Complaint with BBB

[bulldog1028]

After filing complaint with the Washington BBB, and going back and forth, Getty has issued their final reply after my reply, one similar to Greg Troy's:

We have received the above Complainant's response to our previous letter summarizing Getty Image's claim for copyright infringement.  Without reiterating our previous points (Ed's Note: Standard Boilerplate Response) we note the Complainant has not addressed the legal issue of having displayed our imagery without authorization.  We have provided screenshots and links showing proof of infringement.  Should the BBB require any additional information about this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I am thinking my final response will be along the lines of:

I'm confused - and have acted in good faith throughout.  But Getty says: "our imagery" which implies ownership.  Which I have requested proof of - and they continue to decline or ignore.  If they won't prove this, please honor my request for them to cease communication.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

not to mention that a screen shot is hardly "proof"...that only proves that the image "appeared" on your site..it does not prove that it was hosted there and was not linked from an outside source, which would NOT constitute copyright infringement..

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

I remember in one of the letters Getty sent me they told me to log on to their website and view the image and that is all the proof I need. 

The image in question was still displayed on the webpage where I got it at the time of this letter and still appeared to belong to the owner of that webpage(had put his name on the picture and given the picture a title too). I told Getty something like if seeing an image on a website is proof then I will take a picture of your building and place it on my website.  I will send you a bill for rent due and if you question that my claim that I own your building is valid please go to my website and look at the picture of your building there and that is all the proof you will need.  

[stinger]

BBB is not going to make Getty stop communication, but keeping a complaint open on file with them will hurt their business some.

[Oscar Michelen]

It's also good to have another avenue to express dissatisfaction at Getty's business methods.  I am not surprised they came back with the "I hear no defense to infringement" argument. They have hummed that same song since we started ELI and they claim that we "support infringement." Its a nice way to distract from the extortionate methods they employ to enforce their rights ( if they have the rights).