First Getty... Now Superstock

[BANJODOG]

I guess I should have been more careful setting up my website in 2007.  I grabbed a few images from the net, conducted business as usual and never had any issues untill last year I get a demand for $850. from Getty for copyright infringement.  I cantact my attorney and he says pay the fine.  Since I quickly removed the offending image I figured I would ignore this letter - any my attorney.  To date I have not heard back from Getty.  Hopefully I will not in the future.  I gambled and it appears I saved myself $850.

Then, last week a get onother letter on a different image.  This time is is from Superstock.  They want $1120.  This is getting old.  I am now more fearful since the tone of this letter is more threatening.  I am not sure what to do here.  How can I test to see if this it a true legitimate claim?  Should I gamble again?  Maybe there is  some general advice on handling this.  I am at a loss on this.  I am so happy to find this forum.  Any advice here would be appreciated.

[Jerry Witt (mcfilms)]

This is precisely the kind of situation that gets ZERO sympathy from me.

You dodged a bullet once. You became aware that images you grab from Google are not "free" or in the public domain. You have the knowledge that companies are out there that prey on this sort of infringement. Yet you did nothing. You could have spent $50 and a couple hours of looking at microstock catalogs and replaced those images. Nah, too much trouble.

Usually this place is pretty open and helpful. And maybe someone else might have some advice for you. But for my part, I'll just say "good luck."

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

I've been thinking of how to respond to this for a while, once again MCFilms comes to the rescue.. I admit I probably wouldn't have been as tactful..

[Peeved]

Sorry but I've got to agree with the boys on this one. After learning of this trolling issue, we will not use STOCK PHOTOS period end. We will use only our own from here on to avoid any possible future demands from trolls. There are however other options. Mcfilms has been so kind as to create a list of public domain sites for some possibilities.

With regard to "dodging a bullit", please do not be surprised if Getty is not done with you as well.

Agree...Good luck to you. 

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

@Peeved: BOYS?? Wrong! We are Super Heroes without masks and capes!

[Peeved]

@Peeved: BOYS?? Wrong! We are Super Heroes without masks and capes!

LOL!! Oh pardon my mistake! I stand corrected! lol........
 

[BANJODOG]

Thanks for the great advice.  I missed another image. 

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Thanks for the great advice.  I missed another image.

By the tone of your OP, it sounded like you were not very pro-active, in removing possibly infringing images. It's pretty simple really you either have a license for every image or you don't, for the ones you don't have a license for, they should have been removed.. as far as advice goes, there are literally 1000's of post here with advice, do some research, get some education, then feel free to ask any specific questions..Just because the sympathy may not be there doesn't mean you won't get help, but you have to do some of the lifting yourself..