4 ms·

They didn't just ask. They threatened the author of the photograph with court action for "unlicensed distribution".

• oliwarner 7y ago
  No. I know we're supposed to assume that all HN commenters have read the source material, but did you? The letter stakes their claim and then immediately —before any numbers mentioned or "threats" made— say "If we are wrong and you do have a valid license"... In fact, they make no threats of lawsuit. All inference there is from the LA Times. IP licensing is hard. Enforcement is harder. This example is a very soft approach.
  • stefan_ 7y ago
    This is not preschool. You can't just excuse all your actions with a "if I'm wrong". Everyone has a "valid license" to a public domain image.
  • lonelappde 7y ago
    There is no such thing as a license to public domain material. That's what public domain means -- no license required.