An interesting topic. It caused me to go back and double check a couple of images that I had grabbed via Google, and ensure that they were available for use, and was relieved to see that I'm okay in that regard. Getty's tactic is pretty much the same as many fly-by-night company often uses: Make outrageous claims, with thinly veiled threats, and play the odds. Only around 20% of people will question a statement made with an air of authority, and of those that will do so, 80% will cave in at the first sign of resistance. That equates to 4% paying the claim, on average. With very little effort on their part, and the exorbitant amounts they're charging, it's paying off fairly well for them. But eventually, they'll go too far, and a little publicity on the issue will give birth to a class action suit. From what I see here and elsewhere, I suspect they would lose, and lose big. Meanwhile, the damage they're doing to webmasters and mom & pop businesses is impossible to estimate. Karma can be a beautiful thing, though.