Copyright Infringement Email From PicRights Jim Barnes?

Have you received a threatening copyright infringement email from PicRights Jim Barnes?

I wanted to share my experience of receiving a threatening email from PicRights, allegedly from a person called Jim Barnes.

Although I am a former solicitor, this article does not amount in any way to legal advice.

I just wanted to share my story to see if I can save you from the stress of an attack from this company, as it is not a particularly pleasant experience.



What Is Copyright Infringement

If someone takes a photograph, you can only use it if you have their permission to do so.

You obtain this permission either by purchasing the image from them, or if the image is 100% royalty free.

Therefore, if you have one of these options, you have nothing to fear from PicRights or Jim Barnes, whether he is a real person or not remains to be discovered.

However, in my experience they are not interested in discussing this with you, and will just continue to threaten you, regardless of whether you confirm that you obtained the image in question legitimately.

Here is the summary of my story, followed by my thoughts on the entire process.

  • 7th May 2024 16:49 – Email received from “Jim Barnes” of PicRights, entitled “Image licence Enquiry for Reuters News & Media Inc”
  • 7th May 2024 17:10 – My response confirming the image was a Snappa image and they should do their research better before sending threatening images. I obtain all of my images from Snappa to ensure that they are legitimate and royalty free.
  • 7th May 2024 17:36 – Email from “Jim Barnes” saying that they their client Reuters has no record of me buying the image, and I must reply within 10 days if I do not want my “case to be escalated”. Each email is signed off “Best Regards”, how delightful.
  • 7th May 2024 18:16 – My reply “No thanks spammy ai chatbot reply. Contact Snappa if you want to take it further.” I knew the image was from Snappa and that they only use royalty free imagery as I always save my images, thank goodness in this case.
  • 21st May 2024 13:29 – Reply from “Jim Barnes” with more threatening wording (and incredibly badly worded, indicating to me that more likely than not I am absolutely chatting with an AI robot: “As you did not answer to our last correspondence and we never received your payment” I can no longer pay them as they have escalated it to their outside legal department.

Honestly, if you are going to send bullying, intimidating and threatening emails to someone who has obtained the image legitimately from a valid and creditable company, do better than this.

Apalling.

My aim in sharing this with you is manifold:

  • To show you that you are not alone.
  • To ask you to check where you originally obtained the image to see if you did purchase it, thereby giving you instant peace of mind.
  • To hopefully stop these notices being sent to hard working, conscientious business owners ‘willy nilly’.

Can’t Find Proof Of Purchase Of Your Image

If you are unable to find the image, I would remove it instantly from your website.

I wouldn’t advise engaging in dialogue with the alleged “Jim Barnes” or any other names that come your way from PicRights, as I do not think it will change any response you receive from them.

In my experience, they will just keep sending their templaged aggressive, bullying emails in the hope that you cave in to their demands.