Online news website butchered my photo!

[JaySteel]

Thanks Dave. As much as this kind of thing bothers me I fully accept it as something that I will have to deal with every now and then as a result of me displaying my photographs on the internet for everyone to see. I want people to look at my work so unfortunately this is the price that I'm going to have to pay. That certainly doesn't mean that I'm going to let anyone get away with it without doing all I can to bring those to justice who flout our copyright laws and steal my images. I've never objected to anyone who's personally asked me if it's OK for them to save some of images onto their hard drive for personal viewing. I find that flattering, but using my images on their own website or for commercial use is not acceptable to me at all.

Best regards,
Jason


PS. Still no contact from Mr Dent-Jones. I think I'll give him until Monday evening before I print off my letters.

[JaySteel]

Still no reply. I've now printed three copies of my letter. One addressed to Mr Dent-Jones, one to the accounts dept., and one to their head office.
These will be sent via recorded delivery tomorrow morning. Looks like we're off to court then!

[Farplace]

Keep us posted on the outcome Jay.

[tom w w]

Its not at all unusual for a business to take a month to pay a bill.

If it was me I would be making a polite phone call to the accounts department to check they have got all the paper work they need and that its been approved for payment. Assuming all is in order ask when you can expect payment, if they propose a date that is not acceptable to you let them know that you were expecting imediate payment. Its likely they will co-operate if you talk nicly and profesionaly. There is an art to getting money. If any paper work is missing send it to them.

If you feel the need to go to the small claim route in the court thats only 10 mins away. The court will excpect you to have made genuine attempts to collect before dashing of a claim. Once you have paid your money the court will send them the first stage of paperwork. If they then file a defence, and people can be very inventive. The case will be transfered to their local court. You will also have to pay some extra costs to progress the case.

When you get to court you will get very limited expences, £50 max I think, for your day in court. Eventually, probably early next year, you should get your money. IF YOU WIN.

It really is worth trying to get your money without going to court.

[JaySteel]

Thank you for your advice. I would have phoned the accounts department if they hadn't contacted me. Thankfully they have apologised and sent me the cheque for £75 which I have now received. A good result I think.

Jason

[solus]

A result! Shame it took so long and all that hassle.
Hopefully they have learned a lesson and will not abuse photographers' rights and copyrights next time.

[Porsupah]

Aha! A happy result after all. Such an odd way for a professional organisation to behave, but, I suppose, not exactly without precedent *cough*Daily Mail*cough*.

If only they'd simply done things properly from the start! You'd have received due reward, and readers could've enjoyed a remarkable photo, sans GIF-style posterisation and cropping. Quite odd.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by JaySteel

Thank you for your advice. I would have phoned the accounts department if they hadn't contacted me. Thankfully they have apologised and sent me the cheque for £75 which I have now received. A good result I think.

Jason

Well done - I like this I really do - it gives the rest of heart to persue if we're unlucky enough to be duped. It won't stop the unscupulous firms from trying to get stuff without effort or payment - I've no doubt some people are under orders from above to go about it this way round first then give in later and pay up if the owner really does get determined - thats life these days I reckon. Well done tho really

Pauline

[JaySteel]

Thank you both. I think next time it happens (and I'm sure it will) I will pursue the matter more politely and patiently before going down this route again. But should it be necessary to take the risk of going to court to prove copyright infringement then I believe that it is a cause worth fighting for to protect not only my intellectual property but that of all other photographers too.

Best regards,
Jason