The New York Times reports that an Australian publicist representing the bystander who filmed North Charleston police officer Michael Slager kill Walter Scott earlier this month recently sent cease and desist letters to news outlets demanding a fee for future plays.

According to the Times, the man who shot the video—Feidin Santana—was somewhat surprised to hear about the announcement, telling a reporter that his lawyer had mentioned something about it that he hadn't understood.

“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,” the publicist reportedly explained.

Although the video qualified as fair use when the news initially broke, a legal analyst tells the Times enough time has passed to warrant the fee—reportedly $10,000 for most news outlets.

Contact the author at gabrielle@gawker.com.