ExtortionLetterInfo Forums

ELI Forums => Getty Images Letter Forum => Topic started by: Hamish on April 15, 2015, 12:04:34 AM

Title: Extortion Letter received from LCS / Picscout
Post by: Hamish on April 15, 2015, 12:04:34 AM
Hello,

I've now received my second letter from License Compliance Services / PicScout on behalf of Aurora Photo (agency) in Seattle. It's the usual blurb and format as discussed in this forum and it is for innocent copyright infringement on my web site. The image was simply found on Google Images - there was no file attached to it with any info of copyright, registration or how to purchase it if I had wanted to.

Anyway - they want $760. I admit to using it and I think the photographer should be compensated. So I'm happy to send $200 - in full knowledge that the photographer probably would see very little, if any, of this.

Anyway - I'm a writer, I've read the forums and advice and I'm not intimidated. I believe I could just write them a letter to let them know that I've educated myself about this and that I'm not a push-over. I'll offer $200. If that doesn't work - then I'd pay for the lawyer's letter from Oscar Michelen - roughly $200.

Any thoughts on this before I take any action?

Thanks,

Hamish
Title: Re: Extortion Letter received from LCS / Picscout
Post by: stinger on April 15, 2015, 08:43:15 AM
Consider ignoring them.  I'll explain why later when I have more time.
Title: Re: Extortion Letter received from LCS / Picscout
Post by: Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi) on April 15, 2015, 09:37:13 AM
They won't care that you educated yourself, they won't care if it was "innocent infringement', they want your money! Picscout can only chase you for the "claim" they don't have the right to sue you on behalf of the photographer, that being said it's generally not a good idea to admit to anything to bolster their case, even though they are not likely to file suit.
Title: Re: Extortion Letter received from LCS / Picscout
Post by: Hamish on April 15, 2015, 12:31:29 PM
Stinger - Thanks for that - I'm probably going to ignore them but look forward to your further input.
Robert Krausankas - Thanks also - yes, I know from the reading on ELI that they're just in it for the money etc. I certainly haven't admitted to anything, nor would I. The only reason I mentioned 'innocent infringement' is because that's exactly what it is - if an image carries with it no identification or ways to purchase it (Aurora Photos info or the photographer info are not attached to the image) then how can one be expected to purchase a license or otherwise pay for it and avoid innocent infringement? There must be millions of images on the www where nobody cares about copyright / payment etc. - and this could easily have been one of them.

 
Title: Re: Extortion Letter received from LCS / Picscout
Post by: stinger on April 15, 2015, 04:27:27 PM
My reasons why you may want to ignore it:

Title: Re: Extortion Letter received from LCS / Picscout
Post by: Hamish on April 19, 2015, 01:04:34 PM
So sorry I didn't get to this earlier. Thank you for this detailed account of why you think I should ignore them. It was certainly on my list of options - but this has tipped the scale for me - most of all because it just makes sense. I'll ignore the letters (3 now) and see where it goes - reporting back here when anything useful comes up for me to share - even if it takes months.

Thanks again.