Messages

1846

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: ELI Website Traffic Statistics Trivia

« on: December 01, 2011, 02:26:18 AM »

We have officially hit December 2011 and the final web statistics for November 2011 have been calculated.

Although we did not crack 12,000 unique visitors, we can pretty close at 11,700+ unique visitors compared to October 2011 which had 11,000+ unique visitors.  I believe it is the largest one month gain in ELI's history.

November 14, 2011 remains the highest number of unique visitors for a single day at 921 unique visitors. However, November 28, 2011 (first Monday after the long holiday weekend) had an impressive 2nd place showing at 898 unique visitors.  It is impressive given that the forum activity was pretty quiet for the week prior.

ELI loyalists know why November numbers spiked.  There was a lot more ELI drama in the last 2 weeks then the entire year before combined.  Normally, we REPORT on stories.  We don't often BECOME part of the story.

1847

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Canadian Letter Recipients Getting Poor Advice from Blogger

« on: December 01, 2011, 01:21:37 AM »

As far as I am concerned, the issue we deal with is more than a freaking academic exercise they observe and report on.  I can appreciate a good legal argument and analysis like anyone but if you have an open blog post that sits out there for years and people keeping posting to it without any kind of meaningful or helpful responses, why keep sucking people in?  So he can hear everyone's sob stories?

He should simply shut down the comments to that post instead of having people continually post into a total vacuum.

Even his blog tagline is a joke and total waste of space.  "My views are purely personal and don't necessarily reflect those of my firm or any of its clients. Nothing on this blog should be taken as legal advice."  

Did that really need to be stated?  Anyone with half a brain can obviously figure that out. Besides that, he writes with the flair and position of stale bread. 

As far as I am concerned, he needs to come out of his ivory tower and get his head out of the academic hole it appears to be in.

It really is unbelievable that in the whole country of Canada, there is not one Canadian lawyer that can mount a single argument against the extortion letters? GMAFB.

1848

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A shout-out to MCFilms!

« on: November 30, 2011, 08:29:09 PM »

McFilms,

You did a great service by "coming out" to the group.  All it took was for you to step out publicly and people started gathering around you sharing stories.  And that is why ELI exists today.  People are dying to tell their stories and share their experiences in addition to getting help.

I am sure they didn't feel too good when they realized they paid too much to settle a case that would never have gone to court to begin with.

It is interesting and quite impressive that you have done something I have yet had the opportunity to do.  While we have a large online readership through our videos and this forum, I have never had the opportunity to speak to anyone in person about this beyond a personal one-on-one setting.  I think it is best that I never got in front of a group to speak my mind.  

I could live to regret the things I would publicly say and in the process embarrass myself along the way.  It is probably best I stay behind a keyboard and my camcorder otherwise it could get ugly. :-)

Matthew

1849

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Canadian Letter Recipients Getting Poor Advice from Blogger

« on: November 23, 2011, 10:01:45 AM »

This Canadian blog post by Howard Knopf still sits out there doing nothing.  I keep getting email updates of new people posting to that blog thread and there is never one lick of a reply from him.  People continue to waste their time posting to that blog post that just hangs out there with never an updated response.  I guess people don't know they can post here on ELI and at least get someone to have a dialog with them.

Yes, I am still irked that he deleted Oscar's and my respective posts.  We have done way more than he has done and he deleted us of all people.   

1850

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A letter to my Congressman and my two Senators

« on: November 23, 2011, 09:53:49 AM »

As least you got a reply of any kind.  I didn't get a single acknowledgment whatsoever 2 years ago when I wrote my senators and congressmen here in Georgia (relating to a different matter).  I sent my letter Certified Mail which obviously didn't mean anything.

Even the White House, responded better than they did.  I got a generic email response at least.

Matthew

1851

Legal Controversies Forum / Re: Social Shaming - The Latest Response to Cease and Desist Letters

« on: November 23, 2011, 05:21:11 AM »

Most of those cases seemed very heavy-handed against the little guy.  When you are smaller, trying to outspend and outlawyer a larger opponent is a bad idea.  Publicity, creativity, and being fast-moving helps smaller companies equalize the fight a bit.

1852

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: We have a new facebook fan!

« on: November 21, 2011, 01:53:32 PM »

Well said.  Thanks for "getting it" and communicating it so eloquently.

That's funny Matt. I posted a very similar reply on that thread:

_______________________________________________

Elisa Pauline Stewart -- In your world view it is okay for stock image companies to threaten individuals and small companies with lawsuits they will never file to squeeze out a few thousand bucks? Is that correct? These stock agencies and the lawyers who act as their "muscle" or "collection agency" have earned the scorn of a legion of web developers, designers and small business owners. When the person that shares your name decided to employ these same heavy-handed tactics, at least one of the letter recipients and the ELI website pushed back against it.

You find it offensive that the owner of the ELI site used colorful language -- that could CLEARLY be seen as metaphorical - to describe what happened? You know what I find offensive? The fact that these types of letters have caused at least a dozen small companies to simply fold. I know of one non-profit that was actually doing good work that had to close up because they could not pay the demand letter.

Sorry, but we are the ones who have to, as you say, "wrestle with pigs."

1853

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: We have a new facebook fan!

« on: November 21, 2011, 01:19:25 PM »

Elisa is NOT related to Julie.  Her replies to another thread seems to indicate this. Read her replies.


It is especially appropriate because when you punch a bully back, they start crying like a baby and running home to their mommy saying "he hit me" when the fact of the matter is they deserved that punch in the nose. How is your nose feeling, Ms. Stewart? Is it swollen yet? ARE YOU FOR REAL? I AM A TEACHER ANDDDD WITH THESE WORDS, YOU WOULD NOT ONLY BE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, YOU WOULD BE IN A SECTION 16. CRIMINAL LAW = NO ONE GETS PUNCHED OR THREATENED NOR RIDICULED PUBLICLY!! IS THIS IN WRITING YOU PUT IT IN? DO NOT READ BETWEEN THE LINES, YOU ARE OUT OF LINE AND IT DOES NOT TAKE A LAWYER TO SEE THIS ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE SHOULD REPORT THIS SITE!!!!!!!!!!!

we carry the same name and that is why the post caught my eye, she is not responding so I guess she is moving on. I psychiatrist I met qualified mental health this way: One who knows how to solve a problem not create new one is deemed healthy. I earned from all this, thank you for the moments. ESP

=========================

My reply to this thread and specifically those 2 comments:

Elisa, I did not see your comment on this thread. I already answered your first post much further to the top. Regarding your 2nd post, as Jerry indicated, it was a metaphor. Here on FB, I don't have the luxury of long posts. It is about getting to the point even if it means using metaphors. We aren't just reporting the news. Unfortunately, sometimes we are PART of the news. Hence, the snarky remarks that I (Matthew) make.

1854

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: We have a new facebook fan!

« on: November 21, 2011, 12:32:37 PM »

This was my Facebook reply to Elisa Stewart. Space is limited so I hit the high points. It is difficult to tell if Elisa is related to Julie. I am not familiar enough with Canada to know if "Stewart" is a common surname.

Elisa, I agree with your sentiment that things should have been left well enough alone because it was practically a non-issue to begin with. Regarding "getting dirty with the pigs", it is an approach that is distasteful but sometimes necessary to send a strong message to others who may attack and restrict ELI's right to legally communicate and share information freely. Don't pick a fight unless you are prepared to get bloodied. ELI was simply doing its reporting job. Regarding comments about young lawyers, I (Matthew) have said this sentiment for some time way before recent events unfolded. Last thing, NO ONE was happy with what happened as it was a tremendous time-waster for everyone concerned.

1855

Getty Images Letter Forum / Cool new Extortion Letter Videos Courtesy of Google Video Tools

« on: November 19, 2011, 02:59:05 PM »

I really love Google's video tool "Search Stories" Video Creator. It allows you to put in a set of relevant and related searches that tell a story in 35 seconds.

Check these short videos out:

Masterfile Settlement Demand Letter Info


Corbis Settlement Demand Letter Info


Stock Food America Settlement Demand Letter Info


Hawaiian Art Network Settlement Demand Letter Info


Hope you enjoyed them.

1856

Getty Images Letter Forum / Unprecedented 3 ELI Video Updates Released in Nov. 2011

« on: November 19, 2011, 01:15:56 AM »

Never in the history of ELI have we issued 3 video updates in a single month. Because of the drama that unfolded this week with false accusations of defamation and bogus DMCA complaints against ELI from so-called expert copyright lawyers, the ELI community and ELI Defense Team jointly fought back with our own vocal counter-arguments and DMCA counter-notification letters.

As a follow-up and recap, Oscar and Matthew took a stand to come together and produce these videos to reflect on the week's dramatic events. Enjoy.

================


Matthew Chan & Oscar Michelen explain ELI's use of the word "extortion" and phrases "extortion letters" and "legalized extortion".



Matthew Chan & Oscar discuss recent DMCA complaints made against ELI and ELI accounts and how they fought back using DMCA Counter-notification letters.



Matthew Chan & Oscar Michelen discuss the mistakes newbie lawyers make and how they react when negative spotlight is on them.

1857

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Stock Food America

« on: November 18, 2011, 10:31:49 AM »

Thanks for sharing.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/73121453/Stock-Food-Settlement-Demand-Letter

This appears to be in the early stages as it has not yet reached a lawyer. My general advice would be to follow similar advice already given out regarding Getty Images Letters throughout these forums as there appears to be no record of them filing a lawsuit on anyone yet.

1858

Hawaiian Letters & Lawsuits Forum / Re: Hawaiian Art Network LLC's list of Lawyers Used Thus Far

« on: November 18, 2011, 01:45:32 AM »

I hope I don't regret this post but I believe in trying to be fair.  It is no secret that my respect level for two of these lawyers are in the toilet.  We have newbie lawyers Brandon Sand & Julie Stewart that are simply pathetic.  Julie is apparently the lead cry-baby who decided to rally Brandon and Peter Holt together to gang up on ELI, me, and Oscar.  The two newbies are paper experts but have no online credibility whatsoever. IN fact, it is practically non-existent.

We all know that Brandon and especially Julie went ape-shit on the bogus DMCA complaints on my hosting provider and Scribd forcing me to engage in numerous counter-notification letters. What was a little blip has become a giant drama driving readership and traffic to these forums.  (I like increased readership and traffic but I don't like the drama especially when it makes me work too much.)

However, regarding Peter Holt.  I have a different view of him.  I actually have some respect for him.  He does not appear to be a newbie lawyer like the other two.  Upon further reflection, I can admit out of of all the settlement demand letters, his was the mildest and the most reasonable. It didn't have all the super-heavy, overwhelming, and outrageous statements most of the other demand letters had.

Another thing I give credit to Peter Holt for (unless he changes his behavior) is that he appears to have a more steadier head.  He did not recklessly issue bogus DMCA complaints against ELI in any way.  He also did not try to engage in a childish "wack-a-mole" game with us.

Peter's biggest beef with us (from what I can tell so far) is our liberal use of the word "extortion" throughout our website and the website name. To that, we have explained our position that we don't directly personalize it towards anyone in particular.  I am certain he will disagree but that is ok.  We can agree to disagree and just move on.  I believe he also dislikes his name being associated with this website. Well, if it means anything, I started this crazy website and I have mixed feelings about attaching MY OWN NAME to this website!  I only did it years ago because it seemed to be an important move to make if I wanted to make ELI credible.  There are many of my own friends who don't know of my involvement of ELI and I don't go out of my way to tell them.  It isn't a secret per se.  But you have to admit, the topics we discuss is very nichey and very few people can relate to it UNTIL that day a letter arrives for them! Then, all of a sudden, we get LOTS of love and attention.  

Peter now knows we exist and we now know he exists.  I don't trust Hawaiian Art Network.  Something doesn't smell right to me. As far as I am concerned, give me Getty Images any day.  That is really saying something when I give Getty Images higher respect than another party or organization. In any case, we observe and collect information from anyone who wants to submit info to us. There is no "witch hunt" as long as people play fairly and ethically. However, Peter's biggest problem now is his association with Hawaiian Art Network because of the smell H.A.N gives off.

For now, despite our differences, Peter Holt earns my respect for keeping his head above the drama caused by Julie and Brandon.  Let's hope everyone can now go their separate ways peacefully.

1859

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Stock Food America

« on: November 18, 2011, 01:04:24 AM »

My primary email address is: [email protected]. Thanks.

1860

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Brandon Sand Settlement Demand Letter

« on: November 18, 2011, 12:58:21 AM »

Well, the person who provided us Brandon Sand's Settlement Demand Letter has been on the phone with me twice this week and we swapped a couple emails.  Boy, does she have some stories to tell about her experiences with Brandon which does NOT paint him in a good light.  Further, one of those actions could get him severely reprimanded. I have asked her to share her story and she has tentatively agreed. All this recent activity seems to have gotten her riled up. I will keep you updated.

Maybe she will jump on an introduce herself. I hope so.

Firstly, thanks to all for their very hard and diligent work here.
I'm sure that it's a comfort to many that there are those who work to fight this.

Secondly, it's interesting to see that these lawyers have so much time on their hands that they have time to Google their own name.

In any case, it seems absurd to me that these lawyers would use claims of "copyright infringement" to attempt to hide what they are doing.

When somebody goes through a great deal to hide their actions, their moral compass should be telling them that they're doing something wrong.
I'm sure that Oscar would agree that legal issues should be as open as possible in our society, lest we pay a heavy price.

I think it's time to report Bandon Sand to the California Bar Association for sending his extortion letter into another country.

S.G.