Is Getty Images a scam? It seems so from most posts on the net and if you have problems with them read these:
http://internetmadness.blogspot.com/2007/06/getty-images-are-trying-to-getty-me.html
http://www.zyra.info/getstu.htm
Whether Getty is a scam or not remains a question to all. Their claims don't have legal basis and I don't think they have ever successfully sued anyone.