Because Getty Images DOESN'T want their email shared, I will share it

[Matthew Chan]

This appears to be one of their new standardized (but redacted) email letters.  They have the stupid "confidential" disclaimer that only the ignorant would ever pay attention to. And because Getty doesn't want it shown, I will therefore show it as I legally obtained this email.

Of course, I have to sprinkle in some of my colorful comments inline.

================
From: [email protected]
To: XXXX; [email protected]
Subject: RE: Unauthorized Use Notification #XXXXX - Getty Images Copyright Notification
Date: XXXX +0000

FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES ONLY
 
RE: XXXXXXX   

Dear XXXXXX,

In response, the cost our customers pay to lease this image for XXX months under our licensing terms for digital media, web corporate or promotional site, and small resolution and repeated use, (image found on these web pages http://www.XXXX.com, for approximately XXX months is $XXX.00, as shown below:

The settlement offer of $XXXX.00 is an average cost to license Rights-managed imagery for this specific use.

If you feel the settlement offer is disproportionate from your usage, I would encourage you to disclose usage of the imagery in question, including length of use, other websites, and mediums that may have not yet been identified or made known to my team.

[Who, us? Would we really ever think Getty was ever "disproportionate"? Yes, I will absolutely help you in your case and also give you my credit report, balance sheet, my property holdings, my tax returns, and the names and ages of my family members just to make sure you have everything you need!]
 
The requested information, such as proof, registrations and representation would be furnished only when compelled by the court through the course of discovery.  To provide this information beforehand would take additional time as well as additional costs.  Our settlements are set up to quickly close unauthorized use cases.

[Yes, but of course, you are so trustworthy. We all know that Getty Images has a stellar reputation for dotting their I's and crossing their T's when it comes to copyright registrations. God forbid, a multi-million dollar business would want to expend any costs to show or explain their case. It used to be that you sent real letters but for OUR benefit, you will bypass the U.S. Postal Service and/or FedEx and just let you email it to us.  After all, we know you are in the service business!  We will also take your word for it because you run such a stellar operation because we all know you are doing it for OUR OWN GOOD by accepting hundreds of dollars for images with a market value of $50.]
 
If cases were to go to legal proceedings, our represented photographers would have registrations prior to filing. Getty Images is unable to provide further evidence at this time.  If you have further questions, you may wish to discuss this matter with an attorney that specializes in copyright law.

[Yes, of course, we know that every Getty photographer is well-heeled enough to have diligently paid and filed a legitimate copyright registration on every photo they have ever taken and sold. After all, photographers are known for their attention to detail and they have hundreds of dollars to pay for copyright registrations of images worth $50.]

The terms of this settlement offer shall be kept confidential, except as may be required by law.  Getty Images expressly reserves all rights and remedies available under copyright law. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

[Yes, of course, they would be confidential. It is such a favor you are doing for the public by keeping settlement amounts very quiet, low-key, and to forbid them from every discussing what they paid off.  It is so wonderful to cooperate, pay hundreds of dollars, and be muzzled.  Can I please be part of this special Getty program?]

Best regards,

D. Bieker
Copyright Compliance Specialist
Getty Images
[email protected]

Getty Images Headquarters
605 5th Avenue S., Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98104 USA

Direct 206.925.7622
Toll Free: 800.972.4170  ext 7622
Fax: 206.925.5001

http://www.copyrightlaws.com/us/5-things-you-may-not-know-about-u-s-copyright-law/  is an excellent source of basic information about copyright laws.

For more information about the Getty Images License Compliance Program, please visit http://company.gettyimages.com/license-compliance  and http://stories.gettyimages.com/category/visual-insights/copyright/
  _____

©2015 Getty Images, Inc.

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
This message may contain privileged or confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail or any attachments hereto. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your system without copying or disclosing the contents. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is required please request a hard-copy version. Getty Images, 605 5th Avenue S., Suite 400, Seattle, WA. 98104, USA, www.gettyimages.com. PLEASE NOTE that all incoming e-mails will be automatically scanned by us and by an external service provider to eliminate unsolicited promotional e-mails ("spam"). This could result in deletion of a legitimate e-mail before it is read by its intended recipient at our firm. Please tell us if you have concerns about this automatic filtering.   

[stinger]

If that is the current incarnation of the "Getty Letter", I will say this for them.

They have certainly cleaned up their administrivia.  Four years ago, when I received my letter, it was full of typos, absurd claims of what the courts might do, and collections language that made them look like a Nigerian oil minister scam.  At that time the letter looked like a scare tactic comparable to UFO abduction articles in tabloids.

Oh wait, my letter never came from Getty.  It came from the so called attorneys at McCormack IP Law.  My mistake.  Maybe Getty has always practiced their little game with good grammar and a minimum of hyperbole.  Maybe it was just their first level counsel that couldn't do the grammar thing.

As my friend Robert might say, "If it looks like a pig, and it smells like a pig, and it tastes like a pig, good thing we didn't step in it."  The Getty letter might look and smell better than the four year old McCormack letter, but please don't step in it.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Stinger..Are you saying that Seattle Lawyer and Pot farmer Tim McCormack can't spell???
Well I beg to differ!



I wonder if the Federal Government ever caught wind of his interview where he admits to along with his "friend" to smuggling drugs across state lines in the dark of night?? Wouldn't that be a kick in the nuts?

[stinger]

I'm kindof like the pot calling the kettle black.  In my last post, I meant to spell "shit" but it came out "pig".  Cheech and Chong will hate me for ruining one of their bits.



I am pretty sure that "smuggling drugs across state lines" anytime, violates the Seattle Supreme Court code of conduct for attorneys and may be grounds for disbarment - in case anyone wants to put Seattle attorney Timothy B. McCormack out of his misery - career-wise.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

funny you posted that...you do know that Tommy Chong is kinda a spokesperson for McCormacks pot growing operations, and even has his name / face on one of the "flavors"..  and please stop insulting pigs

[stinger]

That is funny!

I'm thinking Timmy might not be long for the lawyering business if he's gone that far in the pot business.

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Another interesting note is Getty puts their privacy disclaimer on the emails they send to the attorney general too knowing anything sent to them becomes public information that can be seen by anybody.