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- Feb 23, 2011
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I just thought I'd post this info in case it may be helpful to anyone.
One of my clients, an established estate agent in Scotland, used an image about 5 years ago for the header of his website which he obtained from Google images. He didn't know any better and after about 3 months he received a nice email from the photographer (also in scotland) saying the image was not for public or commercial use, and could he take it off. He did and apologied to the chap. that was 5 years ago.
Last week he received an email from a company called Atradius, who sent him a bill for £985 on behalf of Getty Images, for using the said image. He contacted me, very worried, and sent me a couple of the threatening emails they sent to him.
It turns out, after speaking to the OFT, that Atradius have no consumer credit licence in the UK and have no authority to be collecting debts of any kind, or indeed threatening anyone. So I came across a forum dedicated to helping anyone who may have this issue, the link is below, just in case any of you have encountered this or are worried by the emails.
http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/uk-getty-images-letter-forum/
* I forgot to mention I believe they are a Dutch company.
One of my clients, an established estate agent in Scotland, used an image about 5 years ago for the header of his website which he obtained from Google images. He didn't know any better and after about 3 months he received a nice email from the photographer (also in scotland) saying the image was not for public or commercial use, and could he take it off. He did and apologied to the chap. that was 5 years ago.
Last week he received an email from a company called Atradius, who sent him a bill for £985 on behalf of Getty Images, for using the said image. He contacted me, very worried, and sent me a couple of the threatening emails they sent to him.
It turns out, after speaking to the OFT, that Atradius have no consumer credit licence in the UK and have no authority to be collecting debts of any kind, or indeed threatening anyone. So I came across a forum dedicated to helping anyone who may have this issue, the link is below, just in case any of you have encountered this or are worried by the emails.
http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/uk-getty-images-letter-forum/
* I forgot to mention I believe they are a Dutch company.
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