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: Higbee & Assoc. (Nick Youngson) Sends $20,000 demand letter  (Read 8567 times)

Matthew Chan

  • ELI Founder, "Admin-on-Hiatus"
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2763
  • 1st Amendment & Section 230 CDA Advocate
    • View Profile
    • Defiantly
Higbee & Assoc. (Nick Youngson) Sends $20,000 demand letter
« on: February 23, 2017, 11:42:23 PM »
Every time I think I figure something out, I get proven wrong.  :-(

I thought Mathew Higbee of Higbee & Associates (on behalf of Nick Youngson) had a well-oiled system of sending out $5,000 extortion letters for Nick Youngson images. Well, it appears a reader (who I am in process of email contact) is now reporting that Higbee has sent out a $20,000 extortion letter!

http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/getty-images-letter-forum/nicholas-youngson-photographer-(rep-by-higbee-associates)-copyright-abuse/

However, there seems to be some dispute if this is a single image or multi-image issue right now.

This amount is among the highest I have seen from ANY company or agency! It appears to be a missing attribution issue as many other people have faced.

I am in the process of getting more information on this to find out if this is a one-off situation or the start of something nastier and uglier.
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: Higbee & Assoc. (Nick Youngson) Sends $20,000 demand letter
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2017, 04:14:28 PM »
As an update, in the interest of accuracy, the $20,000 demand letter is for 4 images, not one image.  $5,000 per infringement.

No one in their right mind would willingly settle for $20,000 for four $20 images. It is a wet dream by Higbee. They seem to be getting bolder and bolder and it might blow up in their faces. It takes some real nerve to send out 5-figure demand letters is all I can say.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2017, 04:26:49 PM 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.

ffigliano

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
    • View Profile
Re: Higbee & Assoc. (Nick Youngson) Sends $20,000 demand letter
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2017, 01:41:48 PM »
I also received an extortion letter.  I see his business is not photography but truly abusing the law to extort money from innocent hard working people

 

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.