Catalyst Complaint Cover Page

411905

Complaint
Number 411905 Date 7/6/2012 Status Assignee Actual Savings Amount Disputed Estimated Savings Closed Bolin, Taylor N $0.00 $780.00 $0.00

Location Bellingham - Consumer Protection Division NAICS 541920-Photographic Services

Complainant
Name Patrick Michael McGraw 5601 Honeygo Ridge Court White Marsh, MD 21162 Phone Day (410) 977-7355 Phone Evening Email (410) 977-7355 patmcgraw@comcast.net

Respondent(s)
Name Getty Images 605 5th Ave S Ste 400 Seattle, WA 98104 Contact Phone (206) 925-6753 Toll Free Email copyright.complian ce@gettyimages.co m

Referral(s)
Name Contact Phone Contact Phone Email

Practice(s)
Code 019 404 Practice Inadequate Disclosure Collection Practices

Activities
Date Added 7/11/2012 7/11/2012 7/11/2012 7/19/2012 Activity Type Email to Complainant Email to Respondent Email from Complainant Email from Respondent Activity C First Letter to Consumer To: patmcgraw@comcast.net R First Letter to Respondent To: copyright.compliance@gettyimages.com

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Date Added 7/27/2012 7/27/2012 7/27/2012

Activity Type Email to Respondent Email to Complainant Resolution-UNADJUSTED

Activity Rsup Closing No Adjustment To: copyright.compliance@gettyimages.com Csup Closing Unadjusted To: patmcgraw@comcast.net

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Catalyst Report
Complaint Description
Description On July 3rd, 2012, I received a packet including an invoice for $780.00 from Getty Images (601 N. 34th Street, Seattle WA 98103, 800-972-4170). They are claiming that I am "...using an image represented by Getty Images for online promotional and/or editorial purposes." However, they did not provide me with a URL where that image was located so I spent several hours searching pages and image files - and was unable to locate the image. I then performed a Google search regarding "Getty Images Invoices" and discovered that this firm appears to have a history of this tactic and many others suggested contacting your office (Washington State Attorney General). I will be sending Getty Images a letter, informing them that I did not find the image on my site and that I have placed this complaint with your office because I do not feel I should have received the invoice. If they can provide me with the URL where the image is supposedly located on my site and if it turns out that it is, in fact, on my site, I will immediately remove the image. I would appreciate a fair price be charged - I can license images from iStockphoto.com for as little as $5 versus their $780 fee. Of course, if the image is not on my site, I would expect them to cancel the invoice. Expected resolution details: Provide me with the URL where the image is supposedly located so I can verify its existence and, if necessary, remove it. Provide proof that they do in fact exclusively represent the image so I know it had to come from them. Or cancel invoice.