Car Freshner Company Launches Copyright Infringment Suit Against Getty Images

Usually when “Getty Images” and “copyright infringement” are used in the same sentence, you likely assume that it has to do with someone using an image in their collection without their permission and/or not paying for it (more than likely it’s the “and” part of that situation). However, that’s all been flipped around due to an unlikely party: the Car-Freshner company, manufacturer of those tree-shaped air fresheners that hang from millions of rear view mirrors. The company apparently launched a lawsuit way back in 2009, claiming that the tree shape used for their product is copyrighted and they can be clearly seen in a number of Getty’s stock photos (they’ve included 11 in their suit), therefore making the company in violation of that copyright. Unbeige