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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Verification that I am understanding what I can do

« on: September 21, 2013, 07:35:24 PM »

Thanks again for the answers. I used the copyright office search tool and didn't come upon the photogs name in the database. So I'm hoping that means it is not registered. When I looked through the Getty images page for the photog I saw that some of his (or her) images did indeed have a copyright number associated with them. The one I used does not have a copyright number, just a creative image #.

I can't seem to find out if the image is for sale anywhere else, but it was really tough to even find it on the Getty site, at least it was until I entered the image #. Any clues on how else to find out if it is for sale on other image bank sites? Other than searching through Google images?

Even though I have already had a lawyer write a letter for me, can I still have Oscar write a letter and switch to his representation? Or is that not done? If I do, does his fee cover just that one letter, or will his assistant help me find out if I am in a situation that is better to settle? And if a letter needs to be sent to NCS, will he write that letter as well? And if so, how much is that fee?

I'm a college student taking on quite a bit of school debt, so I am not trying to be a cheap-o, just trying to make sure I can afford whatever I need to do.

Peace all!

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Verification that I am understanding what I can do

« on: September 20, 2013, 12:56:52 PM »

Actually, I just did another search and a lot of sites are using the image I used. From personal blogs to informational sites. BTW, the page Getty has a screenshot of, which was a blog, is no longer up at all. I closed it down.

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Verification that I am understanding what I can do

« on: September 20, 2013, 12:37:41 PM »

The collection people actually sent me and letter, as well as my attorney. My understanding is that once I have representation no one is allowed to contact me except through my attorney. My attorney responded, I didn't.

I found one answer on this site that I hadn't seen before, I specifically typed in NCS... and found out that I can write a letter to get them off my back. So, I am wondering if it's preferable that it comes from my lawyer and not me. I don't want to open the door to the collectors being able to be in contact with me directly.

I could no longer find the image online through a simple search, instead I had to go to Getty images and use their catalog number, which they supplied in the original letter. The only other thing I saw the image on through my search was a book cover. It was SUPER easy to find the image the first time around when I used it. Seriously, it should be harder to accidentally use a copyrighted image!

I'll have to ask if my attorney is a copyright attorney. I know he used to work on IP cases, but don't know now. A hosting company hosted my site, so I am not sure if I had control of a server or not, I suppose I had dedicated servers for my site, but all of that is foreign to me.

Thank you again!

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Verification that I am understanding what I can do

« on: September 19, 2013, 07:04:18 PM »

Hello all, I have spent quite a bit of time on this website, thank you by the way for creating and maintaining it! I got the 1st letter from Getty back in June of this year. I only used one image that I got from the internet and really couldn't tell that it was copyrighted. Upon getting the letter, which asked for over $800.00, I removed the image and wrote them a letter letting them know I took the image down, and letting them know that I did not agree to their settlement demand.

An attorney wrote a letter for me after I got the second demand letter. Since then there has been a 3rd letter letting me know that they plan to pursue this issue. If I understand all of the postings and advice on this site, it sounds as though it is VERY unlikely that Getty would sue over one image. Is this a correct understanding? If I begin ignoring the letters will they call and harass me?

If for some reason they sue, don't they have to somehow prove that I knowingly infringed on copyright? Wouldn't that be difficult for them? What sort of fees would I have to pay if the case was decided against me?

Sorry if I am in any way not following proper protocol on this site, and I know my question might be already answered elsewhere, but I couldn't find the answer, so I'm asking. Just trying to go about this in the most sensible and sane manner.

Thank you!