14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has decided to remove the Bing Image Widget completely and not to allow new users to download it after being sued by Getty Images for copyright infringement.
The company introduced the widget only a few weeks ago, but due to the fact that it displays photos based on a number of keywords right on the websites where it’s embedded, Microsoft is facing legal action from one of the largest professional photo services online.
Getty: Microsoft used our photos without authorization
Getty Images, which at this point claims that it has 80 million pictures in its collection, all taken by photographers around the world, sued Microsoft for copyright infringement, claiming that the widget displays its data without even showing owner details on the websites where it’s embedded on.
“In effect, defendant has turned the entirety of the world's online images into little more than a vast, unlicensed ‘clip art’ collection for the benefit of those website publishers who implement the Bing Image Widget, all without seeking permission from the owners of copyrights in those images,” Getty said in court papers.
Even though Microsoft initially said that it was still looking into the claims, the company has now decided to remove the Bing Image Widget completely, but it’s not yet clear whether the decision is just temporary or not.
“We have temporarily removed the Bing Image Widget beta so we can take time to talk with Getty Images and better understand its concerns,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying by re/code.
The Bing Image Widget page is no longer available and only displays a message saying that “we have temporarily removed the beta.”
“Damages are incalculable” right now
Getty has already hinted that it might seek financial compensation from Microsoft, but the company’s general counsel says that “damages are incalculable” and that he’s still working with the Redmond software giant on the case.
The company is also offering its very own widget which can be embedded on websites, but as compared to Microsoft’s own product, Getty’s also displays photographer information and licensing details.
“Now you have someone else’s picture in full, beautiful display on your website, having never paid for it and with no attribution to the photographer at all,” Lapham explained.
As is usually the case with legal actions, Microsoft doesn’t wish to comment too much on this, but expect the company to try to settle the lawsuit, as the removal of the widget could be a sign that the company admits its fault.
We’ve also reached out to Microsoft for a word on this and will update the article when and if we receive an answer.