Have you ever heard of robots that scan websites looking for copyrighted images?
Asked by
jca (
36062
)
January 23rd, 2015
Posted on a FB group:
“Are you aware that there are companies using robots to scan websites looking for copyrighted images to see if you have a license??? And, are you also aware that even if you did not put the image on your website you are still liable and responsible to pay the fine? In my case, a friend that did my website downloaded a free software program from JAlbum in 2007. Last Fall I received a letter from Getty Images informing me they found a copyrighted image on my website and I did not have a license for it. There is a lot of information on Getty Images you can google as many people have received letters demanding money. Many told me it was a scam and not to send money to them. Well, today I received a letter from a law firm demanding I pay them more than $1500. Even though it was free software downloaded by my friend and we did not know a copyrighted image was used, I am still responsible to pay. The bottom line is the owner of the website is liable. So, try to be sure the software programs and templates you or your webmaster use are not copyrighted unless you purchase the license for them.”
After this, the person commented down in the thread that she looked into getting an attorney, but since they charge $300 per hour she decided to pay this demand.
My advice was that I wouldn’t pay anything like this without a court order.
I’m cynical and since I never heard of “robots scanning websites looking for copyrighted images” it sounds like B.S. to me.
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9 Answers
I would take anything posted on a FB group with a very large grain of salt. Bu there are webcrawlers that index images from web sites, that is how the images page from a Google search is built.
My company got tagged by Getty images and demanded $700 for a pic we had on our website. This was on the old owners watch and he said just to take it down and ignore the demand. That was over 4 years ago. I did some research and concluded this tactic is borderline extortion.
It wouldn’t be a “robot.” It would be a program.
If the request to take down an image is coming from a reputable source, it’s generally what’s termed a “cease and desist” order from an attorney.
If you then refuse to do so, that’s when you could be held liable because then there’s proof of intent.
Without that proof of intent, it would be extremely difficult for them to make a case.
Until you receive a communication from a reputable source (which would also be able to provide proof as to its authentic source) I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it.
Otherwise, anybody and everybody could be running a scam demanding money for images found on websites.
The main goal of the original holder of the copyright for an image is to halt unauthorized proliferation. The cease and desist letter does the job quickly and efficiently without tying things up in endless court proceedings to collect money.
I know that there are several ‘crawlers’ that automatically view YouTube videos and “listen” and “watch” in order to send in copyright violation complaints.
I have heard Disney and others like Walmart use a “bot” to look for their copyrighted items. You don’t want to mess with Walter D.
I have been hit by this. I just removed the image and told them to fuck off. Never heard from them again.
Some info can be found here.
<cough, cough> I smell a money grab <cough, cough>
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