Advice - Big image site wants £1k off a friend.
 

Ok so here's the thing:

About 3/4 years ago I bought a premade template for a site I set up for a mate's business. I did it as a favour, set up the site and forgot about it.

Now one of the big image providers sends him a letter asking for £1,000 as the image was unlicensed.

I went and checked their site, found the image and at the prices they have, there's no way it should have been on a $40 web template.

Problem is I've been through about 3 computers since then, and can't remember the template site and can't find it either, so have no info on where the image came from. Also, their letter specifically states it's the site owner's responsibility to check image rights, and even mentions template sites in the same breath.

My mate has taken down the image now of course, but the matter of their payment remains. I've offered to pay as it was my mistake, but would rather not of course.

Is there anything we can do?

Cheers

Yes. You can ignore the letter.

Don't think there's much you can do. The problem with templates is most of them use unlicensed images.

fucked, see with some legal people what will say

Do what BradM said and ignore it.

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/04/05/125209

Designer Accused of Copying His Own Work By Stock Art Website

Damn. That's disturbing. Not sure ignoring the letter is the best...