Messages

241

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Haters

« on: August 24, 2012, 07:26:18 PM »

cemskee,

When you were employed by Getty, did they go by word of law (using words like infringement), or did Getty go by the concept of "theft" (a criminal act)?

That is, do you personally feel that this is "theft" under law, or is this a construct that Getty goes by?

S.G.

242

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: I'm done worrying about it.

« on: August 24, 2012, 07:22:08 PM »

Personally, I want to hear more from the former Getty intern.
If somebody from Getty can educate me about Getty's business model, and how Getty employs copyright laws, I would be quite grateful.

I'm also curious as to what industry the former intern works in now?
Does he/she feel that the Getty experience enriched his/her career standing?

S.G.

243

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Received second notice last month and asking for input on my response.

« on: August 23, 2012, 12:55:19 PM »

I was soaking in the tub, thinking about this.

We're pretty familiar with the tactics of Getty, Masterfile and a few others.
But, some people that don't even own a website or blog are receiving monetary claims over "copyright infringement".
It's best not to even respond to such emails.

Additionally, I wouldn't send any checks to these trolls.  In the event of a legal dispute, they'll have your banking info.
During disputes in court, plaintiffs sometimes seek to freeze accounts.
Also in the event of a win for the plaintiff (and non-payment by plaintiff), they'll usually attempt to garnish bank accounts if they can find out enough info.

These are still rare scenarios, however, I'd still play it safe.

S.G.

244

Legal Controversies Forum / Re: Registering blog posts: Individual? Collective? What?

« on: August 21, 2012, 05:36:10 PM »

I like Robert's idea...
...if others got on the bandwagan, it could really make a difference..!

S.G.

245

Legal Controversies Forum / Re: Registering blog posts: Individual? Collective? What?

« on: August 21, 2012, 04:14:24 PM »

Unfortunately, without registering the content with the copyright office, legal remedies wouldn't be a practical option.
Damages would likely amount to just legal fees, which can only be sought for registered content.
Additionally, if this person is linking to the information, it may not qualify as an actual infringement.
I also think that we shouldn't assume that lawyers will normally take cases on pro-bono or even contingency.

I do know that content can be registered as an "updating database".  I'm not well-read in this area, however.
A legal dispute in this regard may be breaking new ground.
Oftentimes, a threat of legal action is enough, but one risks becoming a "Timmy McCormack".

I very sympathetic to this issue though, don't get me wrong.

S.G.

246

Legal Controversies Forum / Re: Registering blog posts: Individual? Collective? What?

« on: August 20, 2012, 11:22:18 PM »

This is a great discussion thread.

It truly underlines that how "copyright" isn't necessarily about money.
Especially when our work is dear to us.

Copying other's work (especially for profit), and then ignoring the pleas of the people that produced the work will come to no good in the end.
I'm sure that there must be many others that feel the way Lucia does.

Lucia, have you contacted anyone else whose material has been copied?
Perhaps, a group of people working together could be part of the answer?

S.G.

247

P2P/BitTorrent Lawsuits Forum / Re: Swedish Police Warn Internet Users Not To Pay Fines To File-Sharing Fraudsters

« on: August 19, 2012, 11:17:15 PM »

Yes.  However, I'm referring to any trolling email.  From Getty, McCormack, etc.
It's not a proper form of notice.  They send nothing but threats.  I don't see any productive reason for anyone to even respond anymore.

S.G.

 

248

P2P/BitTorrent Lawsuits Forum / Re: Swedish Police Warn Internet Users Not To Pay Fines To File-Sharing Fraudsters

« on: August 19, 2012, 07:21:45 PM »

I think that I'm going to start recommending that people don't respond at all to demand letters/threats sent via email/sms.

Anyone else have an opinion?

S.G.

249

P2P/BitTorrent Lawsuits Forum / Swedish Police Warn Internet Users Not To Pay Fines To File-Sharing Fraudsters

« on: August 19, 2012, 12:14:12 AM »

Swedish police Warn Internet Users Not To Pay Fines To File-Sharing Fraudsters

At this early stage it is not exactly clear how the scam operates, but it is believed that Internet users browsed a website set up by criminals which had the ability to gather information from their phones.
 
After visiting the site, victims reported receiving an SMS followed up by a mailed cash demand from Arcad World Corp., a company registered at a post office box in Stockholm.
 
“You have downloaded copyrighted porn. Soon you will receive a civil claim. We ask you to pay it so that your illegal activity will not be a police matter. According to Swedish law, it is your duty to find out if the movies can be downloaded or not,” the scammers explain.
 
Victims are then told to send amounts between 90 and 195 euros to an account held at the Valartis Bank in Liechtenstein.

http://torrentfreak.com/police-warn-internet-users-not-to-pay-fines-to-file-sharing-fraudsters-120818/

S.G.

250

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: New ELI Factor Episode Released!

« on: August 18, 2012, 11:38:19 PM »

Great job guys!!
Great to see Greg, too!!

S.G.

251

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright Law Group Settlement Demand Letter (Attorney Mike Meier)

« on: August 18, 2012, 07:42:58 PM »

"Illegal Ass"?
... Me so greedy, I sue you long time.  lol.

S.G.

252

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright Office Adopts Pilot Program Regarding Registration of Photographs

« on: August 18, 2012, 03:12:44 PM »

Good on Moe!! 

If folks think that the United States Copyright Office needs improvements, consider the Canadian equivalent.
They do not accept, nor do they collect any visual media with submissions.

This could give a savvy person accused of infringement a defense, in my opinion.
For example, how could a plaintiff prove that "picture of a beach" is their actual actual "beach" photo that was infringed upon?
By extension, one might ask, "does the copyright office in Canada really offer owners of visual works any real protection?

S.G.

253

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Masterfile's Copyright Registration Method Held Invalid by California Court

« on: August 17, 2012, 11:24:46 PM »

"Masterfail".



S.G.

254

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Image scraping: The Newsblur angle.

« on: August 17, 2012, 04:03:39 PM »

Thanks for your posts, Lucia...

It's interesting to hear both sides of issues relating to copyright and distribution of content in general.
Sorry to hear that you're being victimized by this, and I guess that many of us will fall victim soon, even if we don't notice it right away.

I sure that many are interested in solutions to this problem.  You seem to be coming up with some interesting tactics.
Again, I also hope that others recognize that; maybe it could become profitable for you in the near future.
Personally, I would be willing to pay for scripts/protections that would prevent copying.

S.G.

255

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright Office Adopts Pilot Program Regarding Registration of Photographs

« on: August 16, 2012, 10:01:07 PM »

Works are actually collected and deposited into the library of congress.
But, yes... we cannot simply call up and view the bulk of them online.

I think that the real stumbling block will be that users might make assumptions that image recognition results are 100 percent guaranteed.
Some people will assume that anything that they cannot find in the database is "public domain", "not copyrighted" or "orphaned".
The Copyright Office will surely want to avoid any liability in this regard.

Perhaps, by the time the Copyright Office evolves greatly, stock imagery will be mainly royalty-free anyway...

S.G.