A Native artist who videotaped a ceremony of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of California has been found liable by a federal court.

Lorenzo Baca, who is Pueblo and Apache, said tribal elder Brown Tadd gave him permission to tape the ceremony. He later produced and disseminated a CD and a video. Tadd has since passed away.

But the tribe said it didn't authorize the production and sued in federal court. A judge agreed that Baca violated copyright and bootlegging laws and ordered him to turn over the materials to the tribe.

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Tribe successfully sues man for recording sacred ceremony (The Native American Times 3/3)