New Getty Images Law Firm: Lee & Hayes Settlement Demand Letter

[Moe Hacken]

I didn't think you were holding them in high praise either, Matthew! In many ways, it seems even more hypocritical when they politely piss on your shoes like that.

[Matthew Chan]

I would like to see your version of the letter if you are willing to share. You can email it to matt30060 at gmail. Of course, I am happy to redact and anonymize it. People who submit such helpful exhibits get a bit of preferential treatment around here. *wink*

When you write your expose, don't forget ELI has a way of magnifying the effect of any letter you write.

Peeved, my first letter was two pages, basically repeating the same BS from Getty's letters. The second letter was four pages but toned down compared to the long one in the Scribd file. Letter No. 2 basically told me how stupid and ignorant I was regarding copyright law. The demand increased about three times in the first letter and stayed the same in the second letter.

It's not going to go away because I'm writing a detailed expose of the whole experience and when that work is finished and published the stink will make the fish gut tanks outside Seattle smell like Grandma's sweetest hanky.

I agree 100% with Matt that in dealing with copyright trolls the best defense is a strong offense.

[Khan]

I think that this letter is just another approach. Some people get suspicious and think that you are in a weak position if you threaten too much. Like a dog how is frighten he will bark even louder. If you say : “Pay the money because you owe it to us” this implies : I do not have to threaten you because I will get it from you anyway. If the Hells Angels come to your house and ask politely for money it is still threating 

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

I would bet they are the screen shots of the website and the Getty catalog screenshot, that’s the documentation I got with my letter.  I just received the reply from Getty to my demand for proof of copyright and signed agreement giving Getty rights to the images etc.  Their response was that the documents will be provided in Discovery and look up the image on the Getty website and that is proof they own the image.   They are still not providing any proof to anyone that I am aware of, unless this is a new tactic to try to get people to pay the fees by actually sending along the information, more people might give up and just pay if the letters are accompanied by documentation on the image.  It will be interesting to see what the documentation actually is.

I may have some nuggets to add, I'd like to see the attached "documents & invoice"..I also noticed the date and he has been flying under the radar for some time..

I can understand the shift, they must be tiring of us throwing them under the bus, so I think we need to change accordingly as well.. I will no longer throw these extortion letter collection attorney's ( TROLLS) under the bus...from here on forward they will be tossed onto the train tracks, it will be up to them to escape the approaching train while not touching the dreaded third rail... sanitized letter or not a troll is troll no matter how you slice it..


::EDIT::I'll just add this for now, but there will be more.. admitted in 2009

http://www.mywsba.org/default.aspx?tabid=178&RedirectTabId=177&Usr_ID=41943

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

The problem with their response is very simple, just because it's on their site means nothing, nada, zilch!. we've already had one user that contacted the artist, and the artist was no longer doing business with Getty, yet Getty tried to extort money from this hapless victim. They continue to state they will show proof at discovery, which just means they have no proof and they are hoping to just get paid..

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

I realized that when I read it in the letter and got a pretty good chuckle out of it.  When I read this reply to my request for proof why I owe this money, in my minds eye I could see the Getty rep crossing their arms and stamping their foot and saying "Cuz" like a little kid.  Think I might go and take a picture of the Getty building and put it on my website.  Then send them an invoice for rent on the building and say if you require proof that the building is mine and you owe me just checkout this link and you'll see the picture of the building on my site, that's all the proof you need now pay your invoice before we have to escalate this.     

The problem with their response is very simple, just because it's on their site means nothing, nada, zilch!. we've already had one user that contacted the artist, and the artist was no longer doing business with Getty, yet Getty tried to extort money from this hapless victim. They continue to state they will show proof at discovery, which just means they have no proof and they are hoping to just get paid..

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

It's refreshing when newcomers "Get it" right out of the gate! and thanx for the mental image of the kid pouting with it's arm crossed..might have to work something up.

I realized that when I read it in the letter and got a pretty good chuckle out of it.  When I read this reply to my request for proof why I owe this money, in my minds eye I could see the Getty rep crossing their arms and stamping their foot and saying "Cuz" like a little kid.  Think I might go and take a picture of the Getty building and put it on my website.  Then send them an invoice for rent on the building and say if you require proof that the building is mine and you owe me just checkout this link and you'll see the picture of the building on my site, that's all the proof you need now pay your invoice before we have to escalate this.     

The problem with their response is very simple, just because it's on their site means nothing, nada, zilch!. we've already had one user that contacted the artist, and the artist was no longer doing business with Getty, yet Getty tried to extort money from this hapless victim. They continue to state they will show proof at discovery, which just means they have no proof and they are hoping to just get paid..

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Looking forward to whatever you come up with, love your posts!

It's refreshing when newcomers "Get it" right out of the gate! and thanx for the mental image of the kid pouting with it's arm crossed..might have to work something up.

I realized that when I read it in the letter and got a pretty good chuckle out of it.  When I read this reply to my request for proof why I owe this money, in my minds eye I could see the Getty rep crossing their arms and stamping their foot and saying "Cuz" like a little kid.  Think I might go and take a picture of the Getty building and put it on my website.  Then send them an invoice for rent on the building and say if you require proof that the building is mine and you owe me just checkout this link and you'll see the picture of the building on my site, that's all the proof you need now pay your invoice before we have to escalate this.     

The problem with their response is very simple, just because it's on their site means nothing, nada, zilch!. we've already had one user that contacted the artist, and the artist was no longer doing business with Getty, yet Getty tried to extort money from this hapless victim. They continue to state they will show proof at discovery, which just means they have no proof and they are hoping to just get paid..

[stinger]

Mulligan, if you are accepting contributions to you expose' to help raise the stink level, I would be happy to write an editorial piece "How'd this happen to me - or What strategy would a company as large as GI use to bait small companies into alleged copyright infringement and how can they get away with this in a sane world?"

Perhaps the title is a bit long, but I am interested in contributing and in proof reading contributions others might be interested in making.