Hello,
I have received an email from a company called Camera Press, claiming that I used an image without authorization. They have sent me a bill for £330.00 payable by 8th August. If I pay they will allow me to pay a discounted payment of £297.00. I am worried that if I pay it they may hit me with further charges later on. Should I pay up or ignore it?
Thanks all!
Camera Press copyright claim
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freelance blogger
- New Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2025 7:28 pm
Re: Camera Press copyright claim
Hi freelance blogger and welcome to the forum,
As you are probably aware, CameraPress are a picture agency who make the works of the photographers they represent available for varous licence fees. I imagine their rates are towards the higher end of the market. However £330 sounds excessive. Ideally you need to establish the true market value of the licence that you would have needed for this particular image, because this will represent the level of damages the agency (on behalf of its photographers) might expect to be awarded if the matter went to court. They should not be adding on some punitive element to the amount they are demanding.
If you do decide to settle the matter by paying their discounted offer, you should make sure that they acknowledge this is in full and final settlement of their claim. Obviously this needs to be in writing. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, you should remove the image from your blog, and if you wish to use it in the future, you will need to get a proper licence from CameraPress - this is a separate matter from any settlement for the past usage.
And I would strongly adivse you to do a complete audit of all your posts to ensure that you are not using any other unlicensed images or similar copyright material.
As you are probably aware, CameraPress are a picture agency who make the works of the photographers they represent available for varous licence fees. I imagine their rates are towards the higher end of the market. However £330 sounds excessive. Ideally you need to establish the true market value of the licence that you would have needed for this particular image, because this will represent the level of damages the agency (on behalf of its photographers) might expect to be awarded if the matter went to court. They should not be adding on some punitive element to the amount they are demanding.
If you do decide to settle the matter by paying their discounted offer, you should make sure that they acknowledge this is in full and final settlement of their claim. Obviously this needs to be in writing. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, you should remove the image from your blog, and if you wish to use it in the future, you will need to get a proper licence from CameraPress - this is a separate matter from any settlement for the past usage.
And I would strongly adivse you to do a complete audit of all your posts to ensure that you are not using any other unlicensed images or similar copyright material.
Advice or comment provided here is not and does not purport to be legal advice as defined by s.12 of Legal Services Act 2007
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freelance blogger
- New Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2025 7:28 pm
Re: Camera Press copyright claim
Hi Andy,
thank you so much for your response. That is really helpful!
All the best,
Mark
thank you so much for your response. That is really helpful!
All the best,
Mark