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Getty Images Letter Forum / How do you know if images are owned by Masterfile or others?
« on: August 11, 2011, 03:46:14 PM »
I have a hosting client that called me today frantic about a c&d and statement of claim from Masterfile regarding one very small image on her site. The site was designed by a now defunct company over five years ago. I removed the image for her and advised her to consult with an attorney, and did some follow up research for her - which is how I landed here.
Doing all the research got me to thinking, if she's got one image on her site caught up in this, chances are there are others on her site that came from the same place. Is there any way to check these images to see if they are from Masterfile or Getty or any of the other places?
I think what I mean is, how does a site owner protect themselves from these lawsuits if they have no way of double checking the licensing / ownership of files? The site owner can have a piece of paper or email stating the licensing, but there has to be a way to back that up, no?
Doing all the research got me to thinking, if she's got one image on her site caught up in this, chances are there are others on her site that came from the same place. Is there any way to check these images to see if they are from Masterfile or Getty or any of the other places?
I think what I mean is, how does a site owner protect themselves from these lawsuits if they have no way of double checking the licensing / ownership of files? The site owner can have a piece of paper or email stating the licensing, but there has to be a way to back that up, no?