Justin Bieber claims he owns the rights to photos of him taken at parties

According to new reports, it seems as though the photo that shows Justin Bieber smoking pot wouldn't have hit the web had Bieber's security done their jobs right.

TMZ reports that, in an attempt to keep Bieber's after hours "hijinks" private, his security typically puts up signs at parties that say all pictures taken during those events belong to Bieber. Apparently no one did that at the recent Newport Beach Hotel room party -- or, if they did, the sign wasn't visible -- because the partygoer who took the now infamous photo of Bieber smoking a joint says he or she "saw nothing."

Bieber has now seemingly apologized to his fans over Twitter in the aftermath of the scandal. "i see all of u. i hear all of u. i never want to let any of you down. i love u. and..thank u. ‪#beliebers‬" he tweeted after the photos of him doing drugs hit the web.