Messages

1

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Bringing this to the media

« on: February 24, 2012, 04:22:30 PM »

Well I have been replacing many images that I did not know but I have so many designs and images were morphed and combined within the designs so it's not that easy to replace.  I have to redo all websites.  If I take everything down I no longer have a business.  This is my business and I have no other way to make money.  I have many sites who are free and just traffic generating sites - it's just impossible for me to know.  I can replace all but this took me 8 years to develop all so I can not even replace everything quick.  It's just impossible to do.  Because of the economy I am barely surviving and run much through credit cards.  I know the economy will get better but they are breaking me because I have attorney fees now.

I did block their crawlers and IP addresses however I am sure they will find other ways.  My goal with the media would be to bring attention to this matter.  Not necessarily to be against Getti Images/Masterfile but more so so others can know about this and learn and perhaps will get the attention from officials who can change the law for innocent people.  Why are they expecting for the majority of business people to know about all the details on copyright laws.   How can I even keep track of all images for about 50 websites.  When I first got started I never even thought about all this that years later they can come after you.  This is a nightmare to even keep track of any image.  They are killing the American Dream of being a business owner.  There are not enough jobs out there and small businesses are creating jobs for other people. 

I am just wondering what we can all do to get more attention in to the media - we should try and I am happy to use my unlimited press release account through prweb. If the media does not want to talk about this then we should try to do more Youtube videos.  I would like to hear from Matthew about future goals since he is the one who started the website. 

2

Getty Images Letter Forum / Bringing this to the media

« on: February 24, 2012, 02:35:38 PM »

Hi everyone:

I am glad I found this site.  I also have been dealing with Getty Images and Masterfile and my issue is that I had web designers in India who I had used for years for at least 50 of my own websites.  Well after being in business now for 8 years I too have been getting letters of outragious fees from GI and Masterfile.  Over a year ago I had received my first letter from GI and then a month later another letter from GI and a year later from Masterfile.  I removed images immediately as I did not know where they came from.  I specifically always told my designers to use royalty-free images and they confirmed that they used it from these CD's they purchased.  I am self educated about most business laws and did not have finances to afford an attorney.  Before I do something I always do research of what's the right thing to do.  I worked very hard to start my online businesses and never received finances or money from anyone else.  When I first got started I used to work in the Corporate world and at night I was building my ideas and websites.  I worked 20 hours a day, 7 days a week (still today) just so I could build my ideas. I am a woman and originally from Europe and my family depends on me to send them money every month.  The economy effected me just as everyone else and I have been trying to hold on hoping everything will get better.  I did not hear from Getty Images for about a year and now they contacted my attorney again and given final notice to pay up or they will pursue legal action.  I am fed up with their behavior and everything that I have been reading here in the forum.  I am fedup with being scared and worried to loose everything that I have worked so hard for.  The issue I have is that I used so many different designers over the years that I can not even remember who has designed what.  My other issue is also, what if I pay up as they request but down the road they find more and more images and it would seem that I have to pay up for the rest of my life.  This is just so rediculous.  I am even afraid to do business or have anyone design marketing flyers and all this is effecting my business and sales.  Something bigger must be done and I am here not to complain but to see what we can do to bring this to the media.  I live in Los Angeles and I have an unlimited press release account and I am wondering if anything has been done about this issue to bring it up to the media or TV.  I feel that something must be done to change the law for innocent people.  I have not done anything intentionally and this would force me out of business.  I support the copyright laws.  I have actually dealt with this myself once because someone copied my own website design but what I did was sent them a cease and desist letter.  I did not want to take them to court - I just wanted them to remove my designs and after that I was happy.  I think Getty Images and Masterfile are greedy and one day it will hit them too - at least I hope so.  Why can't they just send a cease and desist letters.  In my opinion they are abusing the copyright laws for the purposes of revenue generation. And scaring and bullying small businesses who are already struggeling in this tough economy seems a bit harsh and in my eyes unforgiving.  That's why I want to do something to bring this to the media.  My question is - has anyone tried to bring this to TV or newspaper?  I hope to get some responses here.