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Messages - stinger

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346
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Anyone had a run-in with Sanders Law PLLC? Fair use?
« on: July 17, 2013, 03:23:02 PM »
Sanders Law contacted you on who's behalf?

Your likelihood of being pursued might be dependent on which firm's images were improperly used.  Some firms have done a better job of dotting their i's and crossing their t's with respect to copyright paperwork.

I think the more information you share here, the better a response you will get.

347
UK Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: CEG / AKM emails sent to me
« on: July 16, 2013, 10:21:53 AM »
You need to relax and remember that the settlement deadline is artificially created by them to make you stress and pressure yourself into doing something rash - in this case giving them money.

If you do nothing, they have no way of knowing if you ever received any email from them. 

My approach with Getty has been to never acknowledge or engage them in any conversations by phone or email.  This way, in the unlikely event that I ever find myself in court with them, everything is neatly documented.  There will be no "He said, she said, No I did not" stuff going on.  There will be no "I never received this".

The most important thing to remember is that these guys are businessmen - looking to get paid where ever they can.  The more it costs them to track you down and try to exert payment, the more likely they are to move away and chase easier game.

348
UK Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: CEG / AKM emails sent to me
« on: July 16, 2013, 09:00:57 AM »
I agree with Robert.  Until you get a posted letter, nothing has happened.

349
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Licensing Fee
« on: July 14, 2013, 11:46:45 AM »
If they can get 10 - 25% of the people they contact to pay them 100 times what they would make by licensing the photo, without ever going to court (just threatening to), why would anyone want to stop that gravy train?

I am just guessing at the percentages who pay, but if I am anywhere close to correct, trolling is a far more profitable business than licensing images.  And, of course, they can say they are protecting their copyrights.

Prior court rulings only matter to those taken to court, or those who are willing to fight the trolling practice.  The percentage who pay on the threat likely never know about prior court rulings.

350
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty Letter Advice
« on: July 12, 2013, 03:23:06 PM »
What is fair to one person is not always fair to another.

I am sure the people making the offer consider $700 out of your pocket and into theirs as more than fair.

As an outside observer, I could not see that as being fair to you.  For Oscar's $200 letter program, your situation would likely end up $500 fairer.

If you are willing to educate yourself and fight these trolls, which may amount to more than $200 worth of your time, you might survive this without paying them a dime.  Again, as an outside observer, I would see that as fairer to you.

Ultimately, you have to decide what is right for you.  I agree that you should just take your own pics in the future.  For now, you have options.  You do NOT need to rush.  Get educated, make a decision that is best for you, and that will likely be fairer to you than what they are proposing.

Good luck!  Keep us informed of your efforts.  Many people here will be willing to give you their impression or reaction to your ideas.  Ultimately, you need to make your own decisions about how you prefer to deal with this.

You will have a lot of support.

351
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Licensing Fee
« on: July 10, 2013, 05:12:20 PM »
Welcome to the world of the trolls?

352
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Velvet fist in the iron glove?
« on: July 03, 2013, 04:08:01 PM »
Me, too.  Looks like another change in policy.  If only they could stop hitting me in the face with the shovel first.

353
UK Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty extortion letter. Picking peoples brains
« on: July 02, 2013, 10:02:09 AM »
Most people on this forum advocate that you make your letter yours.  That's why you will not see a lot of form letter examples where you just fill in your company name and signature.  Each cases details are different.  It is more work for Getty and their ilk to have to deal with different specific cases.  Otherwise, they would just say, "if we receive this form letter, answer it with our form letter 352B".  Some will argue they do that anyway.  But it plays against them because their form letters are often not on point.

That said, I believe their are some good discussions and examples of what should be contained in a response on this forum.  Greg Troy's thread, "An experiment against Getty" comes to mind as a place I might start looking for ideas.  It is a long thread, but full of good examples.

354
UK Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty extortion letter. Picking peoples brains
« on: June 27, 2013, 11:00:49 AM »
Welshman, as you have certainly discovered, there are many routes you can pursue going forward.  You have certainly done a good job of beginning your education with respect to this topic.

In my opinion, which route you choose to pursue, should be dictated by two important factors:
  • The actual facts of your case. 
    • What can they prove?
    • The number of images involved?
    • The likelihood of them actually coming after you, rather than just threatening?, etc.
       
  • Your temperament and pre-disposition to the activities to follow.

You have certainly denoted some options in terms of paths.  My best advice to you would be Do not let their artificial deadlines dictate your actions.  Take whatever time you need to fully understand the facts of your case, your opponent, and the strategies open to you.  Make your choice with conviction (not out of haste).  Stick to your guns.

And if you have any energy left over, do your part in letting the world and your lawmakers know about digital image trolls and the tremendous toll that they take on the world's productivity.

355
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A friend of ELI
« on: June 24, 2013, 08:57:06 AM »
Quote
Quick rant: If all legal results were a matter of public record as they should be in a free and open society that has fair laws legislated to attain justice instead of laws designed to help greedy bastards line their pockets, internet copyright trolls and their collection agent lawyers would be forced to do some honest work to earn their daily bread instead of cashing in using fear, threats of lawsuits, and bullshit confidentiality agreements to keep their slimy schemes private.

Kudos to Mulligan's quick rant.

And more of the same to Robert for quickly trying to resolve DvG's connection issues.

Quote
Are using a proxy?? You have not been blocked, that I can assure you. Some IP ranges have been blocked for various reasons. If you pm me your ip I can look to see if it is on the list.

356
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Got a letter from a "Photo Attorney" who is on Caroline Wrights team
« on: June 22, 2013, 01:07:24 PM »
Good "Heads Up"  Robert.

The lawyers have made digital image licensing into a messy quagmire these days.

357
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: I emailed letter on Jun 6th but have not received any answer yet
« on: June 20, 2013, 09:11:43 AM »
Most everyone on this site agrees with you there, Jacques.  That's why it is incumbent upon us to make the world, including our legal representatives, aware of their shenanigans.  I hope you will partake in this effort whenever the opportunity arises.

358
Legal Controversies Forum / Re: Buzzfeed Faces $3.6 Million Lawsuit for Copyright Infringement
« on: June 20, 2013, 09:09:17 AM »
My guess is that if this guy was ever serious, he would have an attorney leading the charge.  This had to be done for the publicity - or the guy made a huge error in judgement.

359
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A friend of ELI
« on: June 18, 2013, 10:15:40 AM »
Nice!  We need more sites in different industries that chase different interests to help popularize the fight.

The more people who know this is going on, the sooner we can get it stopped.

360
Legal Controversies Forum / Re: Okay, this takes the cake...
« on: June 13, 2013, 03:52:52 PM »
Like most people on this forum, I didn't have a dog in this fight either.

But that all changed, when I got the letter . . . . .

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