On my website, VrolijkWeerZien, I host a variety of content paired with many pictures to help explain how the eye works. When I started, I simply used images I found on the web.
A few weeks ago, I received a letter from PicRights. They demanded €265 for a photo they claimed was under license. Naturally, this worried me, so I began researching: Who is PicRights? Why such a huge amount for a small, rather “ugly” picture with no real creative expression? It wasn’t a landscape or a work of art, just a functional image.
I found several threads on Reddit offering advice, but I was still unsure of my next move. That’s when I decided to consult Gemini.
It became clear that while PicRights is a legitimate firm, they send aggressive letters designed to scare people into paying. Their claims are often unreasonably high and frequently do not hold up in court. I realized I had two main options:
- Ignore them entirely and “play dead.”
- Send a counteroffer accompanied by a well-drafted letter.
Option 2 felt best for me. If they took the offer, I could move on with my life. PicRights did eventually respond, dropping their demand from €265 to €200. However, this was still far from my counteroffer of €50. My offer was fair: the page was orphaned, the image lacked creative merit, and it was quite small. I still couldn’t find an official price for a standard license for that specific image.
After receiving their second letter, Gemini helped me realize it was just another standard template designed to intimidate. Their arguments didn’t even align with Dutch law.
The final advice? “Radio silence.” So, that is exactly what I’m doing. They can listen to the “Sound of Silence” now.