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« on: June 15, 2009, 11:19:03 PM »
Hi Oscar,
I also received a letter today from Getty Images just today. I guess they are going after everyone and using Archive dot org to do it Spoke to someone at Getty who told me ( implied this as they told me to go to archive dot org) they went to Archive dot org and found one single image I had used on my website and wanted $1300 dollars for it.
So they are not just using Pic scout software, they are using archive dot org to go after old archived images to press their claim. Some of those images might never have even been published online if the bots had to find them. They could be mockups that a web designer was using.
Sure wish they wouldn't use archive dot org since I think it might violate the archive dot org's TOS. They prohibit the use of their site for any commercial purpose. IMO asking for $1300 for an image or using the archive's website to imply that the image was used for a period of time seems way over the top.
I purchased my images online as most people do. Had no idea it was copyrighted and that the company I purchased it from had no right to resell it to me after they obviously did some editing to it. The company I purchased from is long gone I think, and it was such a small amount for the template at the time, that I probably don't have proof that I paid for the image, although I know I did.
Getty knows it's not always possible to produce proof of purchase and I think that's why they go after so many smaller businesses like myself. I am just one person in my business that I run from home and I am not a kid either. Their demand for payment letter was pretty much as you have seen it posted on the internet.
Do you think Mr Michelen that any class action lawsuits will be filed against them for their settlement demands? I surely hope so. There are lots of small business people just getting by in this economy and most cannot come up with the money.
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