Messages

2281

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: March on Washington (State that is)

« on: January 20, 2009, 10:24:32 PM »

If you really want to help, I believe the best way is to speak out on the Internet and lend your name to the cause.

I don't think standing in front of Getty will do anything.  It is far more damaging to combat them in other ways such as ongoing publicity on the Internet.  Information is power.  The more we learn about how they operate, the better you can defend yourself.

2282

UK Getty Images Letter Forum / Lime One Ltd. Represents 300 U.K. Clients Against Getty Images

« on: January 12, 2009, 02:53:27 AM »

Lime One Ltd. Represents 300 U.K. Clients Against Getty

I was informed by a letter recipient that she is using Lime One, a U.K.-based Law firm, to represent her. The article "Is a picture really worth £1,000?" by The Guardian states that Lime One now represents over 300 clients against Getty Images and not none of those clients have ever been taken to court.

I have no direct relationship with Lime One Ltd. as I do with Attorney Oscar Michelen. And so I cannot comment as to the qualifications or the service of Lime One. However, this piece of information is something we have been seeking for our U.K. readers.

2283

Getty Images Letter Forum / Thank you Matthew and Oscar

« on: November 18, 2008, 12:45:00 PM »

Dave,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I have to tell you it is gratifying to hear that people feel assisted by this website and forum.  Last night, Oscar and I were kind of musing to each other why do we do this because both of us are not doing it for the compensation!  My company or I don't get anything for doing this.  We have, thus far, donated our time and the minimal expense to keep this site alive.  The $150 that Oscar receives is pretty minimal when you consider it has to cover him, his paralegal, and his NY office.  Anyone that knows NY knows that it is very expensive to simply keep the doors open.

Having said that, I very much like your idea of putting up a PayPal button for anyone who wishes to donate funds to show their appreciation and give thanks.  I see no harm in that.  In many ways, Oscar and I wish this would all go away so we can declare "victory". However, for now, we have a sense of mission.  The more we find out about Getty and how they operate, the uglier it looks.  What they are doing is really an intentional and ongoing abuse of the legal system and copyright law. It is the hidden bullet they use to put up against people's heads.

Matthew

davep42 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I will probably send you $150 just to donate in
> your efforts to help others.  Same for webmaster.
> You both should have an inconspicuous paypal
> donate button somewhere as I would happily pitch
> in.  I would rather spend Getty demand money on
> you guys, or at least sending the money to a good
> hearted attorney.  Be clear though, Getty will
> never get my money.  
>
> This extortion letter by getty (small g from now
> on) is causing great worry with some very good
> people.  Thanks again to the site owner and the
> legal representative (Matthew Chan & Oscar
> Michelen) for being a light for justice for the
> small guy who needs it most.

2284

Getty Images Letter Forum / Show Your Support: A PayPal Contribution

« on: November 25, 2008, 11:37:33 PM »

The extensive time and hard work put into this website and forum has been entirely voluntary. The information we have diligently researched, gathered, and openly shared is to assist the ever-growing community of Getty Extortion Letter recipients. To date, this website continues to be a free service.

ExtortionLetterInfo.com has become the definitive informational website in the U.S. to combat Getty's extortionistic letter practices.

At the suggestion of one our enthusiastic supporters, I have set up a PayPal Contribution Button (throughout the website) for those of you who wish to show your appreciation and gratitude by contributing and assisting our ongoing cause to fight the Getty Images Extortion Letters.

Help our cause by supporting the ongoing work and updates to this website by making a contribution.

I recommend a small contribution of $10.00 to $40.00 if you have found useful and valuable information that assisted you in defending yourself against Getty Images. You may contribute as frequently as your prefer. But just realize this is an ongoing fight. I need ongoing community support to continue work on this website.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and supporting in our cause.

Matthew Chan (Host of ELI & The ELI Forums)

2285

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Interesting Recent Intellectual Property Issues

« on: November 18, 2008, 12:53:11 PM »

Dave,

It is not quite flawed enough in that they are victimizing too many people out of the victims's sheer ignorance.  But I do like the mantra you came up with that summarizes Getty's extortionistic tactics.

Matthew

2286

Getty Images Letter Forum / Getty behaves like the Mob

« on: November 18, 2008, 12:50:43 PM »

Yes, I absolutely agree.  Those tactics were outlawed because they were so pervasive back then.  It was considered unethical.  They would first provide the service (even if you did not want it), then send you the bill.

While not the same situation, Getty is going down a sticky road that will come back to bite them.  Essentially, they prey on people's legal ignorance, give no recourse for people to take corrective measures, and extort money from people's ignorance.  It is very similar to paying the mob for protection.  They create the threat and then you have to pay to remove that same threat.  

Matthew

2287

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A Taste of their own medicine ? Getty Images get sued by photographers

« on: November 17, 2008, 09:49:31 PM »

There are interesting developments regarding Getty Images.  Regarding the publicity angle, this has been in the works recently.  We are simply gathering information from all kinds of sources.  We are listening to the community.

Oscar and I are listening very intently.  There is information that has been brought to our attention that we cannot share at this time.  I am looking forward to making some interesting announcements in the weeks to come.

Getty continues to live in la-la land and they have an incredible amount of negative karma coming at them from another front.

Stay tuned.

Matthew

madetomom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This does help prove our case a great deal. So the
> photographers are suing Getty because their photos
> were sold at a low price for UNTRACKED use.
> UNTRACKED. So, these photos are everywhere on the
> web - so hundreds of us can use them innocently
> and then get settlement demands.
>
> This makes me so angry. I say we take it to
> "press" ourselves. Let's start putting some
> publicity and heat on Getty.

2288

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A Taste of their own medicine ? Getty Images get sued by photographers

« on: November 17, 2008, 06:31:50 PM »

I cannot reveal too much right now but we are slowly working towards bringing news publicity to this case.  Interestingly, the more they do, the more we have.  We are gathering and compiling information we cannot yet share.

Oscar and I thank everyone for their enthusiasm and passion in this case.  We believe what Getty is doing is plain wrong.  And until Getty "gets" the message, they will remain unpopular.

I cannot get into specifics but I believe we have gained some new powerful allies.

We hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned.

>
> I agree! Maybe we can get Oprah to do a story, or
> 60 minutes, etc. More publicity would only help
> our case I think!

2289

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: A Test of their own medicine ? GettyImages get sued by photographers

« on: November 11, 2008, 03:49:43 PM »

It would not surprise me if the License Compliance Dept is not aware of some of these external factors.  They know how to preach a message but the karma they have unleashed has come back to haunt them.  Essentially, they claim to be helping the photographers and yet many photographers appear to be very unhappy with Getty Images.

It is interesting to see them fight this on two fronts.  If Getty Images dare take someone to court, the defendants are going to get a lot of free help in providing a more complete picture of how Getty operate.  The publicity potential will be enormous.

Matthew

2290

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Template Monster and Getty - my story

« on: October 26, 2008, 05:03:49 PM »

Yes, please send your information in to us.  You can email it to submitinfo@extortionletterinfo.com.

Thanks.

Matthew

2291

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Copyright.gov

« on: October 24, 2008, 01:30:27 PM »

Your welcome and apology accepted.  I told you asking questions is perfectly ok here.  

Matthew

2292

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: I too received the letter and have a few questions

« on: October 23, 2008, 03:40:28 PM »

Dan,

You ask good questions.  I do not know the Answer to Question 1.  On Question #2, that is the point we are trying to make.  People assume that Getty Images will sue.  According to Oscar Michelen, he has not found a single lawsuit filed by them on such a matter in all the years Getty Images has engaged in this campaign.  And even if they filed suit (which costs a bit of money and time involving attorneys), it does not mean the outcome will be what they want.

The day they win a lawsuit and it results in a $500 or less judgment, the power of their Letter campaign and threats will be severely reduced.  Also, statistically speaking, of the hundreds possibly thousands of letters going out, the odds are in your favor even if they filed suit, it won't be you.

Believe it or not, you are not the center of their universe.  People who unintentionally use 1 or 2 images have little to fear.  There are far bigger fish to fry.

Matthew

2293

Getty Images Letter Forum / Copyright.gov

« on: October 23, 2008, 03:35:01 PM »

Yes, copyright.gov is the U.S. government site.

Matthew

2294

Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: Australian Victim

« on: October 21, 2008, 04:39:09 AM »

Hello,

As most people know, Oscar and I are based in the U.S.  We have done our best to assist those outside of the U.S.  However, we do need assistance from knowledgeable people in the U.K., Australia, and Canada.

We can provide the web page space as necessary.  Both Oscar and I agree to assist our International counterparts but we do need solid commentary or good documentation.  The problem is most people want to stay anonymous.  We can respect that but we would like others to directly email us some quality information.

We have a lot of great information being sent in behind-the-scenes but still need more.  Send us some good web links such as legal or copyright sites so we can post them.  We are gathering information and resources to start up an International page.

Matthew

2295

Getty Images Letter Forum / Your valued U.K. Contributions

« on: October 21, 2008, 03:26:35 AM »

Beedee,

Welcome to our forum.  Allow me to publicly acknowledge that Beedee is one of those few individuals who have put in more time than people realize selflessly helping others regarding the Getty Images Demand Letter controversy in the U.K.  His insights on the FSB discussion forum helped provide me insights on the U.S. side.

Beedee, you indirectly helped us with your contributions when I first started out as a FSB forum participant.  Allow me to publicly thank you for openly sharing your views and insights for the U.K. constituents which, in turn, helped your U.S. counterparts. I also thank you for coming to my defense when others began questioning my motives on FSB forums.

As Oscar has not yet "met" you on the FSB forums as I have, please allow me to introduce you to Oscar.  Oscar, please meet Beedee.  Beedee, meet Oscar. In FSB's 90-page post, Beedee has been tireless and far more patient than I ever could be.  

Beedee, allow me to invite you to these forums as a special guest for the U.K. contingent.  From what I can tell, you are an established businessman in the U.K. that is well qualified to speak to U.K. business matters and how Getty Images operates there.  Oscar and I have done our best to assist the International community but clearly we are limited to what we can do based in the U.S.

If you would like, I can launch a new page dedicated to the U.K. where you would be the chief contributor.  If there are articles you would like to submit, I would be happy to put them up for you and give you the appropriate credit.  Regardless of your decision, you are always welcome here with your great insights.

Matthew