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UK Getty Images Letter Forum / ipprotection.net letter
« on: May 30, 2012, 02:29:55 PM »
Has anyone else had one of these.
I had one some months ago and I am still playing "letter tennis" with them.
Initially I received a standard fishing trip letter:
---screenshot evidence of the photo and my site incorporating the image in a montage
---a demand for £400 for the image based on the National Union of Journalists standard day rate
---plus £400 for willful infringement (note: the photo appears on many sites with no copyright notice).
Failure to pay within 14 days meant court action with no further notice from them.
They operate no-win no-fee revenue sharing arrangement with the photographer, according to their website.
They have not responded to my proof and clarification letters, and just send a standard mail-merge back threatening me with court action again. There are no responses to my questions, no reasons for not answering, no official decline of my offer (market rate calculation from stock photo sites) and no attempt to show what the real value of the image is, just the "estimate". I think this goes against pre-action protocol.
I don't want to say much more publicly right now. It's been a very trying time.
I have reported them to the SRA pointing out they are using a "pay up or else" strategy to frighten people, significantly inflated prices, very much like ACS Law (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16616803 )
I had one some months ago and I am still playing "letter tennis" with them.
Initially I received a standard fishing trip letter:
---screenshot evidence of the photo and my site incorporating the image in a montage
---a demand for £400 for the image based on the National Union of Journalists standard day rate
---plus £400 for willful infringement (note: the photo appears on many sites with no copyright notice).
Failure to pay within 14 days meant court action with no further notice from them.
They operate no-win no-fee revenue sharing arrangement with the photographer, according to their website.
They have not responded to my proof and clarification letters, and just send a standard mail-merge back threatening me with court action again. There are no responses to my questions, no reasons for not answering, no official decline of my offer (market rate calculation from stock photo sites) and no attempt to show what the real value of the image is, just the "estimate". I think this goes against pre-action protocol.
I don't want to say much more publicly right now. It's been a very trying time.
I have reported them to the SRA pointing out they are using a "pay up or else" strategy to frighten people, significantly inflated prices, very much like ACS Law (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16616803 )