Copyright Aid

First time poster here in the UK - very worried and stressed as received 3 x emails from PicRights over a total of 6 images on my website that apparently belong to Agence France-Presse, Reuters News & Media Inc and The Associated Press.

The email links when opened are demanding £450, £740 and £1480!

The images were on my site which I removed immediatley this evening and I honestly did not know that they were copyright, apparently.

I am now so worried - I dont have this kind of money at all!

Any help would be appreciated as this is the first time I have had this and they are demanding a reply within 14 days in the emails

What do I do - any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Have you found the same photos, or very similar photos, for sale on their website or other photo sale sites?

The numbers they quote are surely absurd but if you find the photos for sale and can identify a guide price (likely to be low tens of £) then you can use this as a basis to make a counter offer for a realistic number that is inline with the 'damage done', i.e. the loss to them which is the real license fee and not an inflated one. If you find them for sale/license online then take some screen shots of the site and prices so that you have some evidence that their claim is not realistic.