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Do you understand copyright law? Do you think it's fair?
Posted by Jaybetee • 7/09/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: copyright laws, getty, Photography
Disclaimer: I asked this question in another conversation which I have deleted. Before I asked if Getty was coming after people. the thought, who would want to admit to that on a thread!
So here's the situation: A colleague of mine got a letter from Getty saying he owed them a bundle of money for using an image illegally. Thing is the image was provided by a web design company he used and was part of a stock image library they provided. You can read the more detailed account on the BC Blog.
Question: Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue? Do you think end users should be responsible for unlicensed images on their sites even if they were provided by a third party and presented as legitimately purchased images?
User Comments
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Your colleague just has to show proof that the image was acquired through a stock photo library and he was totally unaware of the copyright infringement. If anything, the most they can do is have him take it down. There's no way that they are going to get a sniff of cash out of your friend if the story is as you are saying. I wouldn't be afraid of legal boasting, it's just an intimidation tactic.
"You owe me a kazillion dollars for using my stuff illegaly."
"Yeah, but I won't ever be able to pay for that."
"Alright, we'll take $20, an apology letter, and subway for the whole office."
"Deal."-
Definitely an intimidation tactic, but what the hell happened to cease and desist order first and then lawsuit if it's refused?
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- It's possible that this is an intimidation tactic like trailofpen says, and just hearing about this reminds me that I've actually heard it before from someone else. I suggest that a lawyer be consulted because in the final analysis it really doesn't matter what we bloggers think.
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