Ghetti Images Getty Images605 5th Ave S, Suite 400 Seattle, Washington USA Mafia Style Letter Demands Money for Bloggers Innocent Unwatermarked Thumbnail Image Seattle Washington
In 2011 I recieved a letter from Ghetti Images demanding $1200.00 for a tiny thumbnail image they found in the back catacomb pages of my website. Sadly I had purchased a package of several images from Time Life Ghetti in 2008, with the added bonus of 2 free images. It was the biggest mistake of my life.
Because the images were free, I did not think twice about displaying one of them in my website, and have no way of prooving they are legal. In 2008 it was impossible to just "take" a Ghetti Image because it would be watermarked. If there was such thing as Screen Shot in 2008, I had no knowledge of it.
I explained my plight and innocense to one of their "attotneys" in 2011, and that I had immediatly deleted the image and replaced it with a 'dreamstime" image. She seemed to have no great consern and told me to get back later.
The next year, 2012, I recieved a letter saying "it appeared" at one time I had an image of Ghettis on my Website.......and to please send 1200.00 immeditatly. "The artist" they explained, "was exceptinaly high priced." The words "It Appeared at one time I had a photo" seemed highly suspicious...as if they were grasping for straws and my "free Ghetti Image" by this time had long been deleted from my website.
I have just recieved a third letter, 2013, demanding that if I do not pay them 1200.00 IMMEDIATLY {I have 10 days} they will be forced to take action against me. As of today I seek an attorney and will communicate through a legal letter. They offer "payment plans" to pay for my free Time/Liffe Ghetti image of 2008, long deleted from my life. Beware of any photo package you purchase from Ghetti, and decide "NO" to any 2 free bonus images.