So now you’ve gone from a claim for a few thousand to something where it’s going to cost you tens of thousands up front for court time _plus_ you have a chance

So now you’ve gone from a claim for a few thousand to something where it’s going to cost you tens of thousands up front for court time _plus_ you have a chance of the judgement going against you despite the “permission” and now you’re on the hook for the original few thousand, _possibly_ the attorney fees of the troll, and _possibly_ some punitive judgement on top of it because you fought the “reasonable offer”. My wife has published some books. We have a contract _licence_ written out for the art we _bought_ the use of for the book covers. The licence wouldn’t be a perfect defence if something happened like this, but it is something stronger than an email permission.