Threatened about "copyrighted" material on Facebook

MarkY91

Hi guys.

So a guy contacted me today saying he's gonna get his solicitor after me because I used a photoshopped android logo guy that he claims to have copyrighted. (The logo just has some sunglasses and a mobile phone added)

He claims he copyrighted it and is going to sue me like he did with 2 other people, one being in Brazil so he couldn't get money from that guy.

I have no idea what to do, I think he's full of **** and took the piss out of him but he is adamant that I'll be hearing from his solicitor.

Should I be worried? Like he put a pair of sunglasses on the green android logo guy and said he will sue me because I used it on my business page. He's another guy in the same sort of business as me. Only difference is, he has a bricks and mortar shop and I'm online only.

There's nothing on his website about copyrighted material and he's yet to show any proof of any cooyright.

coylemj

I think what he's claiming is that he has that image registered as a trade mark. Or he's just chancing his arm.

Is he looking for money or is this a 'cease and desist' situation?

cml387

I would have thought that the Android logo is copyrighted.

TheChizler

cml387 wrote: »

I would have thought that the Android logo is copyrighted.

It's under a Creative Commons license, which funnily enough means you can modify it but can't trademark the modification.

Still OP it's poor form to copy and paste someone else's work.

kniggit

TheChizler wrote: »

It's under a Creative Commons license, which funnily enough means you can modify it but can't trademark the modification.

Still OP it's poor form to copy and paste someone else's work.

Yup, as outlined by Google here:
https://developer.android.com/distribute/marketing-tools/brand-guidelines

MarkY91

I agree that it's poor form of me to have stolen his modified android logo but I did say that I'll refrain from using it yet he still went on about using 3 people for the exact same reason.

He said it's not trademarked but copyrighted.


This guy is also stealing premier league logo on his website and an obvious sky sports created image minus anything saying sky sports. He said he doesn't care when I pointed them out to him. He said he claimed copyright on his "logo" in 2013 and I'll be hearing from his solicitor tomorrow.

And no he never asked me to take it down or mentioned a cease and desist situation.

He just wants to bring it to court and sue me like he said he did 3 times previous and got money in 2 of them situations except from the guy in Brazil as he wasn't in Ireland.


Personally, I think he's talking out of his arse. But still, a little worrying.

coylemj

MarkY91 wrote: »

He just wants to bring it to court and sue me like he said he did 3 times previous and got money in 2 of them situations except from the guy in Brazil as he wasn't in Ireland.

So instead of asking you to cease and desist or pay him a royalty to use an image he claims to have copyright on, he is going straight to court? He's talking BS.

Tell him you look forward to hearing from his solicitor and that you can't wait to hear how much (in monetary terms) his business has been damaged by your use of 'his' logo.

MarkY91

coylemj wrote: »

So instead of asking you to cease and desist or pay him a royalty to use an image he claims to have copyright on, he is going straight to court? He's talking BS.

Tell him you look forward to hearing from his solicitor and that you can't wait to hear how much (in monetary terms) his business has been damaged by your use of 'his' logo.

That's right. He isn't interested in the fact I said I'll refrain from using it again and that I pointed out his use of copyrighted material with the premier league logo in his website etc. I asked again for proof of his copyright and I'm just being ignroed now.

I suppose I'll await a call from his solicitor lol.

Sleeper12

I rarely suggest that burying you head in the sand is the correct course of action but in this case I'd wait for the first solicitors letter. I doubt that there will be one but if one did arrive then at least you would know what you are dealing with. This is not advice. It's just what I would do in this particular situation.

MarkY91

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I rarely suggest that burying you head in the sand is the correct course of action but in this case I'd wait for the first solicitors letter. I doubt that there will be one but if one did arrive then at least you would know what you are dealing with. This is not advice. It's just what I would do in this particular situation.

Yeah you're right.

I won't be using his "logo" again regardless. But I'm annoyed by his behaviour. He could have just simply asked me not to use it. No need to threaten me with a solicitor that he did before in the exact same case 3 times.

Ken.

Report his website to sky and premier league. He'll soon find himself in a world of pain.

coylemj

MarkY91 wrote: »

I won't be using his "logo" again regardless. But I'm annoyed by his behaviour. He could have just simply asked me not to use it. No need to threaten me with a solicitor that he did before in the exact same case 3 times.

You may be annoyed at his behaviour but it appears to have achieved it's intended objective i.e. you have caved into empty threats.

Mr. Incognito

Copyright is an inherent right in something you create

He didnt create it.

He also doesnt have a trade mark.

Internet crank that doesnt know what he is talking about.

There will be no solicitors letter. Just threats. Block the clown.

MarkY91

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Copyright is an inherent right in something you create

He didnt create it.

He also doesnt have a trade mark.

Internet crank that doesnt know what he is talking about.

There will be no solicitors letter. Just threats. Block the clown.

I think you're right too but I did some googling of his name and business.

He is the owner of two branches, he's obviously a smart man to own two successful computer repair shops. Which seems odd as he is talking such nonsense through private message with (what I believe) his make up 3 successful legal battles of the exact same thing.

John Hutton

Probably hoping you'll offer him cash.

Rich of him to give out about copyright given what he is probably selling...

sexmag

MarkY91 wrote: »

I think you're right too but I did some googling of his name and business.

He is the owner of two branches, he's obviously a smart man to own two successful computer repair shops. Which seems odd as he is talking such nonsense through private message with (what I believe) his make up 3 successful legal battles of the exact same thing.

Right of the bat you know hes a bluffer, no one who has actually won 3 succesful battles in court will go around bragging about it over a pm. Even then he would have known he must issue a cease and deceast before any case can be brought forward as the respondant must be given time to become awar of any infringement and act accordingly by removing it

Ignore the clown

by8auj6csd3ioq

how can he change someone elses work and claim it is his?

OldMrBrennan83

Lol him into oblivion.

by8auj6csd3ioq

i cannot edit
He owns the copyright on the modification is it?

ED E

By the sounds of it both of you sell android STBs to watch copyrighted content illegally, and he's claiming copyright protections! The irony.....

FrancieBrady

Create something similar and use it yourself.
I had a situation like this with a restaurant claiming ownership of a name. Turned out to be bs but was very annoying.

I will do the photoshopping/graphics for you for the new logo for free as long as you forward me on his reaction when you tell him to sling his hook!

by8auj6csd3ioq

Francie Brady If it does not break any rules for a joke make a logo of android apple and windows. the little green man eating an apple looking out the windows 10 window

how would you alter the android like the op? photoshop do it?

FrancieBrady

Summer Vast Lamp wrote: »

Francie Brady If it does not break any rules for a joke make a logo of android apple and windows. the little green man eating an apple looking out the windows 10 window

how would you alter the android like the op? photoshop do it?

I'm not familiar with the logo or the way it was altered. Did I miss a link to it?

Flip the image horizontally. Offer to sell him prints of your latest work of art at a reasonable price.

rock22

Why is there such attitude to the person claiming copyright?
The answer r to the OP is simple, don't use other peoples creations illegally

Optimus Prime

Id put a different pair of sunglasses on the Android logo and put it back on my page.

L1011

rock22 wrote: »

Why is there such attitude to the person claiming copyright?
The answer r to the OP is simple, don't use other peoples creations illegally

The copyleft licence the original artwork is under specifically allows the use

Mellor

rock22 wrote: »

Why is there such attitude to the person claiming copyright?

Because he is claiming copyright of a logo that id trademarked by Google, one of the largest and most well known companies in the world. It's bizarre.
This guy is waffling so much, I wouldn't be surprised if he stole it in the first place himself.

Masala

As Judge Judy says... when you come to court you must come with clean hands!!! Him using Sky stuff illegally and then suing someone else for using his stuff is rich!!

MarkY91

ED E wrote: »

By the sounds of it both of you sell android STBs to watch copyrighted content illegally, and he's claiming copyright protections! The irony.....

I sell phone products on my website and have a Facebook page. He is a computer repair shop who had a Facebook post about a full sky package which is why I mentioned him copyrighting sky.

He hasn't responded to my messages in 2 days so it was all just empty threats in the end so it seems. I won't bother with the logo anymore. I will just make my own on GIMP.

Just random threats out of the blue from what is an established bricks and mortar store were a little worrying even though I always felt he was making empty threats.

Thanks for all the assurances guys.

_Brian

This guy is chancing his arm.

I wouldn’t be surprised to get a solicitor letter though, for €100 a ropey solicitor will send a letter about anything, so it wouldn’t surprise me if you got a letter offering a settlement rather than proceeding to court. I’d still ignore it.

FrancieBrady

MarkY91 wrote: »

Thanks for all the assurances guys.

Quick graphic attached. Make sure and give him the bird from us.

sexmag

its definiately off topic for the legal discussion but i think its great

MarkY91

Lol good one but I think I'll just leave the whole situation now. Turned out to just be a ln empty threat and me getting a little spooked.

Spook_ie

MarkY91 wrote: »

Lol good one but I think I'll just leave the whole situation now. Turned out to just be a ln empty threat and me getting a little spooked.

Hey I want a €5 for inferring it was anything to do with me!