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Getty Images struck by another lawsuit involving 47,000 misused photos

By Liu Hongzuo - on 4 Aug 2016, 10:52am

Getty Images struck by another lawsuit involving 47,000 misused photos

One example of the alleged copyright infringement issues by Getty. Image credit: Ars Technica.

Earlier this week, independent press agency Zuma Press sued Getty Images over alleged copyright violations and unauthorized licensing of their photos – more than 47,000 images in total. The civil complaint can be read here.

The legal representative from Zuma Press claimed that Getty Images has been “carelessly and recklessly acquiring content”. As quoted from the above-linked document:

“Upon information and belief, Getty has been carelessly and recklessly acquiring content, not doing due diligence and not taking adequate measures to prevent infringement as well as falsifying/removing proper copyright management information. In fact, its aggressive acquisition schedule is possible only at the expense of others’ rights. Undeterred by almost two hundred complaints filed with Washington State Attorney General’s Office, despite several lawsuits, and the growing consensus in the industry that its abusive, unethical, and reckless business practices must be addressed, Getty has shown that it cannot and will not reform on its own accord.”

According to Ars Technica, the civil suit does not specify damages for alleged copyright infringement, and the legal letter has prompted Getty Images to silently remove all of “ZumaPress” or “Les Walker” (an affiliated photographer) works from their image bank site.

Last week, American photographer Carol M. Highsmith sued Getty Images for profiting from her 18,755 public domain images (these images are meant to be reproduced and displayed for free). She is demanding US$1 billion in damages. Carol M. Highsmith pursued the infringement against Getty as she was asked by Getty Image’s subsidiary, Alamy, to pay for an image that was taken by the photographer herself.

Source: Ars Technica

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