Messages

1

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Help with Masterfile Letter

« on: January 10, 2013, 10:20:08 AM »

I will call right away. Thank you!

2

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Help with Masterfile Letter

« on: January 10, 2013, 09:24:52 AM »

Thank you. I sent the orginal letter to the email address [email protected] that was listed on the Attorney Oscar Michelen’s Defense Letter Program page. The email was sent January 7. I'm hoping to hear from you soon. I didn't see a number to call you.

3

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Help with Masterfile Letter

« on: January 07, 2013, 08:30:48 AM »

Thank you all for your quick responses! I'm definitely going to try Oscar's letter program (thank you for the links). I will make sure to keep you posted.

4

Getty Images Letter Forum / Help with Masterfile Letter

« on: January 04, 2013, 04:20:18 PM »

I’m in need of advice and/or help about a Masterfile letter I received November 20, 2012 via Federal Express. The letter states I illegally used 6 of their images and owed $11,640.00 for usage! I started searching for the images to see where they could have possibly been on an old company website. The company had been out of business for a couple of years and we keep the URL for email purposes. We didn’t realize the site was still live. It ends up the images were embedded in a Flash file. The Flash file was being used for my resume as an example of work I had done for a company I worked for over 10 years ago. The images were owned by my employer (the company has been bought out by new owners) and the Flash file was created back in 1996. This file was used for resume purposes ONLY and the only access to the file would have been me giving someone the direct link.
 
In a panic, I made sure the entire site was deleted and then called Masterfile to explain the situation. I talked to Geoffrey Beal which basically said none of that mattered. He said the best he could do was reduce the amount to $5000.00 and I was to send the company $625.00 within 7 days and also include postdated checks in the amount of $625.00 for the next 8 months. Of course, I do not have an extra $625.00 a month!

At a loss, I contacted a few lawyer friends, but none of them were experts in copyright law. I started researching and found this site and have read many posts. Since I didn’t send Masterfile their first check, I have since received 2 emails. The last one states if they don’t receive a check by January 11, they will be forced to take further action. Please help or advise what my next step should be…