Messages

1

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Windows Vista sample images

« on: May 04, 2009, 11:56:55 PM »

PapaGeek,

You said in your post: "someone uploaded two thumbnail images (used as avatars) on my site."

It sounds like you are an owner of an online forum and it was one of your members who uploaded the images in question.

If that is true, then you should be protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 which protects you the forum owner from things your members do. I think it is called safe harbor. But I am not sure of that. Oscar can straighten me out on that one.

Here is some info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA

BullDog

2

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Windows Vista sample images

« on: May 04, 2009, 11:38:56 PM »

Hi Oscar,

There is another post on this forum about a Windows Vista image (creek.jpg) that Getty Images claims rights to.

http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/read.php?2,35,35#msg-35

BullDog

3

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Where can we get safe images?

« on: April 12, 2009, 05:54:00 PM »

I did a little checking and came up with:

On Dec 19, 2006 Jupitermedia acquired 100% of HAAP Media -  Stockxpert (www.stockxpert.com) and Stock.xchng (www.sxc.hu).

On Oct 23, 2008 Getty Images acquired Jupitermedia.

Prior to Getty buying out Jupitermedia, JupiterWeb properties included more than 150 Web sites and over 150 different e-mail newsletters that were viewed by over 20 million users and generated over 350 million page views per month.

Over the past few years there has been an absolute feeding frenzy with large photo companies being bought out by even larger companies. In the distant past we had thousands of small to medium sized photo companies on the Internet. Now, we have only 3 major players (MasterFile, Corbis, and Getty Images) in the mix who have gobbled up all the rest. The number of online photo companies and websites owned by Getty Images alone is much too long to list here.

It is sufficient to say... if you have a photo in your collection or on your website... the chances are one of the big three (or perhaps all three) will claim rights to it.

Oh by the way... all the major players claim Safe Harbor!

Like Oscar has said -- the playing field is not level.

BullDog

4

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Where can we get safe images?

« on: April 11, 2009, 09:22:01 PM »

Hi Lettered,

I am with you on that one... the only way to be safe... never buy photos. Take them yourself.

BullDog

5

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Where can we get safe images?

« on: April 11, 2009, 09:19:42 PM »

Hi Oscar,

Thanks for the site http://www.sxc.hu. I have gone there in the past but I can't remember if I took advantage of their "free" photos. Heck, I can't remember what I had for breakfast.

That site contains some interesting details. It is located in Hungary, if that matters at all. They claim to have over 400,000 images in their collection. Their EULA also says, you are on your own. NOTHING is warranted against anything, including infringement.

And the most interesting thing about that site --- it is a subsidiary of Getty Images.

Something is horribly wrong here. Getty owns a company in Hungary called HAAP Media Ltd that offers and promotes FREE photo exchanges.

BullDog

6

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Question to Oscar About Strict Law

« on: April 11, 2009, 09:12:02 PM »

Thanks Oscar. Well writen and easy to understand.

BullDog

7

Getty Images Letter Forum / Where can we get safe images?

« on: April 09, 2009, 09:01:11 PM »

This question might not even be in the realm of reality, but here goes.

Does anyone have a source of 100% safe photos and images (clip art) to buy, rent, lease, subscribe to... etc?

A Guru on another forum said to go to PhotoSpin. I did, and they do have some nice photos. But then I read their End User's License Agreement (EULA)... and it said in part... You use their stuff and you are on your own. They do not warranty ANYTHING, including NONINFRINGEMENT.

I went to other sites that offer photos and some of their EULAs are even worse. BoxedArt has a 9 pager that says... they warrant NOTHING including NONINFRINGEMENT and you should get legal advice BEFORE you click "I Accept".

So, my question remains -- besides taking the photos ourselves or drawing our own clip art -- where can we get 100% safe images?

I do own a camera but my pics are poor and I can't even draw a straight line.

Oh by the way - who reads the EULAs anyway? I will from now on!

Thanks,

Bull Dog

8

Getty Images Letter Forum / Question to Oscar About Strict Law

« on: April 09, 2009, 08:33:39 PM »

Oscar,

Please explain to us the term "Strict Law". It is often used when talking about copyright laws.

Thanks,

BullDog