It’s bad analysis but also most likely outcome. I’ve been through this a bunch of times, and I was way more buttoned up about rights management than OP. Unless you’re going to actually file a lawsuit, the most likely outcome is that they will feel bad and take them down and stop responding.
The above is likely what happened. Yes, they transferred a right they didn’t have. But most people are pretty ignorant. Especially with small market local stuff.
I’ve done the fight, I’ve sent C&Ds, I’ve sent demand letters. My financial outcome from that is negative. Unless this is a major outlet it’s not worth it. And even then, FOX basically told me to fuck off because they have more lawyers.
If I were OP, I would try to flip this into a positive and educate the paper and try to say “hey, going forward if you’d like this type of coverage I’ll happily freelance for you. My rates are ____.”
It’s bad analysis but also most likely outcome. I’ve been through this a bunch of times, and I was way more buttoned up about rights management than OP. Unless you’re going to actually file a lawsuit, the most likely outcome is that they will feel bad and take them down and stop responding.
The above is likely what happened. Yes, they transferred a right they didn’t have. But most people are pretty ignorant. Especially with small market local stuff.
I’ve done the fight, I’ve sent C&Ds, I’ve sent demand letters. My financial outcome from that is negative. Unless this is a major outlet it’s not worth it. And even then, FOX basically told me to fuck off because they have more lawyers.
If I were OP, I would try to flip this into a positive and educate the paper and try to say “hey, going forward if you’d like this type of coverage I’ll happily freelance for you. My rates are ____.”