The Business Model of Extortion by Getty Images
On July 23rd 2015, I received an email from AugustImage.com telling me that I'm infringing on their copyright for using Ailica Silverstone's image without a valid license and I need to remove the image within 10 days and / or pay them $510 for the said image.
I run a website I co-founded that inspires people to eat better through a whole food plant based lifestyle
I run a website I co-founded that inspires people to eat better through a whole food plant based lifestyle
I used Alicia Silverstone's image as part of a testimonial she gave us for one of our plant-based cookbooks we published a few years ago.
I Googled her name and picked an image randomly. There are hundreds, if not thousands to choose from, non of which are watermarked.
August Image which is the same as Getty Images is claiming that we used an unauthorized image of Alicia Silverstone on our website.
The image in question measures exactly 176 X 176 pixels with an exact replica of the size in question below.
The image in question measures exactly 176 X 176 pixels with an exact replica of the size in question below.
IMAGE ONE - Front of Getty Image's Letter (click to enlarge)
IMAGE TWO - Back of Getty Image's Letter (click to enlarge)
August Image is really Getty Images because the listed physical address on the letterhead is exactly the same as the physical address for Getty Images. 605 5th Avenue South Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104
On July 30th, exactly 5 days after I got the email, I responded by immediately removing the image from my website and wrote Getty Images back to tell them I have complied with their notification.
They wrote back with this response:
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While we appreciate the removal of the imagery from the website, the prior unauthorized use of the imagery on the website is considered copyright infringement. Since copyright infringement already occurred, payment for that unauthorized use is necessary.
Samantha Clemens
LicenseComplianceServices, AUGUST Image
P: 1.855.387.8725 E: lcs@august.com
605FifthAvenueSouth,Suite400
Seattle,WA98104
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Samantha Clemens
LicenseComplianceServices, AUGUST Image
P: 1.855.387.8725 E: lcs@august.com
605FifthAvenueSouth,Suite400
Seattle,WA98104
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Two days ago on July 31st 2015, I received the same letter as image one above via snail mail demanding payment.
A quick search on other stock photo sites revealed that the smallest image (which measures bigger than my current image) 318 x 480 px for Alicia Silverstone would cost less than $14.99 to buy.
In fact, here's the cost from other stock photo sites;
Not only is Getty Images a troll with a business model based on extortion, their inflated pricing structure seems to be based on total rubbish.
In Getty Image's claim of my copyright infringement, they are offering me a 20% discount so I owe them $408 dollars instead of the full amount of $510. Oooh, how nice and gracious of them!
A quick search on Google for "getty images extortion letter" reveals hundreds if not thousands of results of blog posts people have written about Getty Images and their slimy tactics.
In fact, a whole website called Extortion Letter Info was created in 2008 dedicated to helping people deal with this very issue.
IMAGE THREE - Same celebrity image cost from another stock photo site (click to enlarge)
In fact, here's the cost from other stock photo sites;
- On dreamstime.com a similar image and size costs 2 credits with monetary equivalent of $2.72
- On depositphotos.com a similar image and size costs 2 credits with monetary equivalent of $1.06
- On bigstockphoto.com a similar image and size cost 1 credit with monetary equivalent of $3.50
- On imagecollect.com a full sized image cost $39
Not only is Getty Images a troll with a business model based on extortion, their inflated pricing structure seems to be based on total rubbish.
In Getty Image's claim of my copyright infringement, they are offering me a 20% discount so I owe them $408 dollars instead of the full amount of $510. Oooh, how nice and gracious of them!
A quick search on Google for "getty images extortion letter" reveals hundreds if not thousands of results of blog posts people have written about Getty Images and their slimy tactics.
In fact, a whole website called Extortion Letter Info was created in 2008 dedicated to helping people deal with this very issue.
IMAGE THREE - Same celebrity image cost from another stock photo site (click to enlarge)
Why Online Trolls Like Getty Images Will Die a Natural Death.
1. People don't want stock images anymore because they're sterile, boring and corporate looking.
The problem with stock images is exactly that. They look like stock images and when you're building an online brand or website, using stock images is going to make your website look about as interesting as a doorknob. Plus the fact that one can tell within 6 seconds that it's a stock image.
As mentioned, I run a whole food plant based lifestyle website. Take a look at these stock images from Getty Images for that genre. There is nothing in this portfolio of images that makes me inspired to eat more plant based food (no offense to the photographers)... they're just blah.
As mentioned, I run a whole food plant based lifestyle website. Take a look at these stock images from Getty Images for that genre. There is nothing in this portfolio of images that makes me inspired to eat more plant based food (no offense to the photographers)... they're just blah.
2. There are a ton of amazing free hi-res images you can use that are are real, conveys emotion and authenticity. Here are a few off the top of my head.
3. Using extortion, intimidation and harassment as a strategy is a sure way to cap your growth.
Sure you can make millions in the short term by preying on unsuspecting "violators." This strategy will only last as long as you win the potential lawsuits or scare enough people into paying up.
Think about this. If you were threatened into paying for an image you didn't even know you were infringing on copyright wise, the next time you need a stock image (heaven forbid), would you really go back to Getty Images and buy one from them? Just take a look at Getty Images' Yelp reviews for starters.
The law of diminishing returns will eventually set in.
Here's a data point to prove this.
The law of diminishing returns will eventually set in.
Here's a data point to prove this.
One just needs to take a look at the music industry in the late 90s and early 2000s as a yardstick who employed the same method -- suing consumers for sharing digital music files.
That strategy was about as successful as Watergate was.
That strategy was about as successful as Watergate was.
The only reason why the music industry got out of that rut was because Apple came out with iTunes.
4. The business model of selling images is outdated
Anyone with a smartphone can take amazing images these days. Take enough shots of the same image and you're bound to get a good one.
I know this for a fact because I have absolutely zero training in photography except point and shoot. Even so, I've managed to create a website with hundreds of thousands of visits both from providing good content and images.
I shot the cover image of my partner and lots of the food photos on the blog itself. Tons of them were taken with a smartphone. Not too shabby for zero training.
To prove my point, just take a look at Go Pro's Instagram account to see what regular folk around the globe can do with a simple point and click camera that's smaller than a deck of cards.
This is exactly why I can't wait for Getty Images to go belly up and disappear completely.
Their services in preying on others through intimidation and harassment do not serve a greater good and their business practices do nothing but bring misery.
Perhaps Getty Images needs to look at how they can innovate their business and find ways to make money instead of resorting to extortion as a strategy.
At the end of the day, how much you make as a business is in direct relation to how much value you bring to people's lives.
Getty Images has become a pathetic business model that no longer serves today's needs. The worst part is, they hide behind different names and companies to continue their extortions.
Here is further proof that it's the beginning of the end for Getty Images.
4. The business model of selling images is outdated
Anyone with a smartphone can take amazing images these days. Take enough shots of the same image and you're bound to get a good one.
I know this for a fact because I have absolutely zero training in photography except point and shoot. Even so, I've managed to create a website with hundreds of thousands of visits both from providing good content and images.
I shot the cover image of my partner and lots of the food photos on the blog itself. Tons of them were taken with a smartphone. Not too shabby for zero training.
To prove my point, just take a look at Go Pro's Instagram account to see what regular folk around the globe can do with a simple point and click camera that's smaller than a deck of cards.
This is exactly why I can't wait for Getty Images to go belly up and disappear completely.
Their services in preying on others through intimidation and harassment do not serve a greater good and their business practices do nothing but bring misery.
Perhaps Getty Images needs to look at how they can innovate their business and find ways to make money instead of resorting to extortion as a strategy.
At the end of the day, how much you make as a business is in direct relation to how much value you bring to people's lives.
Getty Images has become a pathetic business model that no longer serves today's needs. The worst part is, they hide behind different names and companies to continue their extortions.
Here is further proof that it's the beginning of the end for Getty Images.
"The Times, They're a Changin..."
- Bob Dylan
