Image copyright issues on preowned domain?

[jazperson]

If you are 100% sure that the document he sent is legit, then I suggest to just get a different image. Of course you have to scan the file first, might be a virus or something. I'm sure there are a lot of new images there. But if it's a scammer, just ignore it.

 

[ukbf0001]

Robert - you need to read the thread, just changing the image wont cut it, as they will have proof the image was in use previously - thanks to the wayback machine etc. If it is legit - then the OP can expect to have legal proceedings started etc - the OP wont know if it's a scammer until then. It may well be a legal scam - as pointed out, and they rely on people coughing up and panicking.

 

[DontAsk]

I think there are a few people who need to read the thread, from the beginning

Hi.
We sell example.com products throughout the UK and recently bought example.co.uk, just the url and not the whole business.

We have put our own content on the site and left as is.

Today we received an email from an image copyright company saying our website previously had a copyrighted photo and have asked for verification that we purchased the license or we need to pay a fee. They sent an attachment of the previous website and showed where the image was.

To the OP: Reply with evidence of your purchase of the URL making clear that he previous content has nothing to do with you.

Invite them to start proceedings if they really think they have a case against you. Warn them that, otherwise, if they do not back off, you will start proceeding against them for harrassment.

IANAL

 

[paulears]

That seems sensible - anything before you taking control would seem to put you in the clear. After all - at some point, you were given the access information. Before that time, you would have not been able to put the image up, or take it down. I'd imagine that the password and ftp access info came via email - which would be dated and suitable for evidence? Hopefully?

 

[Alan]

I see the OP didn't come back while everyone goes round in circles, not knowing if the OP actually ever had the image.

 

[fisicx]

I think there are a few people who need to read the thread, from the beginning

It's at all clear as you suggest. They may consider 'buying the url' to mean buying the whole website. They then added their own content to this exiting site and 'left as is' (their own words). If this is the case then it's quite likely the image in question was part of the site they 'left as is'.