Hello everyone. I just found this forum and am glad I did. Five years ago I designed a website for my consulting firm, (very small business as in me, myself and I), using Net Fusion Objects 8. I bought this at a discount from Earthlink as their way of thanking me for using Earthlink to host my site. With the exception of personally taken photos, all graphics and images were part of one of the templates provided by the Net Fusion Objects software. There was no indication that any of these images were copyrighted. Now all of a sudden Getty claims a couple of the template photos are their property and want $2500. Naturally they did not say just when they bought the images, so I would not be surprised if this was done after Net Fusion Objects 8 was released or after my website went live in 2008. That or the designers of the Net Fusion Objects were either deliberately or inadvertently lax about not including copyrighted material.
So instead of going after Net Fusion Objects, or even Earthlink, Getty apparently thinks my tiny business is an easier target. I have not contacted them, and am willing to remove the offending images. However, I do want proof of the date they copyrighted these images. The name of the photographer is included, but I don't know if he should also be contacted. I refuse to pay these scumbags a penny for something that is not my fault. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.
So instead of going after Net Fusion Objects, or even Earthlink, Getty apparently thinks my tiny business is an easier target. I have not contacted them, and am willing to remove the offending images. However, I do want proof of the date they copyrighted these images. The name of the photographer is included, but I don't know if he should also be contacted. I refuse to pay these scumbags a penny for something that is not my fault. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.