Got a letter from a "Photo Attorney" who is on Caroline Wrights team

[shelly808]

Aloha, Thanks so much for the advice.  I went to Pond5, and just dont see how it is different from CanStockphoto?? 

[Jerry Witt (mcfilms)]

Honestly as far as I can tell ALL of these micro-stock companies write themselves a loop hole. Seems even they are not willing to accept responsibility and indemnify the end user.

However, if you are using an image someone claims to have exclusive rights to, it should help if you can show a license. Most legitimate companies will leave you alone and pursue the entity that sold you the license.

I say most because there have been several cases of photo attorneys hounding end users, despite being shown a receipt for a template or an invoice from another developer.

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Getty even offers you a separate "insurance policy" to protect you from the images they license to you. It's in an online brochure called "Be Sure of It" but seeing how ofter they are sued for infringing on others works I can see why they offer it. 

Honestly as far as I can tell ALL of these micro-stock companies write themselves a loop hole. Seems even they are not willing to accept responsibility and indemnify the end user.

However, if you are using an image someone claims to have exclusive rights to, it should help if you can show a license. Most legitimate companies will leave you alone and pursue the entity that sold you the license.

I say most because there have been several cases of photo attorneys hounding end users, despite being shown a receipt for a template or an invoice from another developer.

[Oscar Michelen]

The problem is that digital images have been swapped, copied and placed into so many galleries that even the Big Boys often cannot be 100% certain that they have the exclusive right and use of the imagery.

[DK]

I got one yesterday from Tyra Hughley Smith Law via Tyra Hughley Smith demanding $3,000 in 10 days to settle out of court!