It is not simply that Getty is attempting to charge for the Photos But rather Getty is Claiming Copyright over the photos, and are Issue Cease and Deist letter

It is not simply that Getty is attempting to charge for the Photos But rather Getty is Claiming Copyright over the photos, and are Issue Cease and Deist letters to anyone they find using the photos that did not pay Getty for a License. So regardless of the status of Public Domain or not, Getty is not the Copyright Holder, and should not be issuing DMCA, or other Demand Letters claiming they are.