Hi there, My husband is a semi pro photographer and retired attorney. He says that this is probably legit, and you can either pay it, or try to negotiate a lower rate. It's good that you've taken the image down, contact them and tell them it was a mistake, the image is down and ask them to lower the fee.
Susan On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, Jill in Ky <jnai...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Now that you've taken it down, that should suffice. It sounds very > fishy, too, cause normally from what I understand they first send you > a letter explaining your violation and then tell you to remove it > immediately. They traditionally do not shake people down for money > right at the beginning. I'd definitely not pay a lawyer and I'd > definitely not pay this company anything, not even if you bargained > with them to lower the fee. It probably is some kind of scam. > > The company has to first sue you in court to get a judgment, and that > will cost them way more than the $780 they're trying to charge you. > And going thru the suit process just for $780 seems very unlikely, > since that would also take months. I'd just tell them that you've > taken the image down now that you're aware there was a problem and if > they want any more from you they'll have to file a lawsuit. > > If by some odd, small chance that this company is legit and they do > sue you, it'll take months and months. Then you'll get a notice to > appear in court (due to the amount it''ll probably be in small claims > court) and at that point you can call the company back and negotiate > for a smaller settlement if you want. > > But think about it....anyone can send anyone a typed up, legal looking > letter thru the mail and demand money for some random infraction that > may or may not be true. Naive, honest people and old people > automatically pay it with no questions asked because they get scared > that their credit will be ruined. And it's true that there isn't a > debtors prison. They could be sitting at home trolling the internet or > Facebook for beauty related businesses and sending hundred or > thousands of people letters such as this. Think of the amount of money > this alleged company or scam artist is making just if 10% of their > targets pay up? > > You may want to also check this out on snopes.com where they list > recent scams and such. > > Jill Wright > Bowling Green, KY > > On Mar 13, 6:53 pm, Lauren Dodson <april392...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> I got a letter today saying an image that I have on my website is copy written and I need to send in $780 to Getty Images. It is a small photo of nails that I pulled from the internet. I have taken it down and will try and deal with them to pay less money. Anyone been through this before? > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. > To post to this group, send email to nailtech@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nailtech+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. To post to this group, send email to nailtech@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nailtech+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en.
