WARNING: Getty Images tracking unpaid image use on wesbites
Discussion
Had a couple of incidents recently where Getty Images have contacted and said that we have used their images on websites we’ve done for clients but have not paid them their fee. In all these cases, we’ve been able to prove that we did.
Mentioned this to a client who had his site done by a one-man-band a fair few years back. He had the same thing. His web designer (who apparently has since disappeared off the face of the earth!) used three images that he never paid for and Getty are looking to charge our client over £4,000 !!!! Legally, the responsibility lies with the end user and it’s the end user that is then responsible for getting the money from the designer.
Seems Getty are most probably doing some kind of pixel search – if such a thing is possible – so worth checking sites and images chaps.
Even if an initial fee had been paid, the image hire agreements are usually time limited so unless a renewal has been paid, you’d still be liable.
Mentioned this to a client who had his site done by a one-man-band a fair few years back. He had the same thing. His web designer (who apparently has since disappeared off the face of the earth!) used three images that he never paid for and Getty are looking to charge our client over £4,000 !!!! Legally, the responsibility lies with the end user and it’s the end user that is then responsible for getting the money from the designer.
Seems Getty are most probably doing some kind of pixel search – if such a thing is possible – so worth checking sites and images chaps.
Even if an initial fee had been paid, the image hire agreements are usually time limited so unless a renewal has been paid, you’d still be liable.
Dogwatch said:
Fair enough that they are are chasing non-payers but it sounds as though they are shooting first and then asking afterwards for those who have played by the rules. Cheaper to get the users to prove they've paid than bother to check their own records by the sound of it.
Possibly although the sites that their queries relates to with us were developed by one of our group companies that has since been subsumed in to the wider group. I can see why they may have thought the fees weren't paid as they were looking for a name of a company that doesn't exist but a website containing the images that tracks to us.Some interesting discussion here:
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthrea...
The first post suggests that nobody has been prosecuted although this link would suggest otherwise:
http://www.out-law.com//default.aspx?page=10367
Don't know the latest but I have heard from various sources that their business has suffered as a result of the actions they have taken. It's a crowded market place and plenty of royalty free or one-of fee based resources out there now.
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthrea...
The first post suggests that nobody has been prosecuted although this link would suggest otherwise:
http://www.out-law.com//default.aspx?page=10367
Don't know the latest but I have heard from various sources that their business has suffered as a result of the actions they have taken. It's a crowded market place and plenty of royalty free or one-of fee based resources out there now.
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