good thing I don't reblog image memes, I guess

[ratcreature]

Getty Images, which apparently own the copyright to the penguin photograph that is used in the Socially Awkward Penguin Meme, threatened to sue a German blogger for reblogging a couple of meme images. The blogger decided to pay the fine of about 785€ they were offered, rather than risking a court decision on whether this infringed on Getty Images' copyright. German copyright does not have "fair use" like it exists in the US though there are other provisions (for citations and parody for example), so apparently it's not clear how it would have gone in court. However, the blogger didn't follow the gag order Getty Images wanted to be followed (I guess it's bad for the business model if people are forewarned what they might risk) and posted about it. I haven't found any English news articles but here's a link to a German one.

WTF, nearly 800€ for reblogging a penguin meme...

Eta: Some English language news now have picked this up, so you can read about the case here in English.