Messages

1

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Lets fightback

« on: July 15, 2011, 10:04:00 AM »

That is an excellent idea. We have to fight these sleaze balls who have found a way to abuse the legal system and extort money from little people in the hopes that they would settle. Its unbelievable something like this goes on in the daylight.

2

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty letter - offered to pay over time - rejected

« on: July 13, 2011, 05:04:07 PM »

I wouldn't pay them a dime . I would hire Oscar.

3

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Lets fightback

« on: July 08, 2011, 10:38:31 PM »

Thank you for your input Oscar. I thought it could only help bring attention to this totally strange situation that getty makes money on two different levels: one in the range of millions and the other in thousands and with extorting money from  mom and pop operations or one-man shows or other businesses that innocently enough use even a thumbnail size image and have to pay thousands of dollars for it. I am hoping if enough people write and complain the big media companies would be forced to cover it. All it would take is one reporter or national newspaper or cable company to take interest and cover it extensively. About the attorneys, they probably know that their client didn't own the copyright at the time that they are threatening to sue, so in reality they are relying on the poor business person to just be intimidated and fork over the money. It is intellectual dishonesty and if not illegal, should be unethical and therefore reported to state bar. Thats just my two cents.

4

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Lets fightback

« on: June 06, 2011, 11:16:31 PM »

We can also extend the fight to these attornies representing these companies. I'm sure they know their cases are solely dependent on the defendant settling their cases out of court. These attornies are in fact abusing the legal system asking sometimes thousands of dollars for 1 or 2 photographs . Their clients can't provide proof of ownership , yet they press on with their threats without providing proofs, hoping they would win getting a default judgment or settling out of court. The State Bar in their state would be a good place to start. We can put the whole correspondence in front of them and ask them to investigate these attornies. We can ask them to investigate how their clients have incurred damages upwards of $3000 for photographs not worth more than $10-20. We can challenge the State Bar to come up with any other name for their tactics other than extortion.

5

Getty Images Letter Forum / Lets fightback

« on: May 11, 2011, 11:05:35 PM »

We see Getty Images pictures being credited on Oprah and many other shows. Getty presents two images: one to TV , cable , satellite and other industries and makes millions letting them use their images . The other is mean and petty and an extortionist trying to make only thousands from mom and pop operations who struggle to stay in business by intimidating them into quick settlements, some on pictures Getty didn't even own at the time the businesses bought the images.

Its time to let these shows know the other face of Getty Images. I am sure Oprah and other respectable shows would stop using Getty pictures once they know they are extortionists.

People who have received these letters should email these shows and let them know who they are doing business with. Getty and other extortionists should know that in the age of internet we can fight and hurt them where it matters the most: In their pocketbooks.