ExtortionLetterInfo Forums

ELI Forums => Getty Images Letter Forum => Topic started by: EB23 on July 13, 2018, 02:00:51 PM

Title: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: EB23 on July 13, 2018, 02:00:51 PM
Image Rights International called me and told me I have a photo (image) on my website that is copyrighted from a professional photographer. My SEO guy who built my website asked for pictures for my site, I googled some pictures and gave it him - that was a year and a half ago. Now this company is asking for $2000! I freaked out, removed all my pictures I ever put on my site. I told him I don’t have that kind of money... he reduced it to $1000 in 2 installments. Do I have to pay the $1000... or no? And if not, what can this company do to me or my business legally? Thank You!
Title: Re: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi) on July 14, 2018, 11:45:45 AM
Answers to all of your questions are freely available within the forums, start reading, get educated, go from there.
Title: Re: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: UnfairlyTargeted on July 17, 2018, 04:27:55 PM
Is this person really a photographer or just some social media amateur looking to cash in?  If it's the latter, this person needs to be made into an example so he doesn't contact a lawyer or one of these services again!
Title: Re: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: EB23 on July 17, 2018, 05:14:07 PM
I believe a professional photographer - Alexander Wild. Any suggestions what I should do? Do I have to pay the $1000 which I was invoices into 2 $500 payments?
Title: Re: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: UnfairlyTargeted on July 17, 2018, 05:21:12 PM
He's got a real day job and it isn't photography.  Just another parasite looking to cash in:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Use-a-copyrighted-photo-expect-to-get-bugged-11177569.php

Just like Tom Schwabel... BTW, Tom, was that you yesterday trying to call me out?
Title: Re: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: Matthew Chan on July 17, 2018, 10:11:44 PM
You don't have to do anything you don't want. It is always your decision.  However, Alexander Wild does file lawsuits occasionally. I believe Wild uses Higbee to do so. I have not done a deep analysis of what cases Wild pursues and doesn't.

You can try to negotiate it down further. As a general statement not knowing your personal situation, it is worthwhile to consider settling in this particular situation because I would bet money if you don't settle now, it will be passed on to Higbee and trying to settle will be likely be harder and a higher amount.

I believe a professional photographer - Alexander Wild. Any suggestions what I should do? Do I have to pay the $1000 which I was invoices into 2 $500 payments?
Title: Re: What should I do? Image Rights Inter. contacted me
Post by: DavidVGoliath on July 18, 2018, 06:50:06 PM
He's got a real day job and it isn't photography.  Just another parasite looking to cash in:

Jesus, someone really pissed in your cornflakes, didn't they?

Here's a thing: the article you linked to clearly cites that Wild is an expert entomologist who also takes photographs of the insects he studies, and he's licensed his works to well-known clients. That he does so alongside his "day job" doesn't make him less of a photographer, in the same way that there are many people around the world for whom photography constitutes a much-needed secondary income. I and some of my peers count ourselves as fortunate to devote all our energies to our craft; from our viewpoint, infringers are the parasites - consider the textbook definition@

An organism which lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense.

or

A person who habitually relies on or exploits others and gives nothing in return.

So: if publications like Nature and National Geographic are quite happy to pay licenses for Mr. Wild's work, why should a business like Cypress Creek Pest Control get a free ride?