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I Lost My Avatar aka F@#$ Getty Images

rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
So I got a PM from arn last night asking me to remove my avatar (below) due to a claim by Getty Images. I've been using the avatar for like 8 years now and get tons of PMs about it (some from pervs).

I feel like my identity was stolen.

NOTE: Image below pupportedly copyrighted by Getty Images.
 

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how the **** can Getty Images claim anything. They supply royality free images. Sounds like they just got board and want to flex their muscle. We could probably get a large group of them to spam them with hate mail.
 
Very interesting.

I wonder if anyone else has gotten a similar PM regarding their 'tar.
 
jav6454 said:
How do they own it? I've seen you use that 'tar since '06 when I started lurking and '07 when I joined.
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They probably don't own it, they are likely acting as an agent for the photographer who does own it. rdowns was using someone else's intellectual property without permission and without paying for it. "Tut Tut - hope you feel bad."

That is about as worked up as I can get about that particular mis-use.

However.... Getty Images also has a reputation for being aggressive when dealing with alleged copyright violations. Very aggressive. This quote from Wikipedia sums it up nicely:
In 2008, Getty Images caused controversy for its aggressive pursuit of copyright enforcement on behalf of its photographers. Rather than pursue a policy of sending out "cease and desist" notices, Getty typically mails out a demand letter claiming substantial sums of damages to owners of websites which it believes are using their images in infringement of their photographers' copyright.
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Generally, they back down when confronted by a competent legal team. I would be curious whether Getty sent a Demand Letter to Arn, or whether they've mellowed a bit and sent a Cease and Desist letter.

Stock Photo Agencies expect to be paid by people who use images from their libraries. From the payments the agencies receive a portion is then paid to the photographer who took the photograph in the first place. This photographer may be raising a family, running a business, investing in equipment, investing in courses to stay current. This is their work and their livelihood. Getting paid for stock photos that the agency leases on their behalf may be how they make their living. As I photographer I respect the work that stock photo agencies do on my behalf.
 
rdowns said:
So I got a PM from arn last night asking me to remove my avatar (below) due to a claim by Getty Images. I've been using the avatar for like 8 years now and get tons of PMs about it (some from pervs).

I feel like my identity was stolen.

NOTE: Image below pupportedly copyrighted by Getty Images.
Click to expand...

Where did you originally get it?
 
from a fast google search it seems like Getty Images is trying to open law suits against everyone ....
 
Rodimus Prime said:
how the **** can Getty Images claim anything. They supply royality free images. Sounds like they just got board and want to flex their muscle. We could probably get a large group of them to spam them with hate mail.
Click to expand...
Royalty free doesn't mean there's no cost to use the image.

On the documentary linked in my sig we had some issues with Getty, as well as others, attempting to claim copyright over media that was in public domain. Hell, one low cost sound library even tried charging us to use one of the pre-composed tracks from Apple that comes bundled with the Final Cut Pro Suite. :rolleyes:
 
Nice competitive rate to license the image too :rolleyes:

What I don't get is what is the original photographer actually loosing by letting it be used as an avatar? He certainly will not gain anything from enforcing the claim.

Screen Shot 2012-09-27 at 19.07.29.png
 
LethalWolfe said:
Royalty free doesn't mean there's no cost to use the image.

On the documentary linked in my sig we had some issues with Getty, as well as others, attempting to claim copyright over media that was in public domain. Hell, one low cost sound library even tried charging us to use one of the pre-composed tracks from Apple that comes bundled with the Final Cut Pro Suite. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

See that is what is rather sad is they try to steal money from something that is in the public domain. It is rather low and I bet it would drop like a rock if they were forced to pay the legal fees of the people they tried to steal money from.
 
TinEye shows 188 results for the avatar pic so I guess they are not doing a good job protecting their stuff.
I guess it's an opportunity for you to get a real version of the pic.
 
You've been using that avatar for as long as I can remember, it's like your trademark. I saw you without it earlier and was wondering where it went.

Greedy bastards.
 
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