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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Received extortion letter requesting $570 for erroneously posted private image
« on: March 17, 2017, 05:01:59 PM »
Hi:
I also went through the anxiety "Infringenot" and many others are going through. I'm very grateful for this website and to Matthew Chan for running it.
Essentially I got a similar extortion letter from LCS (claiming to represent Minden pictures), asking for about $500 . First got the demand by email then a certified letter to my business address, which they got from my website. I had a photo of some seaweed on my site for a matter of weeks and took it down within minutes of being notified I was infringing on somebody's copyright. There was no indication on the image of it being copyrighted. After I wrote to explain the situation, they LCS, (kindly???) reduced the demand to $400 with a "this offer is good for only... days" (I've heard better lines at car dealerships!!!). I tried calling them and asked for Samantha Clemens, the person whose name was on the threatening letters. They would not put me through to her without my "Case/Reference number" which I refused to give until I spoke to Samantha Clemens. When I said "I am recording this conversation" the curt answer was "We decline authorization to be recorded" - End of conversation. In the meantime, I had a friend contact Minden pictures directly to ask about the cost of licensing the image in question - answer $50 (yes Fifty) for 1 year and $200 for up to 5 years.
I simply ignored LCS threatening emails and letter and have not heard back from them. (it's been a couple of months now).
I earn a living from copyrighted material and totally understand the need to protect it. But LCS is into extortion not protection. They need to be fought. Is there no way to counter sue them for extortion?
Again, thank you Mathew for keeping us informed.
I also went through the anxiety "Infringenot" and many others are going through. I'm very grateful for this website and to Matthew Chan for running it.
Essentially I got a similar extortion letter from LCS (claiming to represent Minden pictures), asking for about $500 . First got the demand by email then a certified letter to my business address, which they got from my website. I had a photo of some seaweed on my site for a matter of weeks and took it down within minutes of being notified I was infringing on somebody's copyright. There was no indication on the image of it being copyrighted. After I wrote to explain the situation, they LCS, (kindly???) reduced the demand to $400 with a "this offer is good for only... days" (I've heard better lines at car dealerships!!!). I tried calling them and asked for Samantha Clemens, the person whose name was on the threatening letters. They would not put me through to her without my "Case/Reference number" which I refused to give until I spoke to Samantha Clemens. When I said "I am recording this conversation" the curt answer was "We decline authorization to be recorded" - End of conversation. In the meantime, I had a friend contact Minden pictures directly to ask about the cost of licensing the image in question - answer $50 (yes Fifty) for 1 year and $200 for up to 5 years.
I simply ignored LCS threatening emails and letter and have not heard back from them. (it's been a couple of months now).
I earn a living from copyrighted material and totally understand the need to protect it. But LCS is into extortion not protection. They need to be fought. Is there no way to counter sue them for extortion?
Again, thank you Mathew for keeping us informed.