Intellectual Property Question

P

PhantomGirl

Guest
I designed a website over 2 years ago and used an image I found online. A company has contacted me and threatened legal action if I do not remove the image from my site. However, the company is a supplier for this product in Ireland and not the 'owner' so to speak of the image. They say because they are the main supplier in Ireland they own the Intellectual Property rights to the image. That seems highly unlikely to me??? Anyone know anything about Intellectual Property concerning photographic images? Also can anyone advise me how to respond to this threat?

Ironically if they had called me up and been nice about it I would have had no problem removing it. The guy I spoke to was down right abusive and bullying. Should I just remove the image and save myself the time and energy?
 
I don't know, he didn't say he bought anything just that as a supplier he owned the intellectual property rights to it in Ireland.
 
Maybe contact the manufacturer directly and ask them if you are entitled to use the image ?
 
Pull the image as clearly you don't own the rights to an image simply "found online" and don't seem to know or understand the issues relating to checking ownership, paying royalties, seeking licences and the theft or infringement of intellectual property rights.

Anyone can find and even download images on-line - that confers no rights on them. No-one necessarily has to pay for the use of an image and payment per se may not confer usage rights, but the permission of the intellectual property owner must always be sought and granted before an image (or other device) can be used.
 
The supplier has a legitimate concern that having their product pictured on your website may give the impression that you have a relationship with them or that they endorse or sponsor your website. They are entitled to request that you remove the image if this is the case.
 
mathepac said:
Pull the image as clearly you don't own the rights to an image simply "found online" and don't seem to know or understand the issues relating to checking ownership, paying royalties, seeking licences and the theft or infringement of intellectual property rights.

Anyone can find and even download images on-line - that confers no rights on them. No-one necessarily has to pay for the use of an image and payment per se may not confer usage rights, but the permission of the intellectual property owner must always be sought and granted before an image (or other device) can be used.
Click to expand...

Firstly - I didn't think that I owned any rights to the image and also I don't understand anything about the above mentioned. To gain more understanding was the reason for this post.

I get what you are saying, they probably got permission from the owner of the image to use it and I did not, hence they are royally upset.

I will remove the image and have no problem doing so. I guess it just annoyed me that their first step was to attack.
 
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