I talked to Scraggy on the phone a couple of weeks ago. We talked about the topic who owns the exclusive rights.
I have a copy of a letter where Getty Image International ( Ireland) confirms (signed by their Director) that they own the international exclusive rights of certain photos of a US Photographer (who lives in the US until today). (Getty International Ireland is a subsidiary (daughter company) of Getty Image US INC.)
If you look at the standard Getty Image license agreement : Getty Image (US) should hold the exclusive rights (because of the Location of the photographer). But Getty Image International claims to own the exclusive rights.
Just in case a US Person uses one of the photos of the mentioned US photographer without permission. Who is allowed to go after this person (according US Law)?
Getty Image US or Getty Image International in Ireland? Who is allowed to sue in the US?
If Getty Image (US) claims in their demand letter that they own the exclusive rights, would that be legally correct, since their daughter company GI International (Ireland) owns the rights?
Would the IRS be interested in the fact that a US company claims that they own the copyright of a photo which is owned by their daughter company which is established in a tax shelter country (Ireland) in terms of their license revenue?
Thank you very much for your comments
Khan
P.S. : Personally I think that Getty Images writes in their letter (regarding ownership) whatever would help to get their money. If the person lives in the US it belongs to Getty Image US if the person lives in Europe it belongs to Getty Image International and so on.
Khan
I have a copy of a letter where Getty Image International ( Ireland) confirms (signed by their Director) that they own the international exclusive rights of certain photos of a US Photographer (who lives in the US until today). (Getty International Ireland is a subsidiary (daughter company) of Getty Image US INC.)
If you look at the standard Getty Image license agreement : Getty Image (US) should hold the exclusive rights (because of the Location of the photographer). But Getty Image International claims to own the exclusive rights.
Just in case a US Person uses one of the photos of the mentioned US photographer without permission. Who is allowed to go after this person (according US Law)?
Getty Image US or Getty Image International in Ireland? Who is allowed to sue in the US?
If Getty Image (US) claims in their demand letter that they own the exclusive rights, would that be legally correct, since their daughter company GI International (Ireland) owns the rights?
Would the IRS be interested in the fact that a US company claims that they own the copyright of a photo which is owned by their daughter company which is established in a tax shelter country (Ireland) in terms of their license revenue?
Thank you very much for your comments
Khan
P.S. : Personally I think that Getty Images writes in their letter (regarding ownership) whatever would help to get their money. If the person lives in the US it belongs to Getty Image US if the person lives in Europe it belongs to Getty Image International and so on.
Khan