Messages

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Getty Idiot Test

« on: October 16, 2011, 05:31:14 PM »

Here is a part of letter I am crafting for an initial response to Getty Images.  The letter has many elements all gleaned from this site.  The letter is just a summation of the facts found on this site regarding the courts, financial feasibility, historical perspective and avoids admitting liability.  I am sending Mr. Michelen a check for the letter program anticipating this won’t work.  If my letter works then Mr. Michelen can keep my check and be the only one who gets a gift certificate.  It is my desire to see if Getty just wants to pursue financial mindlessness with attorneys over one image.  Will Getty or their corporate counsel decide to add another one to Mr. Michelen’s 600 plus clients or find a heart? 


"In the event you, Getty Images or its affiliates choose to pursue this matter further, please communicate only with and forward all correspondence to attorney Oscar Michelen at the address below.  Any further contact by you, Getty Images or its affiliates to xyz inc. or any of its personnel with the exception of a letter of non pursuit, will be considered a violation and refusal to honor my request regarding contact.  To be clear, by furthering your pursuit of the alleged claim by you, Getty Images or its affiliates has the effect that xyz inc. hires an attorney and that Getty Images and xyz inc. both spend considerable time and money.  Your cost margin on this ONE image and pursuit of this alleged claim will not be advantageous for anyone. "


Not in my letter but I found a "scented pine tree" of sorts in the image in question. LOL!!!!  I wonder if Getty got permission?  This site is great for knowledge. 





 

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Contact information for Getty Deputy Legal Counsel

« on: October 10, 2011, 09:17:10 PM »

Mr. Chan,
I was amazed when I typed Getty images in google and the other possible options to select from are in order: getty images scam, getty images editorial, getty images wiki, getty images lawsuit.  Two out of the four choices are horrific Public Relations for Getty.  Mr. Chan, congratulations, they are already being undone by google.  Its obvious that Getty is in the business of the scam and not just in the business of digital imagery.  Targeting the small companies, mom/pops and individuals is what really rips it for me.  If someone is willfully stealing photos then Getty them to death.  But as clearly revealed in your research Getty is after the scare and intimidation scam to derive some of their income.  Somewhere I read or heard here that Getty was for sale and this scam income might boost their books.  Can you image buying Getty only to learn that you purchased a morally bankrupt business?  Digital imagery photographers and the likes are probably wondering where the business is going.  Of course they will blame it on the economy.  I can only imagine how many people like me that have given instructions to their web designer similar to what I did.  I used to purchase or have my web designer purchase stock photos.  Not anymore!  Get everything off my site even though I already paid for it.  We will take our own digital images!   

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Contact information for Getty Deputy Legal Counsel

« on: October 09, 2011, 11:54:13 PM »

All,
I finally found where Mr. Michelen mentioned in the videos the contact person at Getty Legal Department.  Mr.  Michelen refers to Lisa Willmer as Deputy Legal Counsel. 
601 N. 34th St., Seattle, WA 98103. Lisa Willmer.  She is listed as Director Corporate Counsel but this may be old. 
She looks like a real nice lady on Linkedin.  I think I will send her a Starbucks coupon with my letter to her.


Also I found that the photographer identifies on his website the he uses mulitple stock photo outlets, "such as Getty, Tetra Images, iStockPhoto and Alamy".  The words "such as" mean not limited to. Could be others.  It appears that commonality of the image and the failure to protect the original image is a much bigger concern. 

Thank God for this site!

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Contact information for Getty Deputy Legal Council

« on: October 08, 2011, 01:36:48 PM »

Thank you again,  possibly someone with close contact with Mr. Michelen could obtain the name of the deputy general counsel.  I hate to be another person who isn't paying to ask for this. I did donate and recommend to donate if others haven't.
However,  Might I suggest that in addition to Mr. Michelen's letter program that another letter be created.  Basically an open templete letter that says in part:   Dear Getty General Counsel,  Please back off!  If you don't here is my $195 check made out to Mr. Michelen and letter of retainer for Mr. Michelen. Please forward to Mr. Michelen. Have a good day. 
I wonder if it would have an impact?
If a letter like this were avaiable I would use it in a heart beat.  Thanks again.

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Contact information for Getty Deputy Legal Counsel

« on: October 08, 2011, 12:22:28 PM »

Thank you for the address.  However I am intent on sending my letter to the same place and person that Mr. Michelen sends his letters.  If the all of the letters were addressed to Susan, the deputy legal counsel, the cost of handling such matters may swing the financial equation in a different direction.  Also I have a trigger in place that tries to put the pursuit of expensive resolutions on the back of Getty.  If a low level idiot gets my letter they will choose to pursue further action.  However, I like to think Susan has a head on her shoulders and might consider using it in a more positive way than going after ONE alleged image violation.

Funny thing was that the photographer wasn't interested in going to court and having depositions of his involvement and seemed concerned at the notions proposed by Getty.  Of course the photographer of the one image, "an electrical meter", realized why his income may be dwindling.  I took appropriate measures to perserve this moment under Georgia law.

"In the event you, Getty Images or its affiliates choose to pursue this matter further then please forward all correspondence to Mr. Michelen at the following address and my family attorney Tom ......  at the following address.  Any further contact by you, Getty Images or its affiliates with the exception of a letter of non pursuit from your company or affiliates , will be considered a violation of the law and refusal to honor my request.  To be clear, by pursuing this alleged claim by you, Getty Images or its affiliates ensures that I immdediately hire attorneys and that we both spend considerable time and money. Your cost margin on this ONE image and pursuit of this alleged claim will not be advantageous for anyone.  While not admitting any liability, the one image in question, an electical meter, has been removed and I have applied the only reasonable potential remedy by ceasing and desisting."


Possibly I should include the $195 check to Mr. Michelen for Susan to send when or if she corresponds to pursue it further.

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Getty Images Letter Forum / Contact information for Getty Deputy Legal Council

« on: October 08, 2011, 10:16:23 AM »

I have looked and apologize if I missed it but does anyone have the contact information including address for the Deputy Legal Council that Oscar refers to.  Susan....?  I have formulated a response to an alleged one image infringement.  The letter however would be best sent to the top dog in order to get a higher level of review.  In the letter I have indicated that further pursuit ensures and triggers the hiring of Oscar.  I wonder how the deputy legal council would respond?  Hardly financially advantageous for Getty.  I suspect that the hourly rate for the deputy legal council at Getty will be in excess of what would be reasonable to pursue for one alleged infringement.