VIP Contact List
Last updated: 11/25/2008
In the U.S., the Licensing Compliance Department of Getty Images appears to be based in Seattle, WA. I have assembled names and addresses of influential people that work at government agencies that have legal jurisdiction over Getty Images in Seattle, WA. Part of their jobs is to ensure that businesses conduct themselves accordingly and consumers are protected against business abuses.
I have not yet contacted them but will likely do so as time permits. However, I encourage you to write or contact these important individuals. Complain to people who can actually do something. Simply venting and complaining on the Internet is not enough.
The names I have selected come from the Washington State Elected Officials page.
Val Wood
Director of Corporations
PO BOX 40234
OLYMPIA WA 98504-0234
Phone: (360) 725-0377Sam Reed, Washington Secretary of State
Legislative Building
PO Box 40220
Olympia WA 98504-0220
Phone: (360) 902-4151Governor Christine Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Phone: (360) 902-4111
Fax: (360) 753-4110Rob McKenna, Attorney General
1125 Washington ST SE
PO Box 40100
Olympia WA 98504-0100
Phone: (360) 753-6200Lt. Governor Brad Owen
Office of Lieutenant Governor Owen
220 Legislative Building
PO Box 40400
Olympia WA 98504-0400
Phone: (360) 786-7700Senator Maria Cantwell
915 Second Ave, Suite 3206
Seattle, WA 98174
Phone: (206) 220-6400
FAX: 206-220-6404Senator Patty Murray
2988 Jackson Federal Building
915 2nd Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98174
Phone: (206) 220-6400
Fax: (206) 553-0891Congressman James McDermott
1809 7th Avenue
Suite 1212
Seattle, WA 98101-1399
Phone: (206) 553-7170
Fax: (206) 553-7175
According to the Washington State Corporations Database, there are two active Getty Images corporations in operation:
- Getty Images (Seattle) Inc. (Domestic)
- Getty Images Thailand Inc.
- Getty Images Inc. (Foreign corporation based in Delaware)
According to the New York State Corporations Database, there are three active Getty Images corporations in operation:
- Getty Images (Seattle) Inc. (Foreign corporation based in Washington State)
- Getty Images (Photographers) Inc. (Foreign corporation based in California)
- Getty Images (US) Inc. (Domestic)
Electronic Frontier Foundation
American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU)
Other Getty Images locations include:
Getty Images, Chicago
122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60603
USA
Getty Images, Los Angeles
6300 Wilshire Blvd, 16th Floor
Los Angeles, CA
90048
Getty Images, New York
75 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
USA
It may eventually be necessary to include government officials and agencies that have jurisdiction in these locations also. For now, it appears within the U.S., the Seattle office is handling the License Compliance issues.
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Legal Representation
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Oscar Michelen is a highly-respected and successful Attorney with 20+ years experience and a Partner of Sandback, Birnbaum, and Michelen in New York. Oscar is the "Official Subject Matter Expert" for this website and an "Official Moderator" for the ELI Discussion Forum. I "discovered" Oscar on a Google search when he graciously provided some great advice on AVVO.com to a fellow Letter recipient in Houston, TX. Oscar has an Excellent AVVO rating. |
Independent of meeting me and encountering this website, Oscar has been following the Getty Images Settlement Letter phenomena on the Internet for awhile. Oscar has agreed to legally represent and assist those individuals who want it. I currently work with Oscar to ensure that we have an effective and a cost-efficient representation program for the small busineess entrepreneur.
You can contact Oscar at his email address: omichelen@sbmlegal.com. Or you can call to make an appointment for a free consultation at his Toll-free #: 800-640-2000. If you are outside of the U.S., call 212-517-3200.
(Personal comment by the Editor: Please be prepared, have your facts straight, be concise, and be respectful when you communicate with Oscar. During the consultation, please do not be long-winded and wear him out. He is being gracious about this. Let's be courteous to him and his time. We do not need a few bad apples to ruin it for everyone.)
| Sandback, Birnbaum & Michelen Two Penn Plaza New York, NY 10021 |
Sandback, Birnbaum & Michelen 200 Old Country Road Mineola, NY 11501-4242 |
Seeking Experienced International Intellectual Property Attorneys
Oscar and I are seeking experienced international intellectual attorneys from the U.K., Canada, and Australia that would like to join our cause and this website. Please email us if you are interested in working with us.
Oscar Michelen's Petition Letter to New York Governor
I make it a point to research on the Internet those individuals I associate myself with. I discovered Oscar's petition letter to the New York Governor concerning the high-profile Justice for Sentosa 27 Plus Case he was working on at the time. Take a look at his contribution to this case.
Who Not To Contact (Waste of Time)
IBPA - The Independent Book Publishers Association
Terry Nathan is the Executive Director of the IBPA. He appears to have little authority, willingness, and background knowledge of the severity of this issue. Even with my emails and a simple phone discussion, he doesn't "get it".
With an alleged membership of a few thousand members, I would have thought that independent publishers and self-published authors would want to know about the Getty Images Settlement Demand Letter situation so they could be proactive and to get their "images usage" in order.
The membership knowing about this issue and this website actually serves both Getty and the unknowing infringer. Getty can get image users to double-check their image licensing and take corrective measures. And the unknowing letter recipient can be proactive before getting the aggravation Letter.
I want any member of IBPA who receives a Getty Images Settlement Demand Letter to know that both the Executive Director, Terry Nathan, and the Newsletter Editor, Judith Appelbaum, had the opportunity to share a blurb or make at least a small mention about this ahead of time so that you didn't have to receive a Letter. Clearly, I wasted my time and breath. I am now confident an IBPA member will have to learn the hard way after it is too late. You can thank their wonderful insights into what is best for the membership.
I wrote a commentary on the TurnKey Publishers Blog because this is such an important issue.
International VIP Contact List
If you are in Canada, United Kingdom, or Australia, feel free to provide me a list of contact information of those government officials and the agencies that are involved with Consumer Protection and Affairs. Also, if there are attorneys and lawyers who want to be listed here, I will be happy to do so.
If there any international attorneys that would be interested in joining our cause, please contact us.
Send email to: 
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At the suggestion of one our enthusiastic supporters, I have set up a PayPal Donation Button for those of you who wish to show your support 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 donation. I recommend a small donation of $5.00 to $10.00 if you have found useful and valuable information that assisted you in defending yourself against Getty Images. You may donate as little as $1.00 or as high as $100.00. You may donate as frequently or as infrequently as your prefer. But just realize this is an ongoing fight. I need ongoing community support to continue the work on this website. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support in our cause. Sincerely, Matthew Chan |
