Just thought everyone would like to know there is a brand-new website focused on "stopping" Getty Images:
StopGettyImages.com. It was formed on June 23, 2012. Almost exactly 4 years after ELI was launched on June 20, 2008.
The person who launched the website has done so anonymously and largely recommends many of the ideas developed and spearheaded by ELI. There are some nuggets which deviate from ELI recommendations.
SGI (StopGettyImages.com) website and recommendations differ from ELI in a few ways.
1. SGI is a bit more pleasing to the eye with its graphics and images use. Nice touch. It is obviously focused on Getty Images exclusively while ELI has evolved to take on the much broader stock photo industry and other copyright extortionists like Linda Ellis.
2. SGI recommends complaining to King County District Attorney Dan Satterberg. Obviously, that is a very localized complaint and directed to someone who primarily deals with criminal matters, not civil matters (which is what copyright infringements primarily are). I don't think this will be particular effective because that office is not obligated to publicize complaints it receives but if you have gone through the effort of writing a complaint to the Washington State Bar and the Attorney General's office, it is a simple matter of making an additional photocopy and paying extra postage to send the complaint.
http://www.stopgettyimages.com/send_getty_images_complaint_to_district_attorney.htm3. SGI recommends complaining to the BBB. I have mixed feelings of the BBB as they are largely staffed by powerless and spineless employees whose primary interest is in collecting membership fees. I would use the BBB as a free option but I don't have a lot of respect for the organization. But it can't hurt. I certainly wouldn't endorse or recommend them. Getting their stamp of approval means nothing to me. They have everyone brainwashed that having their logo on your website and storefront is a big deal. I don't think it is. Old-fashion integrity, transparency, authenticity, and straight talk goes a long way in the physical and online world. Not once has Oscar or I even considered getting the BBB's stamp of approval.
4. There is a form letter response both an eform version and PDF version.
http://fs8.formsite.com/gettyimages/form1/index.htmlhttp://www.stopgettyimages.com/Getty%20Online%20Response.pdfThe letter is written using more technical and legal jargon than I recommend or prefer. The problem I see is that form letters don't really carry a lot of gravitas and anyone with some degree of insight can see through most form letters. They are used as a lazy way to deal with a problem. The threat and consequences towards the end of the letter is a nice touch ONLY if the person sending the letter can actually carry through on the threats. I don't believe in making threats that you cannot carry through because your credibility is shot if you can't follow through on it.
Many people have adopted the response letter I wrote from 4 years ago but Getty mocks those who use my letter as a basis simply because people copy many of my phrases and sentences verbatim. That isn't too smart or originatl. I don't really care if they do copy my words and sentences but it makes the person who explicitly copy my words and sentences look like idiots in front of the Getty collection clerks and shows that the person responding really don't have it in them to write something they actually mean. My circumstances and situation cannot possibly match up exactly to another letter recipients. Hence, copying words and sentences without the same context sounds odd and out of place.
I don't believe using a form letter will stop them. I do believe writing an original response letter with some teeth will.
5. It's too bad that the person who created the website has not identified themselves. But that person has done more than most other people by putting together and organizing helpful information. Everyone serves in their own way.
6. I wondered if SGI would acknowledge ELI in anyway and they have in one instance. I am quoted on the effectiveness of the ELI-developed strategy of attacking Timothy McCormack and the change that we caused without using courts and the legal system.
http://www.stopgettyimages.com/attorney_timothy_b_mccormack.htm7. I am not really convinced that you can really "stop" Getty Images or any other stock photo extortion business from sending the letters unless you take very aggressive, non-legal measures. However, I do believe you can make a strong stand and be done with the matter even without their approval. I don't believe in asking for approval. You do your research, state your position, cover your bases, and then make your stand. If you do that effectively, they MIGHT stop.
SGI is obviously a very young website with a slightly different view on things. It appears to want to help serve the public at large. I believe it has been influenced by ELI's presence and the information found on the ELI Forums. But that's ok. You can never have too many websites fighting copyright extortionists. It will be interesting to see how SGI evolves going forward.
I would be interested in getting everyone's reactions to SGI.
Topic: Review of StopGettyImages.com (Read 10250 times)