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Messages - stinger

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 ... 44
31
I think you should ask Joel how much he makes in his trolling business and how much he thinks your negative comments are costing him.  Then, of course, you can ask him how much all the time and effort of VOJF is costing him, let alone befriending lonely Linda.

After you get a nice dialogue going, letting him know that you are first and foremost a businessman, you can then ask him how much he would be willing to pay you on a monthly basis to ignore his little trolling business.  Of course, you would want to negotiate for a while because he isn't going to start with his best offer.  Through this whole process you need to thank him for bringing you closer to your neighbors and the volleyball club. 

Then, when you get him close to settling on a price, you can choose to either accept it or let him know that you can't be bought.  Of  course, I know which option you will choose, but why not have some fun with the guy - all the while recording the conversations which can be used against him on a website of public opinion.

I'm not sure if I've been watching too many mafia movies - or what.  If I had unlimited time and resources, I might drop everything and help you f@@@ with the guy, but unfortunately (at the moment) I believe that life is too short.

32
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Went completely dark..SOL passed..yeehaw
« on: January 17, 2017, 11:52:39 AM »
Congratulations, Sebastian!  And thanks for sharing your story.

33
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: An Experiment Against Getty
« on: January 15, 2017, 10:46:23 AM »
It's good to see this thread active again Greg.  Welcome back into the ARENA.

34
Quote
If you dispute the validity of this debt you have 30 days to notify us of such.

You simply need to inform the collection agency that this is not a debt, but a claim.  If this action on Masterfile's part pissed you off as much as it may have pissed me off had it happened to me, you might also consider:
  • Reporting their actions to your state's Attorney General
  • Reporting their actions to the Better Business Bureau
  • Reporting their actions to your Congressmen and asking for their assistance with legislation to prevent large companies from this kind of activity
  • Any other thing you can think of to ruin their day as much as they have ruined yours.

There are lots of ideas and examples in these forums.  My take after 5 or 6 years of observing this stuff, is that there are two types of people in the world.  Those that get steamrolled by these kinds of companies and those that stand up for themselves vigorously.  Which one are you?

35
Well done, Dr. Neal Krawetz.  I think ELI should reach out to him and offer him some sort of recognition for his efforts.  At least a major bit of promotion for his response letter.

I think Getty and their "French" lawyers should also be put under the spotlight.

36
I remember when you were writing those posts, Ryan because I was in the midst of my battle with Getty.  It seemed to me that everything you said was legit.

When I read Vanessa's complaint letter, it strikes me that English is not her first language.  My take is that this is an intimidation tactic to try and clean up true stuff that has been written about Getty.  I do not think that this French firm is authorized by Getty to do anything in the American court system.

I am a big backer of yours Ryan, because you call it as you see it.  I cannot see how your posts from back then could possibly cause you any legal problems here.  I agree with Robert and Greg on this and I hope you stand FIRM.

37
I'm guessing this BS was written by a guy (at least 50 years old) under the name Jessica only because I don't know too many women who would right this.
Quote
Even Muhammad Ali was not wise enough to get out on top. Please consider this while time is on your side.
I'll vouch for the fact that Robert is a stand-up guy, that he likes women, and that women like him.  :)

Rock on, Robert!

38
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Letter from LCS / Minden
« on: December 19, 2016, 09:19:11 AM »
My take on your situation is this.  Of course they will let you settle on behalf of the site owner.  That means they win.  It also means they can hold out for a little more because their fallback position is to go after the site owner.  They will not approach you because even though you consider yourself responsible, the law only lets them go after the site owner.  (Note, I am not a lawyer).

A corollary is that once you come out and let them know that you have a conscience and want to make this right for the site owner, they know they have their hooks into you.  My suggestion is that if you do contact them, expect to ante up something close to their asking price to settle.  If you can make them believe that the site owner hired Oscar and the letter program, I'm pretty sure they can no longer contact the site owner, which should take some pressure off of you.

Lastly, there is a lot of good information on these forums.  Everything I know about this process, I learned here through first hand experience.  Don't underestimate the value this site can be to you.  Put your time in to get educated before embarking on a course of action.

39
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Sue for Harrassment?
« on: December 01, 2016, 09:04:29 AM »
Understand that they use technology, which is good but not perfect, to find you.  So they do make mistakes and your case may be a mistake.

Understand also that they accuse first, rather than seeking the facts in an amicable manner.  The approach is quite profitable (I believe), which is why they are willing to risk the rancor it causes among the accused.

Understand also that they are not as organized as they should be for the volumes they accuse.  Hence, one organization is coming after you under three different names.

It sure sounds like harassment to me, but I am not a lawyer.  What most on this forum object to are their tactics.  Those have changed over time, but are still highly objectionable.

If you could find an attorney to win any kind of suit against Getty and their ilk, you would have lots of supporters here.  I hope an attorney or two will weigh in on your question.

40
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty Demand Letter - Rights-Managed Image
« on: November 29, 2016, 09:22:21 AM »
Quote
The image is part of their online catalog, and that's the basis of their claim. They won't provide further information unless I decide to go to court. That's basically how they seem to handle any request for documentation.

If I came out of nowhere and sent you a letter claiming to own the house you live in, and an exorbitant bill for past rent, maintenance and operating expenses, would you just pay it?  If you asked for proof of my ownership and I said I would provide that in court, would you just pay it?  If the answer to either of those questions is yes, I will need a little more information including your address and how long you have lived at your current domacile.

It's odd how people throw common sense out the window when they are being threatened with the legal system over matters the threateners seem to know more about than the threatened.

$249 may not be a lot of money to you.  And it might be worth that price for your piece of mind.  In my case, I might reject any price out of fear that paying would brand me as a target for future schemes.

I would feel very confidant walking into court (which is never going to happen by the way) and showing the judge my request for a justification of their claim, and the fact that they provided no such justification.

41
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Passed My SOL Date
« on: November 28, 2016, 02:47:23 PM »
Congratulations JLorimer!  I look forward to the details behind your story, and I hope it will assist someone in the future with their battle.

42
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty Demand Letter - Rights-Managed Image
« on: November 28, 2016, 02:45:54 PM »
How do you even know that the image is theirs and that they hold the rights necessary to pursue copyright infringement?  Because they said so?

Read as much as you can in these forums to become acquainted with their "game".  Don't let their phony deadlines manipulate you into doing something you will later regret.

Ask yourself this.  Is it worth their filing a lawsuit over 1 image?  What will it cost them to do so?  Chances are, even if they did (and that's a long shot), the judge might award a minimum judgement meaning that it would cost them more to file than they might gain.

There are lots of stories in this forum of those who fought and won.  They wanted mid 5 figures from my firm.  They got nada.  The lawyer they put in charge of my case got the opportunity to have another attorney defend her before the Washington State Bar Association.  I don't know what that might have cost her.  Did I tell you they got nada from me.

There are lots of people who will settle to make this go away.  $249 might be worth doing that for you.  On the other hand, it might brand you as an easy mark, and they might find other infringements to attribute to you.

Read the forums.  Digest it.  Read some more.  Don't let them bully you into something you might regret later.

43
There's a lot of good information in this forum.  Read as much as you can.  Don't let the trolls pressure you.

Why do you only have two days to respond?  Because they say so?

If you purchased a license, do you have proof?

There are lots of ways to handle this.  Get educated to make your best solution.  I know it is difficult because of the stress.  Breathe.  Read. Breathe. Absorb.  Make a decision on how you want to handle it when you are ready.

44
Also, be sure to take copies of the web pages that led you to believe the images were free (just in case this ever reaches a courtroom, I doubt that it will).  The really good extortionists have a way of making things disappear to try and strengthen their claim.

Someone who can prove this stands to do quite well in the courtroom, methinks.

45
Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Getty-Class Actions-Damages
« on: November 20, 2016, 11:22:19 AM »
Quote
I'm looking at James D Hinson Electrical v AT&T and believe it's a pattern I could follow here - both as a lawyer and as a victim (O damages, just letters as set forth here)

If you are a lawyer and are willing to file a class action here, I am sure you will get whatever assistance you might ask for from the folks on this forum.  Many here have wanted to do this, but it is difficult to find a law firm willing to take on a company the size of Getty's.  And there really aren't a lot of prior class action cases to pattern after

As a lawyer and a victim, you might have a special interest in getting this done.  If you make headway, you can expect Getty to want to settle.  If you're in it for the money, you can cease there.  If you are in it to change the world for the better, put me on your team.

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