The Getty Images Settlement Demand Letter

Information Website

The Getty Clones

Last updated: 1/20/2010

It appears that Getty's competitors (to whom we refer to as the "Getty Clones") are now getting into the action first began by Getty Images.

MasterFile

MasterFile appears to have made their own Demand Letter Campaign debut in 2007. They have borrowed many elements from the Getty Images Settlement Demand Letter campaign. One thing that is especially notable is that they appear to be putting the pressure on ISPs.

If you can believe this, MasterFile is even more heavier handed than Getty Images. Attorney Oscar Michelen and I are monitoring their movements and will report them as we get new information.

We have obtained copies of the Masterfile Demand Letters. They have been anonymized at the contributor's request.

Federal Court Case Precedent Set by Masterfile Lawsuit

At long last, there is a representative case that has supported most of the arguments and points our website has argued. In the recent case, Masterfile Corporation v. Country Cycling & Hiking Tours By Brooks, Inc. Case #: 1:2006cv06363 (August 22, 2006 to February 22, 2008), Masterfile won the case but they did not get anything near what they argued for. On September 18, 2009, Attorney Oscar Michelen wrote a detailed analysis and overview of the case, the findings, and the final ruling. This is mandatory reading for anyone looking to defend themselves against Getty Images, Masterfile, or any other stock photo company!

Jupiter Images

According to a Getty press release, Getty Images acquired Jupiter Images in late 2008. It appears Jupiter Images is adopting (or has adopted) a similar extortion letter campaign as its parent company.

A letter recipient from Jupiter Images has graciously provided a sample of the Jupiter Images Settlement Demand Letter here. I have whited out identifying information to protect the letter recipient's identity.

Statement - Pg. 1 | Report Data - Pg 2 |

Email Text of Jupiter Images Settlement Demand Letter

From: Jack Gregg [mailto:jgregg@jupiterimages.com]
Sent: XXXXday, XXXXXXber XX, 2008 XX:XX PM
To: XXXX@XXXX.com
Subject: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Notice of Copyright Infringement

Jupiterimages Corporation (“Jupiterimages”) is a worldwide image resource offering, among other things, licensing of stock photography collections (the “Content”). The Content is subject to all applicable federal and international copyright protection. Jupiterimages treats copyright infringement as a serious matter. It has recently come to our attention that XXXXXXXXX Website, XXXXXXXXXXXX, directly reproduces, adapts, displays, and/or distributes what we believe to be an unauthorized version of the Jupiterimages’ Image No. 230XXXXX (hereinafter, the “Image(s)”). Please refer to the attached for further clarification.

Jupiterimages has searched through its licensing history for the Image in question and has found no record of a license for the usage of the Image. We are writing to offer you a retroactive license that would ensure your past usage is properly licensed and in compliance with all applicable copyright laws. Please note that payment is still required regardless of owner’s intent and/or if images are removed from website before or after receiving this notice. For more information regarding unauthorized use of images, please go to the following page.
http://www.stockphotography.com/
faq/ImagePiracy/

In order to discuss a retroactive license and payment, please contact the undersigned by no later than 4 PM EST, XXXXXXXXber XX, 2008. To expedite the process, I’ve attached a Statement of Account PDF to this email. Contacting the undersigned by the specified time is necessary in order to resolve this matter prior to Jupiterimages’ pursuit of further action.

We look forward to hearing from you regarding our offer of a license.

Please note that nothing in this notice should be construed as a waiver by Jupiterimages of any rights, remedies or protections under law. Jupiterimages reserves all rights and remedies.

Sincerely,

Mr. Jack Gregg
Research and Compliance Coordinator
Jupiterimages Corporation
244 Sheffield St.
Mountainside, NJ 07092
Phone: 908-518-6282
Fax: 908-233-6620
Email: jgregg@jupiterimages.com

Note: Jupiterimages asserts: that the foregoing information is accurate to the best of its knowledge; that Jupiterimages is either the copyright owner of the referenced material or authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner; that Jupiterimages believes in good faith that use of the referenced Content in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner or its agent or the law.

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George P. Riddick III of Imageline Inc.

Of all the Getty Clones, to date, there has been nothing more outrageous than what has been brought to my and Oscar Michelen's attention than the questionable practices and threats of George P. Riddick III of Imageline Inc. based in Ashland, Virginia.

Mr. Riddick has single-handedly and outrageously trumped the actions of Getty Images, Masterfile, and Jupiter Images combined! The utter lack of professionalism and distorted views from Mr. Riddick was so disturbing that I felt I needed to report and assist in this situation.

Unlike Getty Images, MasterFile, and Jupiter Images, ImageLine appears to be primarily a one-man operation. In fact, in all correspondence that has been forwarded to us, Mr. Riddick routinely initiates, responds, and follows up on all email correspondence. He signs many of his communication as Chairman/CEO.

Due to ever-growing content, a brand new Information Page has been created to cover the Riddick/Imageline Demand Letters.

More Letters from George Riddick of Imageline Inc.

Due to the large amount of space required to reproduce Mr. Riddick's letters, an entirely new Riddick/Imageline Letters Page has been set up for this purpose.