Click Official ELI Links
Get Help With Your Extortion Letter | ELI Phone Support | ELI Legal Representation Program
Show your support of the ELI website & ELI Forums through a PayPal Contribution. Thank you for supporting the ongoing fight and reporting of Extortion Settlement Demand Letters.

Author Topic: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded  (Read 8125 times)

Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)

  • ELI Defense Team Member
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3354
    • View Profile
    • ExtortionLetterInfo
National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« on: September 13, 2012, 09:28:58 AM »
A complete set of documents ( complaints only) have been uploaded to thhe scrid library as their own collection, these documents have been presented on a silver platter over on the copyright-trolls.com site..

More to come and comment on I'm sure!

http://copyright-trolls.com/site/national-photo-group-llc-documents/
Most questions have already been addressed in the forums, get yourself educated before making decisions.

Any advice is strictly that, and anything I may state is based on my opinions, and observations.
Robert Krausankas

I have a few friends around here..

Greg Troy (KeepFighting)

  • ELI Defense Team Member
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1859
    • View Profile
    • Yeah, We Do That.
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2012, 09:39:14 AM »
I have scanned over the lawsuits and it looks like they go right for the throat asking for the full $150,000 per infringement plus court and legal fees. We will definitely have to follow these cases and see how they play out. Thank you for sharing these!
Every situation is unique, any advice or opinions I offer are given for your consideration only. You must decide what is best for you and your particular situation. I am not a lawyer and do not offer legal advice.

--Greg Troy

Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)

  • ELI Defense Team Member
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3354
    • View Profile
    • ExtortionLetterInfo
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2012, 09:50:42 AM »
I have not had time to read thru any of these as of yet, at this point I'm wondering if Randy Taylor's brainchild, Copyright Defense League is the first point of contact, and if they don't succeed in extracting a "settlement" it is then escalated to this California Law firm, who proceeds to file suit. For all we know this law firm may have been one that was "recruited...so just another of the many , many questions I have in regards to this puzzle..

I have scanned over the lawsuits and it looks like they go right for the throat asking for the full $150,000 per infringement plus court and legal fees. We will definitely have to follow these cases and see how they play out. Thank you for sharing these!
« Last Edit: September 13, 2012, 10:38:35 AM by Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi) »
Most questions have already been addressed in the forums, get yourself educated before making decisions.

Any advice is strictly that, and anything I may state is based on my opinions, and observations.
Robert Krausankas

I have a few friends around here..

Matthew Chan

  • ELI Founder, "Admin-on-Hiatus"
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2763
  • 1st Amendment & Section 230 CDA Advocate
    • View Profile
    • Defiantly
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2012, 10:30:48 AM »
Based on the court documents posted, National Photo Group LLC dug into the California Corporations Database and listed the following:

http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/cbs.aspx

Quote
Data is updated weekly and is current as of Friday, September 07, 2012. It is not a complete or certified record of the entity.
Entity Name:   NATIONAL PHOTO GROUP, LLC
Entity Number:   200703010084
Date Filed:   01/29/2007
Status:   ACTIVE
Jurisdiction:   CALIFORNIA
Entity Address:   511 N LA CIENEGA BLVD #216
Entity City, State, Zip:   LOS ANGELES CA 90048
Agent for Service of Process:   BEN EVENSTAD
Agent Address:   511 N LA CIENEGA BLVD #216
Agent City, State, Zip:   LOS ANGELES CA 90048

* Indicates the information is not contained in the California Secretary of State's database.

Unlike Getty Images, HAN, Alaska Stock, etc. please note the name "National Photo Group".  Does that denote the type of images they carry as with most in the industry?  Not really.  "National Photo Group" conveniently has a name that lends itself well to the copyright extortion business.  It isn't like they are selling photos of government buildings, national monuments, or anything "national", etc.  The name seems to connote a corporate entity being used specifically to HOLD images, not SELL or MARKET images.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2012, 11:53:02 AM by Matthew Chan »
I'm a non-lawyer but not legally ignorant either. Under the 1st Amendment, I have the right to post facts & opinions using rhetorical hyperbole, colloquialisms, metaphors, parody, snark, or epithets. Under Section 230 of CDA, I'm only responsible for posts I write, not what others write.

Matthew Chan

  • ELI Founder, "Admin-on-Hiatus"
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2763
  • 1st Amendment & Section 230 CDA Advocate
    • View Profile
    • Defiantly
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2012, 10:32:14 AM »
$150K is a wet dream.  This is one of these deals where EFF needs to get involved. 

I have scanned over the lawsuits and it looks like they go right for the throat asking for the full $150,000 per infringement plus court and legal fees. We will definitely have to follow these cases and see how they play out. Thank you for sharing these!
I'm a non-lawyer but not legally ignorant either. Under the 1st Amendment, I have the right to post facts & opinions using rhetorical hyperbole, colloquialisms, metaphors, parody, snark, or epithets. Under Section 230 of CDA, I'm only responsible for posts I write, not what others write.

Couch_Potato

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 152
    • View Profile
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2012, 10:34:55 AM »
Are they in any way related to National Photographer Group, llc  http://www.thenpg.com/ ?

I've only read through the first document and it appears the photos they claim infringements for were filed in a bulk registration on one specific date, or at least that is how I read it.

Greg Troy (KeepFighting)

  • ELI Defense Team Member
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1859
    • View Profile
    • Yeah, We Do That.
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2012, 03:44:10 PM »
I love the EFF! Ever since I became involved with the extortion letter BS and started researching everything I found out about them and had a great deal of respect for them. But when they jumped in on the side of The Oatmeal I have freaking love them :D

$150K is a wet dream.  This is one of these deals where EFF needs to get involved. 

I have scanned over the lawsuits and it looks like they go right for the throat asking for the full $150,000 per infringement plus court and legal fees. We will definitely have to follow these cases and see how they play out. Thank you for sharing these!
Every situation is unique, any advice or opinions I offer are given for your consideration only. You must decide what is best for you and your particular situation. I am not a lawyer and do not offer legal advice.

--Greg Troy

SoylentGreen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1503
    • View Profile
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2012, 02:54:26 PM »
Check out National's website... it's about as informative as CDL's:

http://www.nationalphotogroup.com/

Apparently Ben Evenstad owns the company, and they ha photographer hanging around LAX all day every day.

"We have a variety of sources. Some work for the airport. Most do not. And you've got to remember that it's not always so sophisticated. It can be a sanitation worker that sees Kate Hudson" board a flight, said Ben Evenstad, the owner of the agency National Photo Group, which stations a photographer at the airport every day."

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/27/entertainment/la-et-airport-paparazzi-20100927

I think that they deal mostly with celeb photos.

S.G.

« Last Edit: September 14, 2012, 03:14:11 PM by SoylentGreen »

Oscar Michelen

  • ELI Legal Warrior
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1301
    • View Profile
    • Courtroom Strategy
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2012, 08:08:00 PM »
There's lots of easy money to be made in those airport paparazzi pictures. There's a bunch of photographers who live in LAX waiting for the redeye from NY and La Guardia for the reverse route. 

TheNPG.com

  • Guest
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2012, 09:59:59 AM »
Are they in any way related to National Photographer Group, llc  http://www.thenpg.com/ ?

I've only read through the first document and it appears the photos they claim infringements for were filed in a bulk registration on one specific date, or at least that is how I read it.

National Photo Group, llc is in no way related to, or partnered with, http://www.TheNPG.com nor with the National Photographer Group, llc. National Photographer Group provides the best service and event photographers across the U.S for corporate, marketing, and special events. For more information about National Photographer Group, llc, please visit either http://www.TheNPG.com or http://www.NationalPhotographerGroup.com. Thank you.

Matthew Chan

  • ELI Founder, "Admin-on-Hiatus"
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2763
  • 1st Amendment & Section 230 CDA Advocate
    • View Profile
    • Defiantly
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2012, 10:25:24 AM »
That was very good of TheNPG.com to clarify that they are NOT related to National Photo Group LLC. We didn't think so but it never hurts to get a statement and reply on the matter.
I'm a non-lawyer but not legally ignorant either. Under the 1st Amendment, I have the right to post facts & opinions using rhetorical hyperbole, colloquialisms, metaphors, parody, snark, or epithets. Under Section 230 of CDA, I'm only responsible for posts I write, not what others write.

Greg Troy (KeepFighting)

  • ELI Defense Team Member
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1859
    • View Profile
    • Yeah, We Do That.
Re: National Photo Group LLC Documents uploaded
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2012, 12:14:30 PM »
Welcome to ELI forums and thank you for the clarification.  I hope you will stick around and participate in the forums. 

Are they in any way related to National Photographer Group, llc  http://www.thenpg.com/ ?

I've only read through the first document and it appears the photos they claim infringements for were filed in a bulk registration on one specific date, or at least that is how I read it.

National Photo Group, llc is in no way related to, or partnered with, http://www.TheNPG.com nor with the National Photographer Group, llc. National Photographer Group provides the best service and event photographers across the U.S for corporate, marketing, and special events. For more information about National Photographer Group, llc, please visit either http://www.TheNPG.com or http://www.NationalPhotographerGroup.com. Thank you.
Every situation is unique, any advice or opinions I offer are given for your consideration only. You must decide what is best for you and your particular situation. I am not a lawyer and do not offer legal advice.

--Greg Troy

 

Official ELI Help Options
Get Help With Your Extortion Letter | ELI Phone Support Call | ELI Defense Letter Program
Show your support of the ELI website & ELI Forums through a PayPal Contribution. Thank you for supporting the ongoing fight and reporting of Extortion Settlement Demand Letters.