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another copytrack letter

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dave101:
Been reading through the forum, have a similar experience that is still ongoing.

Like a handful of others here, I got a letter from CopyTrack. I'm UK based - I got a few emails and letters from them a few months ago. Seems their automated software picked up an image on my website. In my case, while the image was copyrighted, my use of it would almost certainly fall under 'fair use' according to the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 - I wasn't using the image to "pretty up" a post, rather my blog post was *discussing that particular image* (the image was being spread on the Internet with a fake caption and my post was pointing out that fact.) As such my article and explanation would fall under "in the public interest".

Explained that to Copytrack - they didn't care. Kept sending letters, and now had my first letter from their third party "debt collector" (even though I don't have a debt with Copytrack) in my country, some small outfit called "credit limits international". After reading through the forum, it seems others have had similar experiences and if you just ignore them they go away...

Again, as others have pointed out, CopyTrack and their ilk treat this as a "bad debt" and constantly send invoices from "debt collectors". Misleading and should be against trading laws really! For those interested, apparently Copytrack think my use of 1 image means they can extort around 800 euros from me (since gone up to over 1000 now they've passed it on!)

Any comments, suggestions or advice welcome.

Greg Troy (KeepFighting):
Sounds like you have been reading and educating yourself. If it works the same in the UK as it does here in the States you can tell the debt collector that this is a claim, not a debt and to stop contacting you.  Just to be safe I would remove the image from my blog post and server if you have not done so already.

dave101:
Oh I removed the image after the first Copytrack letter. My article wasn't any longer getting many hits and thought I may as well remove it. Of course Copytrack responded by saying something along the lines of "there has still been an infringement, pay us the big bucks". Doubt I'll respond to the third party "debt collector". I'll let them continue sending their threatening letters (I'm working on the assumption that they'll charge Copytrack for every letter they send.)

I've since learned that Copytrack are going into the crypto-currency business too, which is somewhat hysterical! When it's all over I'll be writing a blog post of my experience, to help try and stop this type of exploitation. If a copyright holder wants to go after someone who's breached their copyright, then fair enough - but these companies that use scare tactics and shout-off excessive "fines" and threaten with "debt collectors" should be make illegal, imho

Matthew Chan:
I also found the Copytrack and the crypto-currency thing to be suspect. As far as I can see, Copytrack seems to go after non-U.S. targets and largely relies on people's legal ignorance. Not much more that I have seen thus far.


--- Quote from: dave101 on February 21, 2018, 10:10:24 AM ---I've since learned that Copytrack are going into the crypto-currency business too, which is somewhat hysterical! When it's all over I'll be writing a blog post of my experience, to help try and stop this type of exploitation. If a copyright holder wants to go after someone who's breached their copyright, then fair enough - but these companies that use scare tactics and shout-off excessive "fines" and threaten with "debt collectors" should be make illegal, imho

--- End quote ---

Funlife:
some weeks ago copytrack send me a letter about an image i use without having licences agreement on my website. but i did not reply as i ignore it. the second letter they send and showed me the higher price to pay the agreement because of my negligence. i directly decide to erase the image from my website to stop them force me paying the debt. i am wondering why copytrack make manifold price in existence?

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