books plus rare photographs and large amounts of trapshooting artifacts. My intellectual property is something I have researched, debated with other researchers, researched some more, written or recorded many times and then edited, edited, edited. Only when it’s done and to my self made high standards, do I put out the product, in this case, loaned the product to the HOF web page. The current web site has pirated countless days, hours, weeks, and years of my personal efforts and photographs. One particular item, the history of shot towers, took me over 10 years to research and put together. Photographs like the final hours at Vandalia and the final shot are my personal photographs. All American listings from 1927 required years of research yet the HOF continues to use it as their work. There are many, many other examples. 

The principle of any kind of intellectual property is that the owner may use it as he wishes and that nobody can lawfully use it without his authorization. 

So when the HOF steals it to pass off as their own work, it’s more than just stealing. They have stolen my intellectual creations. They did all that damage, caused all that hurt, simply because they wanted to make a quick impression that my work is their work. I will be forced to sue the HOF for damages. They have left me no choice.