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Messages - Matthew Chan

Pages: 1 ... 81 82 [83] 84 85 ... 154
1231
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: An Experiment Against Getty
« on: July 21, 2012, 10:19:10 PM »
That would be the dumbest thing they could ever do to go after an ELI community member especially someone who "outed" himself.

If they did this, ELI would be put on the media map in a big way, not simply a little niche website tucked away in a corner.

Filing a lawsuit would have a ton of publicity possibilities if done correctly.

Essentially the way I would paint this picture is that a corporate conglomerate vs. a local handyman.  Envision a picture of office suits within a skyscraper towering over a guy with a hammer and screwdriver.

Publicity possibilities are endless.

Personally, I think that he might have caught it during systems maintenance phase. He will find out come Monday.

Or they've decided to file.

 :'( 

But don't worry. If that is the case I have a feeling you have enough friends around here that would be willing to help out. I know I'd kick in what I could to the Greg Troy defense fund.

 ;D

1232
I can promise everyone that Robert and I will find a way to make this available to the public and have it disseminated in a way that is accessible.

With 1200+ pages, it is no exaggeration that all the eyes of the ELI Community will be needed to process and analyze all this.

I honestly believe this may be the very first project in ELI's history (due to this large volume of forthcoming information) where this truly requires a community effort.

I am happy to see everyone seems to have great enthusiasm for this upcoming massive project.

1233
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Heres your Saturday snicker!!
« on: July 21, 2012, 10:07:04 PM »
I see everyone has picked up on the whole "offense-defense thing" and the whole weapons thing.

What does that say about ELI's "arsenal" and the ELI "militia"?

Anyone seen the movie "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson?  I see the ELI Community as equivalent to the American militia and the Getty clerks and McCormack's staff as part of the Redcoats.

1234
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: An Experiment Against Getty
« on: July 20, 2012, 11:50:55 PM »
I say to try it again during various times especially during the workweek during normal business hours. It's possible the system is down for maintenance or after-hours.

1235
1,282 pages!  WTF!  Are you freaking kidding me?

This is going to blow up the ELI Scribd account trying to upload all these pages!

This has got to be one of the most insane, off-the-wall projects ELI has taken on. It appears to be much bigger than any of us imagined!

I am just stunned.

1236
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Seattle Times full page statement
« on: July 20, 2012, 06:13:28 PM »
The point I want to make is that there has to be a secondary and tertiary benefits/side effects before choosing any particular platform or strategy.

I like strategies that generate ongoing benefits long after the initial event/campaign has been completed.

That is why I like media so much.  You record and capture it and it can used for all kinds of applications within a lifetime.

1237
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: ELI Parody of the Dallas TV Intro
« on: July 18, 2012, 07:31:45 PM »
WE can't actually use this as a real intro. The Dallas theme song belongs to someone else.  This parody intro was just produced for fun to self-mock the drama that occasionally surrounds ELI.

1238
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: ELI Parody of the Dallas TV Intro
« on: July 18, 2012, 07:14:19 PM »
I took it off YouTube for the moment.  I have put a new link to Vimeo.

1239
Getty Images Letter Forum / ELI Parody of the Dallas TV Intro
« on: July 18, 2012, 05:40:23 PM »
I loved the Dallas theme music to go along with the ELI Drama.


1240
It sounds like Oscar assigned a job to the ELI Community! (Shaming the lawyer that is... LOL!) Isn't that what we do best? :)

Any lawyer who would take a case like this needs to be publicly shamed - it's ridiculous.

1241
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Review of StopGettyImages.com
« on: July 18, 2012, 03:38:20 AM »
I wasn't asked but I generally don't mind as long as people don't misquote me or quote me in a way that is out of context.

The quote seemed to be respectful and entirely in context of what it was used for.  Given this, I am fine with it.

Matthew, did they ask to use your quote at the bottom of this page?

http://www.stopgettyimages.com/attorney_timothy_b_mccormack.htm

Whether they did or not, they sure took a page from your book there. Imitation is definitely a form of flattery.

1242
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Review of StopGettyImages.com
« on: July 18, 2012, 03:32:55 AM »
I took the website as a compliment to the ELI Community.

It is either cathartic or a form of payback. Or it might be their response to "holes" not well filled or met with ELI. 

As the ringleader of ELI, I have certainly gone through many stages of "emotions" as to its purpose of existence. I must admit it has been a nice way to vent and get payback while getting paid and gaining some notoriety along the way.

Interesting info and analysis.
Whomever created it definitely did lots of research on ELI; I recognize many themes and conclusions.
I think that projects like this are cathartic to some; it's a method of taking back some power.

S.G.

1243
Getty Images Letter Forum / Review of StopGettyImages.com
« on: July 17, 2012, 10:39:53 PM »
Just thought everyone would like to know there is a brand-new website focused on "stopping" Getty Images: StopGettyImages.com. It was formed on June 23, 2012. Almost exactly 4 years after ELI was launched on June 20, 2008.

The person who launched the website has done so anonymously and largely recommends many of the ideas developed and spearheaded by ELI. There are some nuggets which deviate from ELI recommendations.

SGI (StopGettyImages.com)
website and recommendations differ from ELI in a few ways. 

1. SGI is a bit more pleasing to the eye with its graphics and images use.  Nice touch. It is obviously focused on Getty Images exclusively while ELI has evolved to take on the much broader stock photo industry and other copyright extortionists like Linda Ellis.

2.  SGI recommends complaining to King County District Attorney Dan Satterberg. Obviously, that is a very localized complaint and directed to someone who primarily deals with criminal matters, not civil matters (which is what copyright infringements primarily are). I don't think this will be particular effective because that office is not obligated to publicize complaints it receives but if you have gone through the effort of writing a complaint to the Washington State Bar and the Attorney General's office, it is a simple matter of making an additional photocopy and paying extra postage to send the complaint. 

http://www.stopgettyimages.com/send_getty_images_complaint_to_district_attorney.htm

3.  SGI recommends complaining to the BBB. I have mixed feelings of the BBB as they are largely staffed by powerless and spineless employees whose primary interest is in collecting membership fees.  I would use the BBB as a free option but I don't have a lot of respect for the organization.  But it can't hurt.  I certainly wouldn't endorse or recommend them.  Getting their stamp of approval means nothing to me.  They have everyone brainwashed that having their logo on your website and storefront is a big deal. I don't think it is.  Old-fashion integrity, transparency, authenticity, and straight talk goes a long way in the physical and online world. Not once has Oscar or I even considered getting the BBB's stamp of approval.

4.  There is a form letter response both an eform version and PDF version.

http://fs8.formsite.com/gettyimages/form1/index.html

http://www.stopgettyimages.com/Getty%20Online%20Response.pdf

The letter is written using more technical and legal jargon than I recommend or prefer. The problem I see is that form letters don't really carry a lot of gravitas and anyone with some degree of insight can see through most form letters. They are used as a lazy way to deal with a problem.  The threat and consequences towards the end of the letter is a nice touch ONLY if the person sending the letter can actually carry through on the threats. I don't believe in making threats that you cannot carry through because your credibility is shot if you can't follow through on it.

Many people have adopted the response letter I wrote from 4 years ago but Getty mocks those who use my letter as a basis simply because people copy many of my phrases and sentences verbatim. That isn't too smart or originatl. I don't really care if they do copy my words and sentences but it makes the person who explicitly copy my words and sentences look like idiots in front of the Getty collection clerks and shows that the person responding really don't have it in them to write something they actually mean. My circumstances and situation cannot possibly match up exactly to another letter recipients. Hence, copying words and sentences without the same context sounds odd and out of place.

I don't believe using a form letter will stop them. I do believe writing an original response letter with some teeth will.

5. It's too bad that the person who created the website has not identified themselves. But that person has done more than most other people by putting together and organizing helpful information.  Everyone serves in their own way.

6. I wondered if SGI would acknowledge ELI in anyway and they have in one instance.  I am quoted on the effectiveness of the ELI-developed strategy of attacking Timothy McCormack and the change that we caused without using courts and the legal system.

http://www.stopgettyimages.com/attorney_timothy_b_mccormack.htm

7. I am not really convinced that you can really "stop" Getty Images or any other stock photo extortion business from sending the letters unless you take very aggressive, non-legal measures.  However, I do believe you can make a strong stand and be done with the matter even without their approval. I don't believe in asking for approval.  You do your research, state your position, cover your bases, and then make your stand. If you do that effectively, they MIGHT stop.

SGI is obviously a very young website with a slightly different view on things. It appears to want to help serve the public at large.  I believe it has been influenced by ELI's presence and the information found on the ELI Forums.  But that's ok. You can never have too many websites fighting copyright extortionists. It will be interesting to see how SGI evolves going forward.

I would be interested in getting everyone's reactions to SGI.

1245
Thanks for the additional insights. That was helpful to me.

I also like the clarification on the "joint and several liability". I never quite understood that phrase. You explained it so well that even I could understand it.

I wondered the same thing about the two defendants so I googled them.  Both of those businesses still exist so I am guessing there was some workout on the payment issue.

I really believe the rulings on Corbis vs. Nick Starr are important on so many levels despite the fact it was a "win" for Corbis.

With more "wins" like this, who can afford to stay in business?

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