First of all, I would like to thank Oscar and Matthew for this informative website! It's great to know the client I work for is not the only one effected.
Back in late November, 2008, my client (since it is his small business) received the infamous Getty Letter demanding a Cease and Desist for removing the images on his website in addition to an invoice totaling up to $4,000 for three images there were used. Sometime back, a third party web-designer was hired to design the website, apparently using imagery Getty is claiming to be copyright holder/owner of, but now in the presence of this letter, that third party designer is no longer within my contact or unreachable. I almost wound up contacting Getty Images, but aside from a 1-800 number, the letter was not signed by anyone in particular, simply ending with "License Compliant Team, Getty Images." Luckily, I did my research, and came upon several forums and websites (including this one) showcasing similar hassles from Getty which placed me, somewhat, at ease. So at that time, I conveyed to my client's trustful secretary (my direct client/business proprietor was too busy with his work and meetings) that I decided NOT to engage in contact with Getty, despite having removed the questioned imagery myself immediately upon hearing of this letter.
Well, today (January 9, 2009; some time past the letter's December "settlement" deadline), I finally spoke directly with my client who is nevertheless concerned about ignoring or avoiding this altogether. He just doesn't want to let this be "... ignored because, eventually, things come back to bite you...." Understanding business tactics, he is under the impression that if Getty does not pursue this matter legally (considering that legal actions could surpass $4,000 for both parties), my client could be slapped with bad credit problems if Getty sends this over to collections.
So my question is this: Has there been any recorded or known incident of an individual or small businesses suffering bad credit consequences if Getty's invoice and monetary demands are not met? I understand that there is a service Getty utilizes, but are they that effectual and impacting??
So now I feel like I'm back at square one. Sometime next week, he is expecting me to engage in contact with Getty to see, if somehow, a reduced amount can be established. He even wanted me to set-up a phone conference with Getty, but just judging from what I have read here and on other forums, I doubt they could be that cordially accommodating. And despite the Getty Letter arriving to his business in his name, I'm the one looking to cough up whatever the amount winds up being finally negotiated on.
Nevertheless, I sincerely appreciate your kind reaction to my issue.
Thank you!!
Brad Meyers
Back in late November, 2008, my client (since it is his small business) received the infamous Getty Letter demanding a Cease and Desist for removing the images on his website in addition to an invoice totaling up to $4,000 for three images there were used. Sometime back, a third party web-designer was hired to design the website, apparently using imagery Getty is claiming to be copyright holder/owner of, but now in the presence of this letter, that third party designer is no longer within my contact or unreachable. I almost wound up contacting Getty Images, but aside from a 1-800 number, the letter was not signed by anyone in particular, simply ending with "License Compliant Team, Getty Images." Luckily, I did my research, and came upon several forums and websites (including this one) showcasing similar hassles from Getty which placed me, somewhat, at ease. So at that time, I conveyed to my client's trustful secretary (my direct client/business proprietor was too busy with his work and meetings) that I decided NOT to engage in contact with Getty, despite having removed the questioned imagery myself immediately upon hearing of this letter.
Well, today (January 9, 2009; some time past the letter's December "settlement" deadline), I finally spoke directly with my client who is nevertheless concerned about ignoring or avoiding this altogether. He just doesn't want to let this be "... ignored because, eventually, things come back to bite you...." Understanding business tactics, he is under the impression that if Getty does not pursue this matter legally (considering that legal actions could surpass $4,000 for both parties), my client could be slapped with bad credit problems if Getty sends this over to collections.
So my question is this: Has there been any recorded or known incident of an individual or small businesses suffering bad credit consequences if Getty's invoice and monetary demands are not met? I understand that there is a service Getty utilizes, but are they that effectual and impacting??
So now I feel like I'm back at square one. Sometime next week, he is expecting me to engage in contact with Getty to see, if somehow, a reduced amount can be established. He even wanted me to set-up a phone conference with Getty, but just judging from what I have read here and on other forums, I doubt they could be that cordially accommodating. And despite the Getty Letter arriving to his business in his name, I'm the one looking to cough up whatever the amount winds up being finally negotiated on.
Nevertheless, I sincerely appreciate your kind reaction to my issue.
Thank you!!
Brad Meyers