Does anyone know if a case where a writer was sent to court because of using a copyright images? Because I like using them but when a watpadd author said I could go to court I became scared.
A case where a writer was sent to court for using copyrighted images without permission? Yes, there are many.
However, here is what you SHOULD know:
1) You will not go straight to court, the owner's lawyer will first send you a Cease & Desist.
2) After a C&D is sent and you ignored it, a Letter of Intent would be sent, specifying that they wish to take you to court.
3) In many cases, a C&D and Letter of Intent is one and the same, so read the letter they sent properly.
4) Refusing to abide by the demands specified in the C&D and/or Letter of Intent now opens you to a lawsuit.
5) Once it goes to court, you're doomed. Your chance of winning a copyright infringement lawsuit for anything other than fair use is 0%, unless you're in China and the owner is in USA.
6) A lawsuit requires demand for damages. If your infringement of the copyrighted images does not in anyway harm the owner's productivity or commercial viability, the owner doesn't really have a case. Sure, they can still send you a C&D and Letter of Intent, but unless they can specify the damages you've caused them, it won't go far.
7) Eventhough you don't make money from it, the owner can still sue you for damages. The owner can specify any quantitative damage and if reasonable will end up with you going to court.
So just imagine, just because you want to save like $100, you end up having to pay $10,000. Because you see, you will lose. And there is nothing you can do to change that. So when they send a C&D, just give up and obey.