Messages

2311

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Dissolved Corporation

« on: January 31, 2012, 09:51:59 AM »

You could ignore it, tho I would not. Who owns / owned the domain name? I am assuming it was in your name, thats who they generally pursue..was the business dissolved before the infringement was found? If so I think you might have a good chance of having this on your side. Also depending on how you had the corp set-up would determine if they could go after your personally.

2312

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: "Cease Communications" request

« on: January 31, 2012, 09:48:54 AM »

You can ask at anytime, but it will fall on deaf ears, they will continue to contact you.NCS Recovery once notified in writing that you dispute the "claim" ( as it is not a debt) by law have to send it back to Getty, or they can be reported, Getty will then pass it along to McCormack, who will send letters. The only way to have them stop is to either pay it, or hire an attorney to represent you, then all communications must go thru the lawyer..

2313

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: $600 (discounted from $780) for a 1.5" x 2" image on my web site

« on: January 31, 2012, 09:43:51 AM »

Another resounding NO, the "demand date" is just another fear tactic.

2314

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: FUTURE DEMANDS - Getty Outrageous prices

« on: January 31, 2012, 09:42:36 AM »

This is further evidence that they've changed their business model from selling images to issuing demand letters. Anyone receiving a demand should also insist on seeing the pricing history for that image.

Could not agree more with the above statement, I guess Getty Images, justifies these price increases cause they need to pay for picscout somehow, and just selling images isn't going to cut it.

2315

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Nordic Photos

« on: January 30, 2012, 08:57:52 PM »

We need to find out if this image from Nordic is even registered with the US Copyright Office, my search has not yielded anything as of yet, but it's not very search friendly as we all know.

and then there is this in the letter  "settle your invoice", don't they even realize this is a claim at this point.

2316

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Nordic Photos

« on: January 30, 2012, 08:30:57 PM »

I guess I'l just keep adding to this post as I do my digging...

Firt tid-bit is the artists / photographers site: http://www.fotografninahellstrom.com/index.html

you will need to translate it.

Looks like this image is not only available on Nordics site but also this site as a rights managed image:

http://www.visualphotos.com/search.do?kwdPPack=en,np00434197,0&fastSearch=0&srcString=np00434197&tvsPPack=


also available here: http://www.fotofinder.com/preview/40C2DACF4F98D628/?usrtrck=searchresult_link_icon_preview&searchresultid=857618e6cd904244832b1984625b0442&start=0&ownerid=287&text=np00434197

2317

Righthaven Lawsuits Forum / Righthaven's Implosion Makes List of Top 5 Internet Law Developments in 2011

« on: January 30, 2012, 08:13:55 PM »

By Eric Goldman
Countdown: My Top 5 List of Developments in 2011
#5: Righthaven Implodes. Since the beginning, I've been skeptical of Righthaven's business model. Seriously, who else thinks it's a good idea to sue small-time mom-and-pop bloggers and non-profits on a one-by-one basis?

http://righthavenvictims.blogspot.com/2012/01/righthavens-implosion-makes-list-of-top.html

2318

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Nordic Photos

« on: January 30, 2012, 08:10:06 PM »

EVNL - how many images in your case? and was that letter from Brandon Sand?

I think alot of times they just come up with a crazy number, so they have a little more wiggle room, in coming down..naturally in the hopes that the recipient will just roll over and pay the whole amount right out of the gate..

Getty's numbers seem to be more consistent, than some of these other stocjk photo companies, and if a "lawyer" sends the letter the amount are always higher...hmmmm I wonder why that would be??

2319

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Nordic Photos

« on: January 30, 2012, 08:01:30 PM »

Just what I needed...a little something to sink my teeth into...Thanx for sharing BigTed!

2320

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Nordic Photos

« on: January 30, 2012, 06:58:43 PM »

Sure enough Nordic Photos is on the list of picscout "clients"... I use that terms lightly, I think from here on out I will refer to their "clients" as "trolls"

2321

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Introduction

« on: January 29, 2012, 07:57:32 PM »

I'm glad I qualify for the first part at least! 

2322

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Introduction

« on: January 29, 2012, 04:26:07 PM »

Agreed!

We know of 1 attorney who did threaten jail time, not only is this way over the top , it is also reason for this attorney to be reported and a complaint lodged against him with the Bar Association. This is a civil matter and there would never be any jail time, and any self respecting, half smart lawyer would know this. again IMHO he should not be able to practice law..

2323

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Introduction

« on: January 29, 2012, 04:08:59 PM »

I have some thoughts on the idea of big corporations and us little guys.

They may send letters to big corps. but they have deep pockets and probably just pay it and make it and away for the most part, hence we don't hear about it much hear, they have legal teams that direct them...we don't.

I also believe they really depend on the "fear factor" by targeting small mom and pop businesses. naturally it freaks most people out, and most likely a large percentage roll over and pay, and a smaller % lands here, gets educated and fights..

It would not be good PR for a large corporation to get dragged into a suit for infringement, hance another reason to just settle and sweep it under the rug.

One case I am going to follow closely is the HAN v Moku-Aina case, they are a larger company that apparently run/manage resort hotels around the world, and they are fighting back on multiple fronts..so much for the fear factor here, you'll also notice that GI and the others rarely file suit over 1 or 2 images, again IMHO this is purely for financial reasons nothing more.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76416831/Hawaiian-Art-Network-Vincent-Tylor-vs-Moku-aina-Properties-Complaint

http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/getty-images-letter-forum/hawaiian-art-network-v-moku-aina-properties-observations/msg4989/#msg4989

2324

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Template Monster

« on: January 29, 2012, 03:57:08 PM »

Template Monster signed an agreement with Getty Images AFTER being sued by Corbis for using unlicensed images in their templates. I heard or read somewhere a suit from Getty was in the works, but they entered into an agreement before hand. Part of this agreement is that they (TM)settle any issues directly with Getty , which has not always been the case .

From the TM site: Important info: In case you receive a copyright claim from Getty images about the alleged unauthorized use of images in a website based on template you’ve purchased from us, please be sure to contact us at steve.chizmar |at| templatemonster.com. Our legal representatives will handle the issue for you.


Basically TM was infringing on copyrights not only of Corbis, but Getty, and others.

2325

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Introduction

« on: January 29, 2012, 02:38:03 PM »

Welcome to the forum! I like the fact that others are getting educated about this, even if they don't need to..strength in numbers! I think I can speak for everyone here, that we all respect copyright and even the protection of ones copyright, afterall most of are publishers of content in one form or another. Yes there are those who unknowingly grab images from google and soon land here.

As you can see from our posts, it's the method employed to extract extortion like amounts over images that are sold on the web for a few dollars.. You are correct in assuming that these companies don't make much in terms of licensing images, so they seek to boost their revenue with alternative means, I assume any monies collected stays mostly with getty, and they may give the artist a small percentage if that..