ExtortionLetterInfo Forums
Retired Forums => Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum => Topic started by: Activated on May 28, 2012, 04:44:42 PM
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Aloha! The photo in question with me is grouped in the (VA0001696555). I was just trying to find out how to prove that the photo in question that was on my site is even in there. The one I had is Hanauma Bay. http://free-hd-wallpaper.com/countries/hanauma-bay-oahu-hawaii-51826.html
It is the first photo to come up when you google Hanauma bay + free wall paper.
So far I have only been asked for less than $1,000.
This has me very stressed out... But I really appreciate all the comments and discovery here. Thanks everyone.
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That image is available in hundreds of sites and in thousands of instances if you count the amazing availability of very large sizes that it's offered in. Check out this Google Image search I did using your example's URL as the point of departure:
http://tinyurl.com/7rxf6vx
If you hover the mouse over each of the images, you'll see the tooltip with the URL. Many of them are in foreign countries, but hardly all of them. This image has spread over the internet like some kind of epidemic in a horror movie.
What's more stunning is that this is true of many of VKT's images, particularly the older ones, that HAN is now harassing people for. For example:
http://tinyurl.com/6obbs7v
Okay, that's weird, isn't it? That one is also a VKT image. How about this one?
http://tinyurl.com/75vvmxm
I have never seen anything like it. VKT could set a world record for having his IP infringed upon. :P
With regard to that registration question, please use the Google search bar at the top of the forum page and look for instances of "copyright registration". There are several good posts discussing the issue of bulk registrations. If what you're asking is how you're supposed to know that image is actually part of the collection that was registed in bulk, my answer is I don't know and please tell me if you find out. It seems ridiculous that they expect a person to verify ownership when they bury the information in a totally cryptic manner.
Don't stress out. I know it's hard right now. A lot of the people that contribute to this forum know exactly what you feel like because they went through the same experience.
The more you read, the better you'll feel. It's not likely they'll come after you for a grand. They're asking others for 5-20 times that much. They're just trying to scare you into sending them a check.
Read through the forum posts carefully and don't forget the sticky posts at the top. You will feel more confidence as you know more about what's going on, and you will be able to make rational choices and avoid unforced errors.
If you feel you need faster results, call Matthew Chan (see home page) and pay his very reasonable fee for a consultation. You also have the option of joining Oscar Michelen's letter program (also on the home page). Scroll down to the bottom of the left column to see the links for the updated help options.
Good luck, hang in there and check here often for new developments. There's a lot here about HAN/VKT that will be of interest to you.
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Maybe we should ask Mr. Carner to address your question about all those VT images?
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I would love to, but he has excused himself from commenting on matters related to the ongoing litigation (see quote below). I find this to be reasonable at this time. I do look forward to reading his comments on this forum.
I look foward to posting on these forums daily and addressing the concerns that have been brought up on the appropriate thread. The outcome may not be as glamorous or conspiratorial as expected but there is still plenty of anger and frustration to go around as a result of the current law and how it's utilized by stock photo agencies. I don't have as much flexibility on the HAN issues but will do my best to contribute as a member of CSI. Thanks guys and expect more tomorrow.
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Which tells me he won't be sharing much of anything, except trying to make Copyright Services International look like it's not just another copyright trolling business. My apologies if I sound a bit harsh and skeptical, but Glen Carner just by showing up here still gets zero respect from me..perhaps this will change after he does "some splain'in".
I would love to, but he has excused himself from commenting on matters related to the ongoing litigation (see quote below). I find this to be reasonable at this time. I do look forward to reading his comments on this forum.
I look foward to posting on these forums daily and addressing the concerns that have been brought up on the appropriate thread. The outcome may not be as glamorous or conspiratorial as expected but there is still plenty of anger and frustration to go around as a result of the current law and how it's utilized by stock photo agencies. I don't have as much flexibility on the HAN issues but will do my best to contribute as a member of CSI. Thanks guys and expect more tomorrow.
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I think it's safe to say that most of us are skeptical. I know Oscar and I want to hear what he has to say though. You just never know what might come of it.
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Less than $1000? That is the smallest amount I have heard to date. Perhaps they are realizing the amounts they were asking were too high and making people look into it first rather than an amount they would be more likely to just pay.
You need to read all the posts here, there is a ton of information from all the people who have been dealing with this. I also encourage you to share your story with malia@hawaiireporter.com who is working on a story about it.
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I agree Dee that the lower demand amount is likely the result of the "learning process" shoved down HAN's throat by the ELI community
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I just want to say that I really appreciate all the comments on this site. I am learning soooooo much and feel much more confident then I did a month ago. Does anyone know what is going on with the Dollar Rent A Car and Aloha Plastic surgery cases?
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The last I heard was on the Aloha case and they have filed a countersuit against HAN. You can read about it here. I’m sorry I am not familiar with the Dollar case but I will see what I can find out, or perhaps someone else has some information available.
http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/getty-images-letter-forum/aloha-plastic-surgery-submits-counter-claim/
I just want to say that I really appreciate all the comments on this site. I am learning soooooo much and feel much more confident then I did a month ago. Does anyone know what is going on with the Dollar Rent A Car and Aloha Plastic surgery cases?
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I have not heard about the dollar-rent-car case either, I'll get into pacer and have a look, see what I can find.
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I looked thru Pacer for the dollar rent a car case, plenty of cases but nothing recent, and nothing referral to copyright, can I get more info on this?, perhaps the company that is suing them or, or a link to a reference...anything would help, even if it's just a blog post you saw somewhere.
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Hummm.. I will try to remember where I read something about Dollar.
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Activated, I'm quite curious ... which of VKT's seedy wallpapers does Glen Carner think they should be paid for in your case? Did they send you a number for the copyright registration? I'd love to add that to my cheesy photo faves.
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O-06 Hanauma Bay (VA0001696555) This is the copyright registration and title. You can find it quite easily by googling Hanauma Bay Oahu Free Wallpaper. Someone here found this link for me....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbs=simg:CAQSWxpZCxCo1NgEGgQIAQgJDAsQsIynCBowCi4IARIIkASNBI8EExIaIOj-AydZo0mGxpTlpb-nd-jFXdxuCV12ZpjGhYeHv1KHDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIExIrV3ww&tbm=isch&q=hanauma+bay+oahu+hawaii&sa=X&ei=DDfET53BPImi8ASolvCvCw&ved=0CCcQpwUoAg&biw=1024&bih=690&sei=jB3FT9a-FKWBsgKixZDXCQ
The funny thing is that when I had my desktop computer upgraded with windows 7 it came back to me with the same photo as wallpaper and I didn't put it there! Also... same with my laptop! It was a strange coincidence. Of course they have long since been removed.
unrelated question... can someone please tell me how to take a screen shot?
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'Prt Scr' button on your keyboard will take a screen shot. You'll then need to open something like microsoft paint and then edit & paste to copy the picture. You can then save the image to your computer.
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O-06 Hanauma Bay (VA0001696555) This is the copyright registration and title. You can find it quite easily by googling Hanauma Bay Oahu Free Wallpaper. Someone here found this link for me....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbs=simg:CAQSWxpZCxCo1NgEGgQIAQgJDAsQsIynCBowCi4IARIIkASNBI8EExIaIOj-AydZo0mGxpTlpb-nd-jFXdxuCV12ZpjGhYeHv1KHDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIExIrV3ww&tbm=isch&q=hanauma+bay+oahu+hawaii&sa=X&ei=DDfET53BPImi8ASolvCvCw&ved=0CCcQpwUoAg&biw=1024&bih=690&sei=jB3FT9a-FKWBsgKixZDXCQ
The funny thing is that when I had my desktop computer upgraded with windows 7 it came back to me with the same photo as wallpaper and I didn't put it there! Also... same with my laptop! It was a strange coincidence. Of course they have long since been removed.
unrelated question... can someone please tell me how to take a screen shot?
31,100 results? That's all?
This happens to be one of VKT's older images. Now I'm curious about something else, Activated. Did you ever install the Webshots screensaver or any other 3rd party screensaver?
Also, do you remember where the image was stored in your computer when it mysteriously appeared as wallpaper on your desktop? Was it the Windows directory or a directory within that, or did you find it somewhere else in your hard drive?
Couch_potato, great tip for the modern PC user. A lot of people have forgotten what that key is for. I remember when "Prt Scr" would dump the 8-color screen capture on a dot-matrix printer that sounded like a gatling gun and had color ribbons like a typewriter.
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You can also use Alt + Prt Scr to capture only the active window instead of the entire screen.
Usually quite handy.
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Thanks CP... I appreciate the info!
'Prt Scr' button on your keyboard will take a screen shot. You'll then need to open something like microsoft paint and then edit & paste to copy the picture. You can then save the image to your computer.
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Aloha Moe... The screen saver of Hanauma Bay turned up on both computers after I had them worked on and windows 7 installed. They were put there by the guy I hired on Oahu to do the work. It was just a coincidence that it was the same photo as the one in question from my site!
O-06 Hanauma Bay (VA0001696555) This is the copyright registration and title. You can find it quite easily by googling Hanauma Bay Oahu Free Wallpaper. Someone here found this link for me....
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbs=simg:CAQSWxpZCxCo1NgEGgQIAQgJDAsQsIynCBowCi4IARIIkASNBI8EExIaIOj-AydZo0mGxpTlpb-nd-jFXdxuCV12ZpjGhYeHv1KHDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIExIrV3ww&tbm=isch&q=hanauma+bay+oahu+hawaii&sa=X&ei=DDfET53BPImi8ASolvCvCw&ved=0CCcQpwUoAg&biw=1024&bih=690&sei=jB3FT9a-FKWBsgKixZDXCQ
The funny thing is that when I had my desktop computer upgraded with windows 7 it came back to me with the same photo as wallpaper and I didn't put it there! Also... same with my laptop! It was a strange coincidence. Of course they have long since been removed.
unrelated question... can someone please tell me how to take a screen shot?
31,100 results? That's all?
This happens to be one of VKT's older images. Now I'm curious about something else, Activated. Did you ever install the Webshots screensaver or any other 3rd party screensaver?
Also, do you remember where the image was stored in your computer when it mysteriously appeared as wallpaper on your desktop? Was it the Windows directory or a directory within that, or did you find it somewhere else in your hard drive?
Couch_potato, great tip for the modern PC user. A lot of people have forgotten what that key is for. I remember when "Prt Scr" would dump the 8-color screen capture on a dot-matrix printer that sounded like a gatling gun and had color ribbons like a typewriter.
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Activated, was the tech guy's last name "Carner" or "Tylor"? ::)
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One things for sure, Moe, we know his name wasn't "Eli."
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It's good to see you back Oscar!
One things for sure, Moe, we know his name wasn't "Eli."
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Aloha Moe... The screen saver of Hanauma Bay turned up on both computers after I had them worked on and windows 7 installed. They were put there by the guy I hired on Oahu to do the work. It was just a coincidence that it was the same photo as the one in question from my site!
Activated, I sent you a message with another question, please check it out by clicking the link for messages at the top right of this forum page, right under your name. I find this coincidence to be quite fascinating.
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One things for sure, Moe, we know his name wasn't "Eli."
It sure wasn't "Moe"!
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It looks like HAN is laying low until after the Aloha Plastic Surgery case. I have not received an escalation letter. I am continuing to read the posts in the forum and really appreciate the continued wealth of information to be found here.