Is a picture really worth £1,000?

A church and small businesses are just some of those accusing picture agencies of using heavy-handed tactics when pursuing payment.

The perennial tale about church fundraising is that it's to rebuild the steeple. But one church in Lichfield, Staffordshire, faced a different fundraising problem: to pay a £6,000 bill demanded for photographs used on its website. The case came to the attention of Gavin Drake, the communications director for the diocese's 600 churches. In creating the church's website, a volunteer had included a couple of images sourced from Getty, a large picture agency, without paying for them. A couple of months later, Getty sent the church a demand for £6,000.