Messages

1

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Masterfile Letter: Is this a Scam?

« on: April 08, 2013, 01:46:05 PM »

This is the a claim just received: Any suggestions as what I should do next? Thank you so much...

Please be advised that NCS has been retained by Masterfile Corporation with regard to the settlement of an image infringement claim in the above referenced matter. In that regard, we have been assigned this file, and have attached hereto copies of the letter previously sent by our client together with copies of the unauthorized images and the capture of said images on your website. Our client has attempted to resolve this claim by communicating with your company directly, but has been unable to do so. Our goal is to resolve this claim on an amicable basis, without having to resort to further action in this regard. We do have some flexibility with the amount claimed if this is resolved immediately. Alternatively, if we cannot settle this imminently, we would be obligated to refer the file back to our client for further action including the potential initiation of suit. It would be preferable to settle this matter upon terms agreeable to both parties, and to avoid the time and expense of potential protracted litigation. We trust that we can resolve this amicably, and we look forward to hearing from in this regard upon receipt of this email.

This is an effort to effect a settlement and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

2

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Masterfile Letter: Is this a Scam?

« on: February 26, 2013, 10:50:46 AM »

No offense taken Robert...And yes I will ask them to proceed through the mail. Thank you!

3

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Masterfile Letter: Is this a Scam?

« on: February 25, 2013, 04:21:05 PM »

He could have gotten the phone number off my website where he found the image in question...Thank for your reply Robert.

4

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Masterfile Letter: Is this a Scam?

« on: February 25, 2013, 03:02:22 PM »

I just got off the phone with Mr. Hilsheimer. I did offer him $150.00 at first and then $200.00 but he refused. "My hands are tied and I have to pay my artist" he said. He then said that he could put me on a payment plan for 6 months ($160.00 per month). I told him I could not afford it, and politely left it to that.
He called me back a few minutes later to tell me that I should look into my business insurance which may cover the fee. I don't have a business insurance...So, should I just wait it out at this point?
Thank you all for great information and advice.

5

Getty Images Letter Forum / Masterfile Letter: Is this a Scam?

« on: February 17, 2013, 06:10:02 PM »

I received a letter from MF a few days ago telling me that I have been using one of their copyrighted photos on my website. They included their own picture and mine. Sure it was! I have a small pet business, whineranddiner.com and I needed a picture of a cat lying down to incorporate into my own picture. So I Googled "cat lying down" and found a picture with no copyright information or watermark and saved it to my photo librairy to use it and I did (I still have the picture in question).
So I immediately took the picture in question down and called MF (Michael Hilsheimer). From the $1940.00 asked in the letter he went down to $900.00 after a 10 minute conversation. I told him that I have not had this picture up on my website for a year (which they claim). I had gone back to Google, Bing and Chrome to find the picture without their watermark I have downloaded and by some weird coincidence it's nowhere to be found again. When I mentionned this to Mr. Hilsheimer he just changed the subject and offered to put me on a payment plan...I told him I did not have $900.00 right and I will get back to him.
What should I do at this point just wait it out? I do not want to pay them because I strongly believe that they seed their pictures to be downloaded, wait a few months so they are removed from image searches and go after small businesses picture - users and contact them about infringement.
Why can I not find that picture with no watermark again anywhere online and why did he drop the fee by half so easily and so fast???
Since this, I spent hours removing and replacing pictures from my website (I have over 100 pages) that could have been questionnable as I "found" them the same way as I found that cat...And I don't even like cats...
Thank you in advance for any advice.

6

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Masterfile Letter

« on: February 17, 2013, 06:03:53 PM »

I received a letter from MF a few days ago telling me that I have been using one of their copyrighted photos on my website. They included their own picture and mine. Sure it was! I have a small pet business, whineranddiner.com and I needed a picture of a cat lying down to incorporate into my own picture. So I Googled "cat lying down" and found a picture with no copyright information or watermark and saved it to my photo librairy to use it and I did (I still have the picture in question).
So I immediately took the picture in question down and called MF (Michael Hilsheimer). From the $1940.00 asked in the letter he went down to $900.00 after a 10 minute conversation. I told him that I have not had this picture up on my website for a year (which they claim). I had gone back to Google, Bing and Chrome to find the picture without their watermark I have downloaded and by some weird coincidence it's nowhere to be found again. When I mentionned this to Mr. Hilsheimer he just changed the subject and offered to put me on a payment plan...I told him I did not have $900.00 right and I will get back to him.
What should I do at this point just wait it out? I do not want to pay them because I strongly believe that they seed their pictures to be downloaded, wait a few months so they are removed from image searches and go after small businesses picture - users and contact them about infringement.
Why can I not find that picture with no watermark again anywhere online and why did he drop the fee by half so easily and so fast???
Since this, I spent hours removing and replacing pictures from my website (I have over 100 pages) that could have been questionnable as I "found" them the same way as I found that cat...And I don't even like cats...
Thank you in advance for any advice.