Question About Finding the True Owner of an Image

[JLorimer]

As part of my learning process, I have taken a semi-random image from a certain source.  (Note, I'm specifically being a little vague just for safety and anonymity).  I'm attempting to locate the original source for the image.  In a search I have found what appear to be multiple sources claiming ownership of the same image.  I'm wondering if there is any connection between these entities or how one might find the true owner of an image.  The image I am using has the following claims to ownership:

Clint Brewer, Splash News
Pedro Andrade/ KVS, Pacific Coast News
Corbis
BWP Media

What I'm wondering is, are there connections to any of these?  For example, I have seen that BWP often represents PCN - but are they the same?  Can BWP claim ownership of PCN images?  Is Splash News related to PCN or BWP?  Can Clint Brewer and Pedro Andrade both rightfully claim copyright to the image in question?  This information is gleaned from websites, photo credits, and the image metadata itself.  Some people here seem quite knowledgeable about these sorts of connections.  I did some searching here and on google and I am still confused.

[JLorimer]

After several hours and a lot more digging, I think I answered my own question.  It seems that extremely similar images, but not exact, from the same set are registered to both Clint Brewer/Splash News and PCN.  How the set is split is a mystery to me but that seems to be the case.

[Moe Hacken]

It may be that the photographers shot virtually the same image at a public event, and of course each photographer owns the copyright for their work even if it's almost a perfect match.

As an example, consider the camera pits in a baseball game, usually located near first and third base. There's always a bunch of photographers shooting the same events from virtually the same angle. They usually shoot hundreds of pictures each game, and baseball being how it is, you'll end up with the same "money shots" from the game's highlights shot by a dozen different people, all working for different entities.

One of those entities, by the way, is Getty Images. They appear to have some kind of corporate partnership with Major League Baseball so many of the MLB images you see on the mainstream media are attributed both to the photographer and to Getty Images.

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and copyright trolls.

[Peeved]

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and copyright trolls.

Gotta love American traditions!
 

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

well look who just appeared from a long absense!! where you been hiding Moe, under a bridge? ( kidding)

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Good to see you back Moe! 

[Oscar Michelen]

Gotta go to Moe!