Got an extortion letter from Higbee asking for $15k

[notarget]

Hi Everyone,

I have a link to an image of a book cover in one of my blog articles, promoting a book I make no money on. I got an extortion letter from Higbee asking for $15,000. There's some broken code in the email that says "{timely_discount_shortcode}." So, I have no idea what their discount request is.

A Google image search finds 13,000,000 references to the image.

They claim to have sent me a letter via US Mail on 10/31. I've not received it (yet.)

They provide these instructions.

To resolve this matter efficiently and amicably, please follow these steps:

(1) Immediately after receipt of this email, remove all occurrences of the image from your website(s), cease using it in any way, and confirm in writing that you have done so.

(2) Immediately after receipt of this email, return to our firm the attached Release License, along with your payment in the form of a valid cashier’s check or money order for $15000 payable to ''Higbee & Associates Client Trust Account''.  This can be returned to us via US Mail. You can also pay online at https://copyright.higbeeassociates.com/resolution. If you choose to make your payment online, you can return the Release License via email to [email protected]. The email must include the case number XXXXXX in the subject line.

The attached PDF is 50 pages long and it includes many pages of images in the photographer's Certificate of Registration. The documentation looks very legitimate.

I've googled a bunch and read a number of posts here. I get that you don't give stock advice on whether to respond or not. My blog is small, it makes no money, and I did not intentionally infringe on the photographer's copyright.

It's a bit hard to fathom that posting a link to an image of a book cover on a blog to promote the author's work is a bad thing. And, my understanding is that a hotlink ( <img src="...."> ) is not a problem.

Your thoughts?

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Links are NOT considered to be an inffringement! If you did indeed link to the image, and did not upload it to your servers, you are free and clear.. With this being said If I were you I would quickly respond to Higbee, and cite Perfect10 v google and tell him to to pound salt! I actually would not say it that way, because that's way to kind. I would love to see a copy of this letter as well as the offending site (to look at the code )..

[notarget]

Robert,

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll upload the letter and epic attachment to Google docs and share it with you.

Thanks.

[notarget]

It's worth noting that Higbee knows I'm not hosting the image because, in their letter, they mention "infringing webpages" and give the URL to the page on my blog displaying the image and, right beneath it, they mention "infringing file locations" and that URL is http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/XXXXXXXXX.JPG.

Is it worth filing a complaint with the CA Attorney General's office?

[notarget]

One other thought. I've only been contacted by Higbee via email. They claim to have sent a letter via US Mail. My guess is that it's too much cost/effort to send thousands of paper letters so they lie about it and only send paper letters to folks who engage them. Email is not a reliable way to communicate with people so I'm inclined to not respond unless they actually send me a paper letter. And, it would need to include the 50-page attachment. If I do get such a letter I might forward it on to the CA Attorney General's office.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Robert,

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll upload the letter and epic attachment to Google docs and share it with you.

Thanks.

admin (at) copyright-trolls.com

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

It's worth noting that Higbee knows I'm not hosting the image because, in their letter, they mention "infringing webpages" and give the URL to the page on my blog displaying the image and, right beneath it, they mention "infringing file locations" and that URL is http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/XXXXXXXXX.JPG.

Is it worth filing a complaint with the CA Attorney General's office?

I would file a com plaint with the  CA attorney general, your states AG as well the Califoriai Bar Association and if he is licensed to practice in your state that Bar Association as well...just remember he will know who complained.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Mathew Higbee is not very smart, and he's probably better served to continue expunging speeding and red light tickets, he apparently doesn't know all that much about copyright..What a moron..

[notarget]

You should have a couple of emails, each with a link to a shared doc. Please don't share any details that might identify me. And, please don't login to their system with my info. I don't want to tip them off that I've actually received/read their letter. Thanks.