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Getty Help · May 15, 2008, 10:23 PM

Hello,

I received a letter from Getty Images saying that I am in violation of the license and I owe them $3,500. The pictures in question are on a template that I bought in 2003 - 2004. I have no idea where I bought it.

I have spoken with Getty and they said that I am still responsible unless I can find a receipt from one of the template companies that they have settled with.

Anyone experience or have advice on this situation?

Rumor · May 15, 2008, 10:24 PM

Speak to an attorney.

Buckaroo · May 15, 2008, 10:39 PM

If it was me, I'd Offer them $500 and agree to remove the images. If they insist on sticking with the $3500, I'd take the images off, and tell them to pound sand.

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Getty Help · May 16, 2008, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by design219

How did you use the image?

Not that it really matters, but I'm curious how it came to their attention.

The image is part of a website template.

design219 · May 16, 2008, 06:44 AM

How did you use the image?

Not that it really matters, but I'm curious how it came to their attention.

IceEnclosure · May 16, 2008, 07:13 AM

hey at least you really bought it though. sometime, somewhere.

I've seen many instances where people use any image they can get their hands on for free, online - to make a profit.

Andrew Stephens · May 16, 2008, 01:49 PM

Getty are really smacking down on this. A friend of mine used an image that was one of theirs on a website for a local running club. God knows how they found it but they are onto the club for around £6,500. As members of a club committee the committee are held jointly and severally liable under UK law for costs like this.

They've mailed Getty, apologised and removed the image but they keep getting letters, increased fees to cover the letters and an insistance that they will take it to court.

I thought that compensation had to be based on actual financial loss but it seems not.

I guess Getty are into making a point.

aristotles · May 16, 2008, 03:20 PM

Threaten Getty back. tell them that you will start blogging about it on blogger.com. They have a choice to continue with it and potentially end up looking like a-holes with a ruined reputation or they can simply drop the matter.

Getty Help · May 16, 2008, 03:29 PM

I've scheduled a meeting with a lawyer for Monday.

Originally Posted by aristotles

Threaten Getty back. tell them that you will start blogging about it on blogger.com. They have a choice to continue with it and potentially end up looking like a-holes with a ruined reputation or they can simply drop the matter.

Yes, this is what I was thinking about doing. I've found multiple threads about this situation on other forums(one of those threads is 68 pages long). Hopefully, the people in this situation will band together and make this public.

Luca Rescigno · May 16, 2008, 03:40 PM

I think Getty is just trying to intimidate people into paying so they can make a quick buck. They might take a few people to court, but I bet they'll focus on the ones that didn't take the images down because they have a much better chance of winning.

IceEnclosure · May 16, 2008, 04:57 PM

I know people with getty images as forum avatars right now. and they're broke and don't give a what!

wuh ya gwan do?

This never translates into "good business", does it? Them spending the money on threats and letters and lawyers should be enough from year to year, I'd imagine most of the world complies when they come calling. But why the need to pursue it?

Mastrap · May 16, 2008, 05:41 PM

Getty, and other stock image companies, are feeling the pain of istockphoto et al. For years they could prety much dictate stock prices, with the arrival of the internet and cheap storage that business model has been successfully attacked.

I am guessing they need the money.

Thorzdad · May 16, 2008, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Getty, and other stock image companies, are feeling the pain of istockphoto et al. For years they could prety much dictate stock prices, with the arrival of the internet and cheap storage that business model has been successfully attacked.

I am guessing they need the money.

Far from the truth. Getty has always been diligent about tracking license violations for their rights-managed photos. They were one of the first online providers of royalty-free photography, as well.

It's too bad the OP can't recall who sold him the template in the first place. Seems to me they are the ones who should be ultimately liable. I'd wager they implied that everything was royalty-free.

KeriVit · May 16, 2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Getty, and other stock image companies, are feeling the pain of istockphoto et al. For years they could prety much dictate stock prices, with the arrival of the internet and cheap storage that business model has been successfully attacked.

I am guessing they need the money.

Um, getty owns istock. Literally.

Andrew Stephens · May 17, 2008, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by KeriVit

Um, getty owns istock. Literally.

Ah, that explains where the prices have gone up so much (%age wise anyway).

CMYKid · May 17, 2008, 01:39 PM

Getty can be a serious pain. Some ignorant slut that worked for us once got it in her head that we didnt own the license for a Getty image that was a large part of much of our packaging. She refused to use it unless we could produce the receipt, which is of course not her problem, so we canned her. So SHE drops a dome on us to Getty and said we'd stolen it, blah blah blah.

So, nevermind the fact that in order to obtain the hi-res SOMEONE would have had to buy it, it's not software that you can d/l and eval and then crack. Nevermind the fact that the image was part of the assets of the company that we purchased who already manufactured the product. Nevermind that we'd been using the image in our packagng for 5 years PRIOR to the year Getty bought the previous owner and it became a Getty image.

They sent us bills for tens of thousands of dollars, the entire thing was completely ridiculous.

Eyenovation · May 17, 2008, 03:33 PM

Why not just buy the template again - or point Getty in the direction of the template web site?

MallyMal · May 17, 2008, 04:24 PM

Talk to a lawyer and wait.

Getty Help · May 17, 2008, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Eyenovation

Why not just buy the template again - or point Getty in the direction of the template web site?

Because I bought the template 4-5 years ago and I'm not sure what site it came from.

torsoboy · May 17, 2008, 09:04 PM

This post reminded me that I needed to purchase a Getty Images image that I have been using for a few years already... thanks!

Buckaroo · May 17, 2008, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Getty Help

Because I bought the template 4-5 years ago and I'm not sure what site it came from.

Was this for a business? If so, go through your tax receipt records and find the receipt.

Rock8087 · Jun 24, 2008, 04:08 PM

It seems that the Getty compliance department has been busy. I spoke with my attorney who viewed it as "legal extortion". My site was developed 4 years ago by a now out of business web site developer. It makes no difference that correspondence from them indicates that all required licenses and fees were included in the cost as I am ultimately responsible. I have sent a letter denying knowledge of the unauthorized use of the photo in question and now it's a waiting game. I have read a lot of old history on this subject and I haven't heard of one instance in which an individual was taken to court. Anyone know of a case?

MM-o4 · Jun 24, 2008, 06:37 PM

to help find out who made the template look in the HTML code. Sometimes in the top of the header they put in there name/www. PM me if you not sure how and don't want to put the link up on here and I will have a look. It's long shot, but you never know

us-crusader · Jul 9, 2008, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by Getty Help

Hello,

I received a letter from Getty Images saying that I am in violation of the license and I owe them $3,500. The pictures in question are on a template that I bought in 2003 - 2004. I have no idea where I bought it.

I have spoken with Getty and they said that I am still responsible unless I can find a receipt from one of the template companies that they have settled with.

Anyone experience or have advice on this situation?

I am in the U.S. and in the midst of a similar situation. I have compiled a great deal of information on Getty Images and this whole fiasco. I promise I am not spamming or advertising but I do have an entire website on this that might be helpful to you and many others.

I have scanned in copies of my letters for everyone to see.

http://extortionletterinfo.com

There is more to this than meets the eye.

Uncle Doof · Jul 9, 2008, 03:58 AM

In other news, since Doof now owns the rights to the word "the", you all owe me hundreds of thousands of dollars. Or else. C'mon, pay up. I'll have you all in court. I will. Seriously. Pay up. Pay up now. Or you'll be in a whole world of hurt.

Randman · Jul 9, 2008, 04:02 AM

Ni ni ni ni ni ni.

turtle777 · Jul 9, 2008, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Doof

In other news, since Doof now owns the rights to the word "the", you all owe me hundreds of thousands of dollars. Or else. C'mon, pay up. I'll have you all in court. I will. Seriously. Pay up. Pay up now. Or you'll be in a whole world of hurt.

Luckily, I have invented an open source alternative. It teh rules

-t