Story: What is COPYTRACK?
On February 9th, 2021, I received an uncertain email below.
At first, I wondered if this was spam mail. I searched for Copytrack and found their website, which appeared legitimate. Then, upon examining the email, I noticed a demand for payment, with the implication of legal action if not paid. I found this approach to be excessively aggressive, and almost intimidating.
I generally respect copyright, and I had no intention of infringing upon the photographer’s rights. I immediately removed the image after receiving the email, which was the first notice I had received regarding this matter. In response, I searched for blogs on the internet, hoping to find others who had faced similar experiences.
Initial questions that arose included:
– Do I have a legal obligation to make the payment?
– Is the requested fee genuinely fair?
– My blog is part of my learning process and is quite personal in nature. I have not generated any income from it.
– I wrote about the legacies of historical graphic designers worldwide with utmost respect.
– Over the course of more than two years, I believe that not even 100 people have visited the blog.
I felt that Copytrack should have issued a notification before making a claim. This would allow the person using the image to rectify the situation and potentially avoid legal action (although I am unsure if they indeed pursue this internationally).
I am not a legal expert, and I am uncertain about the legal aspects. Nevertheless, I would like to write about my experience.
COPYTRACK
I don’t know how many people are satisfied with this service. The reviews have been below 2/5, with the majority of complaints. The photographer (creator) has a right. If someone is making money from their work, the photographer (creator) can obviously take legal action against them. I believe this is a rare case. Using their artwork to make money online is clearly a criminal act.
I also find the pricing to be problematic. While the platform is free to use, it encourages people to utilize it. Copytrack takes nearly half of the fees from those who take legal action, and after achieving success. It seems that Copytrack may be exacerbating conflicts rather than providing a solution.
Respecting copyright is essential. Nevertheless, I find the Copytrack process to be overly aggressive.
How people is responding for Copytrack
When we encounter issues, it’s often the case that someone else in the world has already gone through a similar experience. I searched for such experiences as references.
Google Search: how to deal with copytrack
I found a similar situation below. I received only the notification from Copytrack, not a second one.
Quora: How can we deal with Copytrack and Kodakone post-licensing companies?
Extortion Letter Info: Can Copytrack enforce legal procedures
I did not intend to ignore it. I am searching for the appropriate way to respond.
Copyright Definition – Investopedia
Copyright refers to the legal right of the owner of intellectual property. In simpler terms, copyright is the right to copy. This means that the original creators of products and anyone they give authorization to are the only ones with the exclusive right to reproduce the work. – Investopedia
Copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to make copies of creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form. – Wikipedia
Conclusion: I don’t know yet.
I replied to the email from Copytrack.
Hi Copytrack,
I received your email, and I immediately deleted the image.
You mentioned below that I hadn’t responded to your previous communication, but I haven’t received any emails from you before this one.
Could you please specify the date on which you sent the previous emails? I searched my inbox using your email address but couldn’t find it.
I deleted the image after receiving your email on February 9, 2021.
I want to clarify that I wrote a blog to pay tribute to the great designers in history. I didn’t use the photo for a commercial purpose, and I didn’t profit from it.
Please let me know if there are any further actions I should take.
Best Regards,
As you can see above, I have never received an email before, at least not in my inbox. If I had received and ignored it at that time, why would I be responding now? I replied:
Hi,
I never intended to cause any trouble for the photographer (mainly the designer, as you can see from the blog). I was simply studying the history of graphic designers. As evidence of this, I promptly deleted the image upon receiving your email. I have not generated any income from this blog. I am unsure of the extent of any damage caused to the photographer. How was this measured?
In the past, when I used images from artists or companies, they typically initiated contact by informing me of the need for modification. They recognized that I was using the image to promote their great work rather than misusing it.
I believe there is a legal process for handling such matters. I’m not sure why the approach is so aggressive. My intent is not to criticize your business; I understand the importance of educating people about copyright. However, I feel that the current approach may lead to conflicts rather than solutions.
Thank you,
On February 16th, 2021, I received an initial email (an automated/robotic email) rather than a human response.
I don’t intend to complain about Copytrack, but I do question if this process is appropriate. In the first email, Copytrack stated that they had sent me emails previously. However, the first email was labeled as the final notice. I find the approach to be overly aggressive, even though it is intended to protect copyright. I am uncertain about what will happen next.
*Update: August 1st, 2021
I exchanged emails until February 17th, 2021. Afterward, COPYTRACK ceased providing human responses. I received automated emails on February 23, 2021, and March 2, 2021. Subsequently, even the automated emails stopped. I am currently awaiting further developments.
I would like to emphasize that I have no intention of violating any other creator’s copyright or any related rights.
*Update: January 4th, 2022
I have received several inquiries regarding Copytrack. I have not received any emails from Copytrack since March 2nd, 2021. While Copytrack may have the legal authority to take action against those who infringe upon someone’s copyright, I am uncertain about the global application of these laws.
In my particular case, I did not generate any income from the client’s photo. I did not violate a photographer’s work. My blog was a respectful tribute to a famous graphic designer in the United States, created solely for educational purposes.
Each individual has their unique circumstances for receiving emails from Copytrack, and I want to clarify that I am not a lawyer. I encourage everyone to respond honestly and courteously to such inquiries. If you have infringed upon someone’s copyrights, please consider apologizing and promptly removing the content, as making excuses can often worsen the situation.
*Update: October 31, 2023
It’s been a while since I faced the Copytrack issue. I can see that many people are searching for a solution. This indicates that Copytrack is sending reminder emails continuously. I understand how people may feel. The world is unstable. The email makes us more anxious.
In the age of AI, it’s challenging to avoid copyright violations on the internet. What Copytrack mentions in their email may indeed be accurate. Once you receive such a notice, please take action, reflect, and respond quickly and honestly. Ignoring the issue does not lead to a resolution.
