2024-05-08
Clayton Utz
Image Source: https://www.claytonutz.com/cfimages/Home%20Page%20Image_Final.webp/public
Well, it’s been a while! Back in March Timothy Webb of Clayton Nutz, a law firm, sent me an email (actually, Prashant Bhardwaj sent it, but it was signed by Tim) regarding the PicRights / Reuters copywrite phishing attempt on my old FaqOverflow hobbyist website.
Timothy Webb
Image Source: https://www.claytonutz.com/cfimages/WebbTim_Square.webp/ProfilePhoto
They threatened taking the case to court, asking for a settlement of $2,425.00, while denying that this is a classic case of copyright trolling. To me the whole thing has a debt collector vibe to it. Some business models are just… well, let’s just say that I wish more people followed their creative urges rather than following the dollar.
Image Source: https://www.claytonutz.com/cfimages/Art%20Partnership_707x501px_1.webp/HeroLevel2
What’s even more interesting is that www.claytonutz.com contains lots of licensed images (a simple reverse-image search is enough to prove that), which of course they will have paid for, but their copyright notice clearly states that all material on their website, including images, can be reproduced for personal and non-commercial purposes.
Image Source: https://www.claytonutz.com/cfimages/707x501__0003_Governance%20G.webp/HeroLevel2
I would be very surprised if their licenses from Adobe Stock and Getty Images allow them to transfer the rights like that, but who am I to argue? I did email their webmaster 40 days ago about this, but they’ve yet to reply. Things move slowly in some industries I suppose.
Image Source: https://www.claytonutz.com/cfimages/Perth_treated_707x501px%20copy.webp/HeroLevel2
Anywy, these might serve as a honeypot for other copyright trolls, and I’ll then be able to use my “deez nuts” defense, forwarding any copyright claims I get on to good ol’ Timbo to handle.
