WA State AG Complaint - 90
These are the current complaints against Getty Images that are on file with the Washington State Attorney General office. These are complaints about Getty’s Settlement Demand letters sent out over alleged copyright infringement and are done in such a way that many call it “Legalized Extortion” as Getty refuses to provide any proof whatsoever of their claim, give unrealistic and artificial deadlines for payment, make veiled threats of an eminent impending lawsuit all of which are designed to instill fear and panic making the letter recipient pay before they can do any research and find out what is going on.
Content
Catalyst Complaint Cover Page
411394
Complaint
Number 411394 Date 6/28/2012 Status Assignee Actual Savings Amount Disputed Estimated Savings Closed Bolin, Taylor N $0.00 $780.00 $0.00
Location Bellingham - Consumer Protection Division NAICS 541920-Photographic Services
Complainant
Name Alison Evans 1343 East University Tempe, AZ 85281 Phone Day (480) 921-3858 Phone Evening Email (480) 921-3858 [email protected]
Respondent(s)
Name Getty Images 605 5th Ave S Ste 400 Seattle, WA 98104 Contact Phone (206) 925-6753 Toll Free Email copyright.complian [email protected] m
Referral(s)
Name Contact Phone Contact Phone Email
Practice(s)
Code 300 316 Practice Excessive Price or Charge Billing Issues
Activities
Date Added 6/29/2012 6/29/2012 7/2/2012 7/5/2012 Activity Type Email to Complainant Email to Respondent Email from Complainant Email from Respondent Activity C First Letter to Consumer To: [email protected] R First Letter to Respondent To: [email protected]
411394
1 of 2
Date Added 7/13/2012 7/13/2012 7/13/2012
Activity Type Email to Complainant Email to Respondent Resolution-UNADJUSTED
Activity Csup Closing Unadjusted To: [email protected] Rsup Closing No Adjustment To: [email protected]
411394
2 of 2
Catalyst Report
Complaint Description
Description Getty Images claims we used one of their photos on our website and is asking an exorbitant amount of money to not take legal action towards us. We did not use one of their photos. All of our images have been paid for. They claim because they have no record of us owning the rights to the image that we own them $780. We bought our photos from iStockPhoto (which Getty Images partners with) or were given them as marketing partnership rights from IBM. I am letting your office know because I believe this company is using the general public's lack of knowledge of copyright law to extort money. We broke no copyright laws and many other people may fall victim to this scam if it is not brought to your attention. Could your office please look into this matter to see if this company is making extortionist claims while falsely claiming copyright precedence? I feel harassed by their letters. Better Direct is a service-disabled-veteran-owned business and we spend a lot of money buying images upfront and lawfully. The veteran who owns Better Direct is Major Mark S. Evans. He is a two time combat war veteran 1989/1990 to Desert Storm and 2009/2010 Afghanistan. Our business did the right thing when called to duty to server our country recently. We are offended by the accusation and the dollar amount is absurd. The image is not worth $780 to anyone. It is a picture of a conference room. See attached. The "record number" that Getty Images has for our company is 1196820. Expected resolution details: Cease and desist
411394
Complaint
Number 411394 Date 6/28/2012 Status Assignee Actual Savings Amount Disputed Estimated Savings Closed Bolin, Taylor N $0.00 $780.00 $0.00
Location Bellingham - Consumer Protection Division NAICS 541920-Photographic Services
Complainant
Name Alison Evans 1343 East University Tempe, AZ 85281 Phone Day (480) 921-3858 Phone Evening Email (480) 921-3858 [email protected]
Respondent(s)
Name Getty Images 605 5th Ave S Ste 400 Seattle, WA 98104 Contact Phone (206) 925-6753 Toll Free Email copyright.complian [email protected] m
Referral(s)
Name Contact Phone Contact Phone Email
Practice(s)
Code 300 316 Practice Excessive Price or Charge Billing Issues
Activities
Date Added 6/29/2012 6/29/2012 7/2/2012 7/5/2012 Activity Type Email to Complainant Email to Respondent Email from Complainant Email from Respondent Activity C First Letter to Consumer To: [email protected] R First Letter to Respondent To: [email protected]
411394
1 of 2
Date Added 7/13/2012 7/13/2012 7/13/2012
Activity Type Email to Complainant Email to Respondent Resolution-UNADJUSTED
Activity Csup Closing Unadjusted To: [email protected] Rsup Closing No Adjustment To: [email protected]
411394
2 of 2
Catalyst Report
Complaint Description
Description Getty Images claims we used one of their photos on our website and is asking an exorbitant amount of money to not take legal action towards us. We did not use one of their photos. All of our images have been paid for. They claim because they have no record of us owning the rights to the image that we own them $780. We bought our photos from iStockPhoto (which Getty Images partners with) or were given them as marketing partnership rights from IBM. I am letting your office know because I believe this company is using the general public's lack of knowledge of copyright law to extort money. We broke no copyright laws and many other people may fall victim to this scam if it is not brought to your attention. Could your office please look into this matter to see if this company is making extortionist claims while falsely claiming copyright precedence? I feel harassed by their letters. Better Direct is a service-disabled-veteran-owned business and we spend a lot of money buying images upfront and lawfully. The veteran who owns Better Direct is Major Mark S. Evans. He is a two time combat war veteran 1989/1990 to Desert Storm and 2009/2010 Afghanistan. Our business did the right thing when called to duty to server our country recently. We are offended by the accusation and the dollar amount is absurd. The image is not worth $780 to anyone. It is a picture of a conference room. See attached. The "record number" that Getty Images has for our company is 1196820. Expected resolution details: Cease and desist
