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<p class="MsoNormal">Also, besides the Google reverse image search, which is actually not bad, if the complained-of photo has been up for any length of time I do ask the client to do their level best to figure out how the image ended up there (like, I had a
client once where the Priceless Art Photograph in question was I think a mixed green salad and trust me it\u2019s not like Ansel Adams had taken it) because sometimes the lawfirm or outfit threatening you is actually incorrect. Sometimes the client licensed the
salad fair and square through a now-dead outfit for the use made and it\u2019s all in an email from 5 years back. And sometimes you figure out that the person threatening you might theoretically have a claim if it weren\u2019t for the fact that someone else is the record
owner and the asserter weirdly are incapable of producing any evidence they own it. I always ask for a copy of the registration certificate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And if it\u2019s a fair cop, then I do my best to (as suggested by others here) find out what it is being licensed for and if it is a $25 license fee, I let that be the negotiation guide.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And yes, if someone provides the client an image for use, there\u2019s a rep that the work is their own and no third party has rights in it.
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<p class="MsoNormal">Basically, assume nothing! <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#174E86;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Laura Talley Geyer</span></b><span style="color:#333333;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> |
</span><b><span style="color:#666666;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Of Counsel</span></b><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#174E86;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#174E86;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">ND Galli Law LLC</span></b><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">1200 G Street, N.W., Ste 800<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Washington, DC 20005<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Tel: (202) 599-9019 (direct)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/">https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://ndgallilaw.com/">https://ndgallilaw.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Louis Levy via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 11, 2024 5:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice.' <e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Louis Levy <llevy@symbus.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Copyright question re: identifying owners of photos for purposes of obtaining copyright licenses to use same<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="color:#CC0000">EXTERNAL EMAIL</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">When a photographer is named in a complaint, I immediately check Getty Images, ShutterStock and others to see if I can find the photo, or at least find what the photographer generally licenseds their photos
for. There\u2019s good case law discussing limits of statutory damages to single-digit multiples of a license fee that takes the wind and credibility out of exorbitant claims for damages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Just a thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Lou<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#246172">Louis J. Levy | Attorney<br>
Symbus Law Group PLLC<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">1775 I Street, NW, Suite 1150 \u2022 Washington, DC 20006<br>
Direct: 240.453.9211</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#365F91">\u2022</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">
<span style="letter-spacing:.2pt">Mobile: 202.258.6547<br>
<u>llevy</u></span></span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#365F91"><a href="mailto:eraynes@symbus.com%0dwww.symbus.com"><span style="color:#365F91">@symbus.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#365F91"> \u2022
<u><a href="mailto:eraynes@symbus.com%0dwww.symbus.com"><span style="color:#365F91">www.symbus.com</span></a></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sam Castree via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 11, 2024 5:11 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Sam Castree <<a href="mailto:sam@castreelaw.com">sam@castreelaw.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Copyright question re: identifying owners of photos for purposes of obtaining copyright licenses to use same<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmaildefault"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I agree with everything that Nancy said. Both that it's probably impossible to know who owns a given photo, and how vitally important it is to get ownership warranties
and indemnity from people who are providing copyrightable material. DMCA safe harbors might also help, depending on what your client is actually doing.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Cheers,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">Sam Castree, III</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">Sam Castree Law, LLC</span></i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">3421 W. Elm St.</span></i><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">McHenry, IL 60050</span></i><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">(815) 344-6300</span></i><span style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 2:45<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">\u202f</span>PM Nancy Prager via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">I am not aware of a service that will identify the owner of the copyright. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Do you have a contract through which your client licenses the photos? The licensor should represent that they are the copyright owner, and if not they have the right and license to sublicense
it to your client. <br>
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Best,<br>
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Nancy <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A">On Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 03:12:35 PM EST, Leesa N. Weiss via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060">By now, I\u2019m sure a number of us have clients who have been on the receiving end of correspondence from any number of the companies representing owners of copyrighted photos
inadvertently used on the client\u2019s website, effectively demanding payment of a ransom for the unlicensed use of the photos. A client of mine, a very small non-profit organization with very limited funds recently was on the receiving end of two such claims;
thankfully, I was able to contact the copyright owner directly and have them retract the demand for payment.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060">Going forward, and especially since my client receives photos and other materials from the organizations with whom they work, my client has inquired whether there is a means
to scan photos to confirm if the copyright is owned by the person or entity providing same and, if not, how to identify the owner of the copyright. I know Google has a means to search a photo, but it may not necessarily identify the owner of the copyright.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060">Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060">Thank you, in advance.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#002060">Leesa</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#4D4D4D">Leesa N. Weiss</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#4D4D4D"><br>
<b><i>Partner</i></b></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="32" height="32" style="width:.3333in;height:.3333in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:ii_193b7c4346377ea775c1"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#4D4D4D">9801 Washingtonian Boulevard, Suite 750<br>
Gaithersburg, MD 20878<br>
<a href="mailto:lweiss@esfip.com" target="_blank">lweiss@esfip.com</a><br>
Direct: 240-864-2472<br>
Fax: 301-762-4056</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Information contained within this email and its attachments, if any, may be confidential and/or privileged. This email is intended to be reviewed only by the individual to whom
it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, please be aware that any review, dissemination, or copying of the information contained within this email and its attachments, if any, is prohibited.
If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify me by return email and delete this email from your system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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