Show Posts
1
Getty Images Letter Forum / Got my letter few days ago
« on: June 10, 2012, 11:20:40 PM »
First of all, I'm new here.
Got a letter few days ago from Getty Images for using one of their images on my blog. It was a small dog image that I found from Google Images, which I have shared during the time I was bitten my pet dog (I should have taken a picture of my dog instead of using Google images, MY BAD). No watermarks or any credit given to Getty Images that the image I right-clicked and "Save As" on my computer and uploaded it. I'm really unaware that this image was copyright-protected and I didn't know that they really owned it, and they're demanding around $1,000+ including VAT (in pesos, P38,300 + P4,596 VAT) = P42,896). I removed the image immediately from my blog and server, and all of those images that I downloaded from Google images (except my own photos and screenshots). I just don't know how to remove all of it on WayBackMachine (I'm totally noob on this). My parents are shocked about this, so as me. My blog does make money from my banners and affiliate links (but only once every 2-4 months I think), but my dog blog post using the image has nothing to do with selling (nor selling this image), because I only shared my experience about bitten by a dog.
I searched the matched image on Getty Images that I right-clicked from Google Images (without left clicking the image first), and I found that one blog post from Gendenk.org that has the same image. We'll, I think this is the one that I have right-clicked. But I don't know why is it appearing on Google images? It's not really fair to me and to all of those victims and innocent people of Getty. Instead of them sending a cease and desist letter, they want my God damn money and might not care about my explanations! I researched even more that I'm not alone on this. There are like thousands or millions of people around the world who are also bullied and threatening them. Some of them claimed that Getty Images are just bullying people through these extortion letters, demanding payment and never cared about second chances.
The date of the letter was on March 29th, 2012 and I have 14 days to pay them from the date of this letter. But what the heck? I just got this letter few days on my mailbox (June 6, 2012) and deadline of settlement should be on April 12th of 2012. We'll, I just don't know guys since it passed the deadline already...nothing happened as of now.
The name of the rightful holder is John Lund, so I searched about him and I found his website full of stock images. I contacted him directly through email with a "fake" name asking if the guy from Gendenk.org has bought license from him. When I woke up today, I got his reply saying that he bought the license already from Getty Images.
For just an average quality dog image that I right-clicked and Save As, they will charge thousands like this? Not fair to me!
*What about the kids downloading lots of images without knowing that it was from Getty?
*What about the teachers who downloaded these images to present a slideshow lesson to their students without knowing that those images are from Getty?
*What about the parents who downloaded these images to include it in their video greetings presentation saying "Happy Birthday" to their child without knowing that they're coming from Getty?
I didn't emailed back or paid them yet. I see that others just removed the images and ignore them for good...and never heard from them again. There's not even one real event that Getty Images put the copyright infringer/s into the court (out of thousands who have received this extortion letter every year). But there are other images there are not really owned by Getty, which they copied and sell it without authorization from the real rightful holders.
For now, I can't afford to pay them. I even can't afford to hire a lawyer and I have no company or business right now. I just have to update you guys if I indeed got the second letter from Getty. By the way, I'm from the Philippines.
Got a letter few days ago from Getty Images for using one of their images on my blog. It was a small dog image that I found from Google Images, which I have shared during the time I was bitten my pet dog (I should have taken a picture of my dog instead of using Google images, MY BAD). No watermarks or any credit given to Getty Images that the image I right-clicked and "Save As" on my computer and uploaded it. I'm really unaware that this image was copyright-protected and I didn't know that they really owned it, and they're demanding around $1,000+ including VAT (in pesos, P38,300 + P4,596 VAT) = P42,896). I removed the image immediately from my blog and server, and all of those images that I downloaded from Google images (except my own photos and screenshots). I just don't know how to remove all of it on WayBackMachine (I'm totally noob on this). My parents are shocked about this, so as me. My blog does make money from my banners and affiliate links (but only once every 2-4 months I think), but my dog blog post using the image has nothing to do with selling (nor selling this image), because I only shared my experience about bitten by a dog.
I searched the matched image on Getty Images that I right-clicked from Google Images (without left clicking the image first), and I found that one blog post from Gendenk.org that has the same image. We'll, I think this is the one that I have right-clicked. But I don't know why is it appearing on Google images? It's not really fair to me and to all of those victims and innocent people of Getty. Instead of them sending a cease and desist letter, they want my God damn money and might not care about my explanations! I researched even more that I'm not alone on this. There are like thousands or millions of people around the world who are also bullied and threatening them. Some of them claimed that Getty Images are just bullying people through these extortion letters, demanding payment and never cared about second chances.
The date of the letter was on March 29th, 2012 and I have 14 days to pay them from the date of this letter. But what the heck? I just got this letter few days on my mailbox (June 6, 2012) and deadline of settlement should be on April 12th of 2012. We'll, I just don't know guys since it passed the deadline already...nothing happened as of now.
The name of the rightful holder is John Lund, so I searched about him and I found his website full of stock images. I contacted him directly through email with a "fake" name asking if the guy from Gendenk.org has bought license from him. When I woke up today, I got his reply saying that he bought the license already from Getty Images.
For just an average quality dog image that I right-clicked and Save As, they will charge thousands like this? Not fair to me!
*What about the kids downloading lots of images without knowing that it was from Getty?
*What about the teachers who downloaded these images to present a slideshow lesson to their students without knowing that those images are from Getty?
*What about the parents who downloaded these images to include it in their video greetings presentation saying "Happy Birthday" to their child without knowing that they're coming from Getty?
I didn't emailed back or paid them yet. I see that others just removed the images and ignore them for good...and never heard from them again. There's not even one real event that Getty Images put the copyright infringer/s into the court (out of thousands who have received this extortion letter every year). But there are other images there are not really owned by Getty, which they copied and sell it without authorization from the real rightful holders.
For now, I can't afford to pay them. I even can't afford to hire a lawyer and I have no company or business right now. I just have to update you guys if I indeed got the second letter from Getty. By the way, I'm from the Philippines.