Money extortion company
Scammers, but legal ones. They automatically search the net for images that match their database and then send an "offer you cannot refuse". Either you prove you have a license or pay a thousand dollars to buy the license and settle the case.
This is extortion, but apparently legal and done by a registered business.
Some people infringe copyrights maliciously, some do it by mistake, some are within their rights, but PA Media targets all. They send you e-mails and keep the pressure until you get tired or scared enough to just give up.
This practice might be legal, but it's absolutely disgusting. There are proper ways to protect copyrights, but this is not one of them. I'm all for fair compensation, even for honest mistakes, but this is as far from "fair" as can get.
Horrible Business Practice
A grubby business that pursues small businesses via PicRights using scrapping technology on the web. PicRights is an absolutely shocking business that bully people into paying blown up fines for mistakenly using copyrighted images with the threat of legal action for non-compliance. No negotiation. Pay the fine or go to court. Charities & SMEs are all targeted. Horrible practice and done in the name of PA Media. Shame on you.
MODERN DAY MAFIA
OWNERS OF ALAMY. They use PicRights, Visual Rights Group, Copyright Agent and Pixray Fair Licensing to check if uses of an images online have permission or a license in place. Charging extortionate prices isn't enough for these clowns that they now hide behind private shell companies such as PICRIGHTS to EXTORT money from small businesses.
Disappointed - Terrible results
I took out a press release distribution package with ad-amplify for 3 releases and have been very disappointed with the results. It's been a real waste of money. As the owner of a small website who gets regular coverage from journalists and media outlets. I feel like I've been scammed. If you have a press release, I suggest you scour the internet for email addresses of journalists and do it yourself.
