Internet picture scam ?

Received a invoice today by mail for £244 for use of a picture used on one of our websites claiming its copyright. Even if we remove the picture they still want payment. Is this legal or a scam.

ask them to prove its theirs

Received a invoice today by mail for £244 for use of a picture used on one of our websites claiming its copyright. Even if we remove the picture they still want payment. Is this legal or a scam.

Where did you get the picture from?

Received a invoice today by mail for £244 for use of a picture used on one of our websites claiming its copyright. Even if we remove the picture they still want payment. Is this legal or a scam.

Assuming you didn't use someone else's picture without asking their permission, then I'd say it was a scam.

However, if you did use someone else's photo to promote your website without their permission, then I'd get a bit worried.

£244 seems quite reasonable if you ask me though. How much would you expect a photographer to charge you for work done for your website?

If the photo is copyright, then you should pay. It's gotta be wrong to get someone else's work for free (without their permission) ... it's not on is it?

Assuming you didn't use someone else's picture without asking their permission, then I'd say it was a scam.

However, if you did use someone else's photo to promote your website without their permission, then I'd get a bit worried.

£244 seems quite reasonable if you ask me though. How much would you expect a photographer to charge you for work done for your website?

If the photo is copyright, then you should pay. It's gotta be wrong to get someone else's work for free (without their permission) ... it's not on is it?

I agree with you Mr Alco, it's not on...

... I think it's time I got around to sending out some invoices of my own to a few other local forums!

This can only be enforced through a court, of course if it gets that far it would probably cost you more. Did you use someone else's picture? You should not have. However, it is hard to see how they can claim if you removed the picture, I believe there is also a reasonable expectation that they request you remove the picture before demanding damages. More information here https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p05_copyright_infringement

If they did not notify you before, than it is scam.... Try to google the company email or company name.

If the picture has been used without the owners permission then they can claim damages for any loss they have incurred. Was it a picture you got from Google? If so the majority of these are not free to use.

For some reason I can't access your home page to comment

If the picture has been used without the owners permission then they can claim damages for any loss they have incurred. Was it a picture you got from Google? If so the majority of these are not free to use.

Through a court, not by sending an invoice.

---------- Post added 22-05-2015 at 22:27 ----------

This image is it

http://www.movesandremoves.co.uk/images/Image7.jpg

Taken from here?

http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/design/AMG-4452/black-van--pick-up-in-store-business-cards.aspx?couponAutoload=1&GP=5%2f22%2f2015+5%3a25%3a26+PM&GPS=3517106094&GNF=0

You're not the only company to be using it though

http://www.medencouriers.com/Recruitment.html

and here

http://www.belizecomputerguy.com/job5.html

I wonder if there is a fixed % of pixels in an image, that if changed, it isn't legally considered the same image?

If you change 1 pixel, is it the same image?

If you change 50% of the pixels, is it the same image? How about 99%?

At what point does it become a new image, legally?

I think you could technically change 100% of the pixels eg the colour of them and it still be the same image.

For instance:

http://www.warhol.org/exhibitions/2012/15minuteseternal/en/img/art-marilyn-470x469.jpg

http://mrnussbaum.com/artists/warhol3.jpg