Image copyright guide · checked 14 October 2026

Got a letter from Getty Images?

Don't panic, don't ignore it, and don't pay the first number. Here's who they are and how to answer.

Who they are

Getty Images runs one of the largest photo libraries. Its compliance team, License Compliance Services (LCS), writes to sites using Getty or iStock images without a licence it can find.

What they want

Payment for a retroactive licence, often several hundred dollars or more per image, with a short deadline.

What to do

1. Take the image down from the page and from your media library or server, then clear your caches.
2. Don't ignore the letter, and don't pay the first figure.
3. Reply in writing, not by phone. Ask who owns the copyright, how the sender got the right to claim, the exact URL and dates of use, and how the fee was worked out.
4. If you licensed or created the image, send your proof and ask them to close the claim.
5. If you didn't, offer a fair licence fee in return for a signed release from the sender and the owner. Pay only after you have it.

Worth knowing

Check your Getty or iStock account, your designer's account, and any theme or template you bought: many images come with a licence you've forgotten about. If you find one, send it. If not, ask for proof, then offer a fair fee for a full release.

Check my risk and write my reply

Other senders: PicRights · Higbee & Associates · Copytrack · Image copyright demand letter kit

Sources: Heitner Legal on PicRights, Heitner Legal on Higbee & Associates, Sprintlaw UK, Sprintlaw Australia, 17 U.S.C. §§412, 507.