Messages

1366

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Looking for more info on actual and expected results from defense letter program

« on: June 04, 2012, 02:24:41 PM »

We aren't going to provide all the details of how the Defense Letter Program (DLP) works and the intricacies for everyone to see. That is confidential between me, Oscar, and his office. We have good reasons for this. Nor are we going to provide statistics or outcomes of the cases. Given that, many of your questions will stay unanswered. Sorry.

If you need that much information to spend $195 for the legal service, then I say keep your money and start hitting the ELI resources and online forums and do lots of homework as I did.

What I will say is this:

1. You get legal representation for a very reasonable price from a lawyer that is well-known in his niche. However, there are limits to how that representation will go.

2. Oscar is very good at what he does but you aren't going to get a lot of phone time. That is not what the DLP it was designed for. People who need phone time can pay for an ELI Phone Support Call.

3. I endorse what he does. I helped develop the DLP and we jointly implemented the program into the ELI infrastructure. I am actively involved with most major changes to the DLP.

4. The DLP works cooperatively with ELI initiatives.

5.  The goal is to help the client achieve what he/she wants. If differs from client to client. We don't publicly discuss specific strategies used to help the clients.

6. We do not hard-sell the program or engage in fear-mongering. It is a soft-sell resource and not mandatory. It is made available for those who want to take advantage of it. WE don't try to "convince" people. Our track record and reputations speak for itself.

7. There have been almost no complaints about it out of the hundreds of clients Oscar has represented. That says a lot. If someone wanted to trash us, the DLP, or Oscar Michelen, it could be easily found on Google.

(The few complaints have related to when Oscar was handling all the administrative and clerical aspects and he got backed up while being in court. But part of this occurred also because of people keep trying to get free time from him by clogging up his email account. These issues has since been corrected. I work with his Office Manager on this. She takes care of many of the clerical aspects which allows Oscar to focus on the case, client, and representation as it should be.)

7. I am a big believer of learning how to self-represent but most people don't have the time, inclination, or personality to do so. Hence, people appreciate that we have the DLP available at a reasonable price.

8. We are transparent for the most part. But I will tell you there are "secrets" and things that never get published or discussed publicly because the stock photo agencies, their employees, and their lawyers are reading ELI. It is stupid to reveal all our tactics, strategies, mindset, and everything we know to the public. It is our competitive edge.

9. There is a certain amount of trust you need to have in us. I am biased, but I think the work Oscar and I do is high quality and high credibility. Our business reputations are very good. We aren't going to put out crap just to earn $195.  I don't get commissions from the letters. Oscar doesn't need his reputation tarnished on the Internet over $195 letters when he charges $400-$500/hour in New York.

10. If you are a micro-manager and need tedious updates and details, don't enroll in the program. The program works best without micro-management. You will and can ask for periodic updates but if you try to micro-manage this, it won't be good for anyone.

I know this doesn't answer all your questions. But it is for good reasons. However, hopefully the statements I made will help clarify whether the DLP is suitable for you and anyone else that have similar questions.

1367

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: Recording Copyright Extortion Collection Telephone Calls

« on: June 04, 2012, 01:39:21 PM »

Glen,

To be fair, I have not heard too much about HAN or your lawyers doing much nasty calling.  The nasty calls I have heard complaints about most have been from McCormack's office. Even then, I did not say Timothy B. McCormack did it or even approved it himself. But given his prior nasty outrageous letters, it is consistent with their attitudes.  From what we hear, he has a very "aggressive" paralegal or some clerk making these nasty calls.

From what I have heard, most phone calls from collection lawyer offices are to trying to convince the letter recipient to settle.

To me, asking permission is a courtesy I extend to those I respect and work with, not those I am going after.  Again, that is just me speaking for myself.

Regardless of the law, I see no reason why stock photo companies wouldn't want their phone calls recorded if they are being appropriate.  I know you disapprove but I believe the calls made by Copyright Services International are professional and appropriate in that they work towards a business to business solution without labeling, name calling, or threatening.  I personally would much rather be called about a matter of unlicensed image use rather then presented with an attorney's letter with penalties and legal threats.  I would be surprised if in asking for permission that the agency calling doesn't feel fine having the receiver record the call.  Just ask.  Its reasonable.

1368

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: MY questions for copyright troll Copyright Services International & Glen Carner

« on: June 04, 2012, 01:29:38 PM »

Glen,

I read through BuddhaPi's initial post twice. It certainly has a "snarky attitude" with sarcasm and innuendo but I don't see where he has actually called you anything.

If you think anyone is going to sanitize their writing for you, forget it.  People don't even sanitize their writings for me! Nearly everyone has strong positions they take on this topic.

If you don't want to answer, you obviously don't have to but let me clue you in, if you think BuddhaPi is going to rewrite his questions to suit you, good luck on that.

The reality is BuddhaPi's questions reflect many other people's questions. It is immaterial to me whether you answer or not (or stay or go for that matter) as your credibility is suspect with me and a number of other people.  However, others may want to hear what you have to say regardless.

1369

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A Man of Principal and Not Interest

« on: June 04, 2012, 01:18:45 PM »

This isn't a post I would have put up but an ELI Community member felt otherwise.  You aren't here to get "beat up"? I am not sure what you consider getting "beat up" but you had to know that it would be risky for you to come on ELI publicly.  For what it's worth, I have already said you are quite courageous (and maybe a tad crazy) for participating on ELI.

1370

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright Services International / Hawaiian Art Network

« on: June 04, 2012, 01:13:25 PM »

Glen, you might find this hard to believe but we do not "ruin these stock photo companies and the people who work with them at all costs." We actually use some discretion and restraint.  It's just that when we hit, we hit hard.

If there is incorrect information here on ELI, you aren't doing a good job pointing them out or offering some level of evidence to support your statements.

We do speculate and hypothesize and they may be incorrect. But given your industry's credibility, we are not going to simply accept your statements as fact until we can verify them.

If you choose not to provide supporting or corroborating evidence (because we can't make you) or statements from a credible source, we will stick what we have collectively come up with.

"Every effort is made to provide factual information" is on the first paragraph of the first page S.G..  It doesn't say "see what sticks, say it enough, and it will become truth because our job is to ruin these stock photo companies and the people who work with them at all costs."

1371

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: Recording Copyright Extortion Collection Telephone Calls

« on: June 03, 2012, 03:33:11 PM »

mcfilms,

Actually, that makes me feel better that all of you got my original point. Somehow I thought I didn't write clearly or you guys missed what I was saying. It is a "call to action" of sorts and I am about simplicity. Having said that, I understand your position. That is why we have these forums.  We can discuss our perspectives and people can pick and choose what they want to do.

Honestly, I don't think we will get many phone recordings simply because it is a pain in the butt. And when you are ready to record, you don't often capture what you want.

I am a realist. There are all kinds of laws being broken every day, some of the laws are just nonsensical or plain unenforceable. I could create a long list of laws that many people have broken either intentionally or unintentionally.

For the record, I don't go out of my way to test the law or even hang out in the fringes. But there are times in life, if something has to happen, I will do what it takes.  Letting some obscure or unenforceable law hold you back is simply a risk I am willing to take.

If someone doesn't want to do something, fine. No one is holding a gun to anyone's head. But just because my idea is a bit edgy doesn't mean it isn't a valid strategy.

1372

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: Recording Copyright Extortion Collection Telephone Calls

« on: June 03, 2012, 12:10:30 AM »

Guys, you are killing me.  I think you are missing my point and making this too complicated. I am surprised given some of you should know my personality by now.  You are adding layers to my statement when I didn't intend any. I already did the necessary reading before I made this statement.  I already know everything you guys are saying and I am going to disregard it.  I am making the decision for MYSELF.  Everyone else can take my direct statement and add layers.

I am telling you that if someone tries to call me when I don't want them to, I have ZERO intentions of notifying them no matter which of the 50 states I am in. If I am gunning after someone, I am NOT notifying them.  I will do it discreetly to nail them. I am going to get them, straight and simple. I am hitting that record button without their knowing or permission. It's that simple and direct.

I am not using it as court evidence and all that other stuff.  I am going directly to the public with it.  I don't want them to know I am recording because I intend to capture them "in the raw", not a condensed or toned-down version of the conversation.  But that is just me.

My caveat is that I almost never record phone calls. I have no history of "breaking this law".  Almost never need to.  But if I need to "break this law", then so be it. I am not going to worry about this "blue law" (my opinion) on recording phone calls as a private individual gathering evidence against a more powerful bully or extortionist.

Once again, I believe the intent of the law is for major and flagrant abuse of recording phone conversations.

This may be one of those times where I may stand entirely alone on this matter. Other people can go ahead and implement your suggestions if they are that fearful of the "risk".  I am not going to be held back by some remote, obscure chance that some prosecutor might use valuable tax dollars to go after a private individual for committing this egregious crime of recording a phone call without someone's permission. I will take my chances with that "risk".

1373

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Recording Copyright Extortion Collection Telephone Calls

« on: June 02, 2012, 09:32:47 PM »

This is one of these ideas that I have held on to simply because I wasn't prepared to take a public position on. I am now.

Apparently, I hear some nasty copyright extortion collection telephone calls have been made to letter recipients. Most notably, the nastiest complaints I heard of comes from a clerk or paralegal allegedly from Attorney Timothy B. McCormack's office. I cannot say whether Tim knows or even approves about how his paralegals are making these collection phone calls but I can promise you that he ultimately gets the responsibility for this one.

Glen Carner, CEO of Hawaiian Art Network, has come on to the ELI Forums trying to justify and defend his new Copyright Services International venture where he has one of his clerks make "copyright collections phone calls" to people "out of the blue" trying to inform and extract payment over the phone.

As far as the ELI Community is concerned, none of us feel that phone conversations serve any good purpose (at this time). It is grossly stacked against the person receiving the phone call especially if they know nothing about the copyright collection process. I don't like emails either and highly discourage it. I believe in old-fashioned typed letter with a first-class postage stamp sent through U.S. Postal Mail.

There is a move by the stock photo agencies and their collection lawyers to minimize their footprint when it comes to their extortion letters and other communication means. Let's face it. When it is shown to he public, it is very embarrassing to them. And in some cases, it has earned them complaints with the State Bar and the Attorney General. The extortion letters have become shorter and more sanitized. But don't fool yourself, they are still coming after your money. They are trying to move towards email vs. standard U.S. Postal mail.  Now, we have copyright collection telephone calls.

I believe people should be prepared for telephone calls and record those calls to protect yourself. Some people might say that recording phone calls is "illegal".  Well, I say cold-calling people and trying to get people to pay big money with ZERO PROOF over the phone isn't all that warm and fuzzy either. It smells of a scam. There is no judge that will ever reprimand you for NOT paying someone hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over a blind telephone call no matter how sweet-sounding the caller is.

Regarding the legality of recording "phone calls", I have no problems recording calls if I need to regardless of what the law books say because it will be for my own use. I know that the law on recording phone conversations vary from state to state but it doesn't bother me because I have a good idea what I will use it for and what I can't. Unless you plan on using it egregiously to be malicious or profit from it, very few prosecutors are going to devote their time on this supposed "crime".

It is analogous to the fact that speeding is technically illegal. But nearly no one goes to jail or gets a speeding ticket for going 5 mph over the speed limit.  Very few people worry about it. Or a U-turn where you are not supposed to. Or talking on the cell phone while driving.  So many vehicle-related laws that people break all the time.

Or how about the "blue laws" relating to sex for certain sexual acts?  Is anyone really going to bust down your door and arrest you for engaging in a particular activity between two consenting adults?  Countless people are "breaking blue laws" daily!  Lots of weird laws on the books but not really that big a deal by most "normal" people.  It would cause an outrage trying to enforce them.

So, my own OPINION, is that I am not going to obsess over the laws regarding recording phone calls especially against those trying to get money from me. This isn't a debt collection call they are making. This is an unproven, copyright claim call! Most people never give me a reason to need to consider recording a phone call without their permission.  But if I feel the need to record a phone call to protect myself or my interests, I will and I won't feel bad about it at all. I will take that risk. I won't let people get away with saying crazy things to me if I can capture and record it and then use it against them.

It is obviously YOUR choice whether you are willing to take that risk to record a phone call without someone's authorization.

But I think we need to start considering recording the copyright collections phone calls and letting others hear and analyze these calls.

Just to prove a point, I recently received a threatening phone call from a ex-friend who became a meth-user and now angry with me. A message was left on my voicemail. I took that recorded voicemail and saved it to report to the police. And this real-life recoding is available for you to listen to. I mean what I say.



ELI is happy to receive recorded phone call submissions. We are happy to anonymize your portion and any other identifying information but we will preserve the identity of the copyright collection caller.

1374

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: Free Baitpapers

« on: June 02, 2012, 06:21:46 PM »

Brandon Sand, the idiot musician bully lawyer who went crazy on EVNL, got taken down by Oscar Michelen in particular. I heard that Brandon was practically begging and crying for Oscar to get his name off of the ELI website.

I bet EVNL thinks paying Oscar and reporting her letter to ELI was one of the best, most empowering thing she has ever done for herself.

Even though her case has long been "settled" (beaten down was more like it), EVNL is free as a bird enjoying payback of which I fully endorse and support.

I guess that's why you and your lawyer(s) treat people so lovingly when they call and try to explain what happened and ask for relief, like Extortion Victim No More, eh, Glen?

You guys just use that old telephone to make all these amicable resolutions, right?

LOL... again.

1375

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: Free Baitpapers

« on: June 02, 2012, 06:15:25 PM »

Gee, don't you just hate it when people who fight back for no reason at all with no provocation? I hate it when that happens.

You might have missed the memo, but most people try to plead their case and it goes nowhere.  Hiring defense lawyers are too expensive which forced Oscar Michelen and I to create and design the Defense Letter program.

Payback, retaliation, personal attacks, reputational attacks, online complaints, speaking out, mind-sharing, forensic online investigations, and online fightback tactics all work well to varying degrees.  You can thank me for popularizing and spearheading those efforts.

You would never have come here so intent on listening to our side if I hadn't encouraged that philosophy over the years. You will just have to forgive us when we remain skeptical and stick to a winning formula of making change.

It used to be when I believed in an "eye for an eye". Since last year, thanks to Julie Stewart - FECAL (FEmale CAnadian Lawyer), one of your dumb collection lawyers in particular who didn't know when to stop, I graduated to "two for one" specials. That means every time she attacked ELI, we would hit back twice as hard. The reason why this was consciously done was she wouldn't back off.

Don't get me started with Peter Holt who argued with us about using the word "extortion".  Brandon Sand stupidly tried to muck around with our Scribd account like Julie did.  Your collections lawyers made me come up with even more aggressive tactics to implement and execute.

So please don't try to be a wise ass and try to paint a picture that ELI just became like we are overnight for no provoked reasons.  Everything we have done has been a reaction and response to something else.  The difference between then and now is many of us have become more seasoned, hardened, skeptical, and far less patient.

You complain about "shoot first and ask questions later"?  Gee, who started the whole "guilty until proven innocent" fiasco?

The idea behind the phone call / email is to not make it a fight but to attempt an amicable resolution before the issue of copyright is ever even mentioned.  I think you guys have become so entrenched in fighting back that you never considered that there may not need to be one in the first place.

1376

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: What is Glen Carner's Official Position on Vincent K. Tylor?

« on: June 02, 2012, 05:46:27 PM »

If you start with the fact that the images were used in the same way most things are on the internet, what alternative does Mr. Tylor have?  Should Mr. Tylor abandon his collection and sales because of the unauthorized sharing?

Who ever said this?

 Should businesses now have free reign to use his work for profit with no compensation for the artist because because they did not take the time to learn or care enough about what should and should not go on their websites?  None of these things are acceptable to myself or Mr. Tylor.

You can say "ignorance" of the law is no excuse. But whether you like it or not, nearly no one regards the "importance" of an image as highly as other "crimes" and it will be fought and contested.

I asked this before.  At what point does the infringing party have ANY responsibility in what they do with any images they find on the internet?  I don't simply use any image I find on the internet, I license it. 

I am intentionally skipping this. I have no incentive to do YOUR homework and solve YOUR problems.

I dont pull images off of Google Images or a wallpaper site and use them on my business website, I pay for them.  Any business owner should know this and it is their responsibly to do so.  In another thread it was mentioned that the "trolls" started this.  No, we dont take action unless someone is profiting from our works.  We are responding to a situation that we did not create as best we can. 

Excuse me, last time I checked even children are starting websites and online businesses. How would anyone even begin to learn when their parents didn't even know.  Exactly what business courses in college teach about image licensing?  When someone registers their corporation as you did in Hawaii, did you sign a document saying that you shouldn't use images without licensing them?  I am a web-savvy, independent publisher that produces and custom-create most of my own content whether it's text, photos, or graphics. Despite my efforts, to stay on the up and up, it didn't occur to me I would get nailed because of a web designer in India.

How about many small business owners who knew very little and hired a web designer? Where would these people get their education? You might say "it's their problem to deal with".  To that, I would agree with. Having said that, I launched ELI with my own way of dealing and fighting back your extortionate industry.  The fact that you are debating us shows that what we do work, however unconventional and renegade it might be.

I would have no problems telling some people (but very rare) to tell your peers in the industry to shove their claim up where the sun don't shine.  I am not a lawyer so I can say that. Ultimately, the person can decide what to do. But in almost no way shape or form would I recommend people to pay these outrageous settlement amounts especially from collection lawyers getting 30%-40% of the take.  That is just dumb.

Again these are not college students downloading music for personal use.  These are business professionals using our images for their profit and yes, I as well as Mr. Tylor feel strongly that the use should be compensated wither the business owner cared enough to ensure that they could use the image or not.

You and VKT can go feel whatever you want. No one cares or asking your or VKT's approval. We don't ask permission around here.  We implement and execute on well-thought out strategy to fight back.  If you never came around, we would continue what we do. People know what is fair and reasonable and what is not. You guys still don't get it and probably never will. Don't be surprised if your industry eventually gets put out of business. Most "normal" people will not tolerate what your industry does. I absolutely believe there will come a point when there have been so many extortion letters issued, it will lead to unexpected and unintended ripple effects that will be detrimental your peers and industry.

1377

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Glen Carner's First 8 Questions for Matthew Chan

« on: June 02, 2012, 04:33:24 PM »

My comments are inline again.

While we wont ever get to a point where our photographers are having their work used for profit and then the business is expected to only remove them, there is no reason not to try and modify the recovery process in a way that is more palatable for the end user (and a new attorney for that matter). 

Last time we checked, the collection lawyers are (smartly I might add) making changes all by themselves without asking us. If you don't want to modify, then don't. Be prepared for the consequences. Most of us in the know, know the drill and what to do.  Those who don't, get initiated very quickly. Many us in our own private lives tell others to be careful not to caught up in the copyright trolling fiasco as we have and many have a cavalier attitude about it and I don't try to save them from themselves.

Glen, you should be happy to know that I feel some people actually "deserve" the stress and getting worked up over the extortion letters because some were already warned by me and others in the ELI Community. I don't feel that much sympathy for the people who have been warned.  Hence, they have do decide if they want to cope with the stress and hassle to deal with it themselves, pay ELI, or pay you guys.  Everyone always pays one way or another.

My comment towards Matt is in recognition of his frustration and suspicion.  I understand there is much anger towards to process (obviously) but as business owner its my responsibility to examine that regardless of what I think.  Where else to better get feedback then ELI.

I am not sure what frustration you are talking about. I am pretty happy with my position and what I do. However, you better believe I am absolutely suspicious and skeptical. Here on ELI, you will get all kinds of answers. Most of it is easy to understand. Mine could be more cryptic simply because I don't have all the time in the world to fully explain the full scope of my reasoning in a "free format" but rest assured that I am very results-oriented and go way beyond traditional thinking and conventions.

Until copyright law changes, the agencies will continue to function as they do, recoveries using attorneys will continue, and ELI will be there to shame them in the process.  There is no reason not to continue examining the process and improving it in any way possible which is why our account staff was trained specifically on a "no legal language" approach when asking for the license fee only with no mention of copyright, penalties, or any legal position what so ever.  We will continue to do this and I again appreciate your positions and feedback. 

Sure, go ahead with that premise that the copyright law will be the solution to your and other media industry related problems. You still don't get there are much larger forces at work decimating ALL THE large media companies that are MIDDLE-MEN. You are a middle-man because your photographers are too lazy to reinvent themselves. They feel entitled because they made money before, they need to continue making money without changing.

Regarding the so-called "shaming" part. Go ask your collection lawyers if the so-called "shaming" does not, in fact, have real impact.  Prior to ELI coming on the scene, nearly everyone thought the way to fight back was through legal means. That is because people stupidly and blindly accepted your industry's propaganda.  They didn't know any better. The legal aspect of all this is one tool and one talking point that people keep obsessing over. On the flip side, your photographers' solutions to their problems does NOT lie with they copyright law. It is only one tool. 

Just so you know, I have more than once asked Oscar Michelen, a very smart lawyer, why he doesn't just go on without me or ELI? Even his blog courtroomstrategy.com he works with me when he doesn't have to.  I don't think he needs me or ELI at all to do what he does. And yet, someone who has this tremendous legal reputation and online presence continues to work with me and ELI, an unconventional and renegade website entity. I keep asking him isn't ELI embarrassing him by what we do? But he seems to like us anyway.

He hasn't explicitly told me this but I have inferred from his comments to me that he understands that his services and legal part is simply one component of a much larger repertoire of tools and abilities. I am guessing he likes being part of an online community that makes a big difference also.

You keep dwelling on extortion letters, how to collect money, copyright laws, copyright registrations, etc. while upheavals continue to devastate ALL the major media industries. I do have proposals and ideas but I am not going to give them out for free. It goes way outside what everyone has been suggesting.  I am a web strategist for hire and good at what I do. I have given you some free hints, go do your part and get smart or pay someone to make you smarter. FYI, I am not the only person with this knowledge. Plenty of smart people to hire to enlighten you. But your incestuous industry probably wouldn't even know where to look.

I know you see the agencies as greedy, archaic, abusers of the law and most agencies see businesses using our images as thieves, pirates, and whatever other name calling is common these days but I don't subscribe to either of these extreme positions.  What I believe in is solutions and finding the best way to do things with the parameters I am given.  The fact that both positions are so entrenched is unfortunate but hopefully improvements can be made.

I see the agencies as incestuous and having blinders on. Jonathan Klein, CEO of Getty Images, thinks he is smart but all he has done is to go on an acquisition spree to create a monopoly with investor money given to him.  He doesn't seem that smart to me based on the interviews he has given.  Only the people in his incestuous industry is in awe of what he says. At some point, when you buy everything up, then what?

Wal-mart has gone through the same thing.  They are worldwide and there is a Walmart store nearly everywhere. At some point, you can only buy your way so far. You actually have to perform and do right by customers/end-users.

Quite frankly, your industry antics help MY and Oscar's position in life. We continue to gain in influence and notoriety with every extortion letter that goes out. It's free marketing to us.  So keep going with it.  That is more badwill for you guys and more goodwill for those of us for helping them.  Did I mention that Oscar and I give MOST of our information for free and yet people still wanting to pay us to help them?

I don't even know how many thousands of people would never have heard of Oscar or me without the extortion letter industry.  Keep up the good work. We enjoy the free marketing at YOUR expense. Remember, every extortion letter sent out is one new enemy of your industry and a friend to ELI. Go read the book "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. We have hit a few tipping points already and will continue to hit more at this rate. It is a transfer of positive karma from your industry to us. And Vincent Tylor makes more enemies with every passing day with each extortion letter that goes out. What a way to travel through life, building enemies up on a daily basis.

Whether your industry puts ELI out of business because no one needs ELI anymore or whether they keep sending letter recipients our way, Oscar and I win either way. I know BuddhaPi really enjoys his daily "ELI crack" habit.  He is obsessive and hounds me every other day.  He pays to work on ELI with his time, energy, PACER fees, and his forensic detective skills.

It used to be I couldn't get the guy to put his real name or photo on anything. Now, he wants to put on business clothes and asking do more ELI videos! BuddhaPi is starting to make me nuts pushing so hard. He keeps digging and digging information without asking me, you'd think he was an obsessed dog trying to dig his way to China!

Did I mention that all of this helps BuddhPi's business as a web-hosting provider? I think he would admit he has learned a ton of new PR and marketing techniques for his own and his client's businesses being part of ELI. Plus he loves the drama.  Unlike it is for me or Oscar, ELI is his hobby! I don't mind feeding his "online ELI Crack" habit. BuddhaPi is so predictable, I just know what to do to get him going. Like a druggie, he thanks me for continuing his addiction. I take advantage of him all the time.

The ELI Community members love watching the drama so keep the extortion letters coming.  Their participation is like being part of an "online reality show" where their comments are being read world-wide by hundreds if not thousands of people.

So, don't change. Keep up what you guys are doing.

1378

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / What is Glen Carner's Official Position on Vincent K. Tylor?

« on: June 02, 2012, 03:48:12 AM »

It's interesting that Glen has been here a couple days and few has pushed the issue despite the fact that it has been brought up MANY times in relation to HAN.  It has been talked around but not to my (and others) satisfaction. Maybe because the community is still adjusting to Glen's new presence or simply still in reactionary mode. I know BuddhaPi and a couple others have brought it up. I am taking the liberty to put a bulls-eye on this burning issue.

What is Glen Carner's official position on Vincent K. Tylor, his beliefs, practices?  What about the "seeding"? What about the "free wallpapers"? Is that a way to entrap users?  Is HAN taking advantage of the presumed piracy and/or seeding?

Glen has the opportunity to answer and clarify his position on this on our community. Obviously, it would be unreasonable to expect Glen to get into Vincent's head but it isn't unreasonable to get Glen's take on this.

I want to give credit to EVNL for this one. I believe she was the first, or one of the first to bring the issue of "wallpaper baiting" eventually leading to the "seeding" discussion. Quite honestly, both Oscar and I blew it off in the beginning because it sounded too much like a UFO reporting with a conspiracy theory feel.

However, gradually over time, more and more people kept getting nailed by VKT images and discovered how one photographers images (VKT) seemed to be "distributed" more (far beyond what would be considered "normal"). Even Oscar and I have been forced to acknowledge what others have discovered and brought to our attention. (Good job, ELI community!)

From surface appearances, it looks like HAN makes a nice income from VKT-related extortion letters alone.

Can we get a definitive position statement and explanation on the Vincent Tylor images situation?

I am absolutely sure I speak for the ELI Community that they want to know.

1379

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Glen Carner's First 8 Questions for Matthew Chan

« on: June 02, 2012, 03:27:44 AM »

Michael,

Good of you to join us. You read it correctly and you did not misinterpret and you are NOT overreacting (compared to my own response. LOL.) I appreciate you catching Glen's little snarky remark towards me especially in my own domain. Give me a break. Does he think I would even let that slide?

Obviously, I have hit back already and he just doesn't get it. He is frustrated that, unlike everyone else, I demanded a $1,000 ELI Contribution for me to give "silver platter" service.  Maybe the amount was too "extortionate" for him?  Does that sound familiar?

This Glen Carners quote is too much, for one minute I will move out of my observer role.

"Oscar and the rest of you took a considerable amount of time responding to that and I'm sure Matt feels that you would have been better off watching the grass grow but thank you.  There is already one change that we can make with HAN's attorneys based on your statements." -

Is Glen in a subtle way attempting to silence all critics, stifle free speech as usual or does he simply feel that the rest of of the members are not worthy give their views, including Oscar?  This is a FORUM, Matt owns it,  but he can speak for himself or is he now so important here that he can be mouth piece for Matt?

Did he really write the above quote? Somebody please explain,  if I read this wrong and if I did my apology to Glen. Seriously if I misinterpreted this someone explain to me.  Again if I am over reacting I am very sorry.

Michael

1380

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Glen Carner's First 8 Questions for Matthew Chan

« on: June 02, 2012, 03:19:13 AM »

You picked on that, did you? Don't worry. Every collection lawyer will show up eventually if they send out enough letters or if they hit the right letter recipient.

Ok.......based on "this post" It appears that your main purpose is to make sure that future demand letters from your company do not end up here on ELI.

Interesting.