Quote from: fotografer on November 19, 2012, 06:18

Quote from: ShadySue on November 19, 2012, 06:04

Quote from: fotografer on November 19, 2012, 05:43

Where do you see if you are opted in to novel use sales?  I've had a look round and can't find it.  I've never had one so may be opted out already.

MyAlamy > Contributor Infomation > Additional Revenue Opportunities > (Scroll down to Novel Use, then click on the link 'Want to sign up?' Don't panic, clicking on the link doesn't sign you up, it takes you to a page with more info about the scheme. At the top of the page it will tell you if you've opted out, and at the bottom of the page it says Yes ... or No ... and you'll see if you've opted out (and presumably if you're opted in). I'm almost certain the default is opted out. You can opt in any time, but if you have opted in, you can't opt out until 1st April.

Thank you:D  Seems I've been opted out since 2010.  Didn't even know I had joined then as only started to upload half way through this year.

I think that's the default message from when the scheme started.

OK thanks, that explains it.

Hi,

I just signed up to Alamy. Should I opt in Novel Use and Third-party distribution option or not?

Thank you,
Maria

I believe that Novel Use is supposed to be on its way out, but haven't heard any definite date for its demise. If you happen to be exclusive at iStock, NU isn't allowed because the NU terms are vague and may hheoretically trespass into RF territory. (At least, that's what one iStock CR rep told one iS exclusive.) The net amount is tiny, but these are should be very low budget buyers (e.g. students) and you either sell to them at the very low price or you're extremely unlikely to get the sale.

Distributors possibly likewise, i.e. they may reach markets the main Alamy website doesn't reach, but from Jan 1st you'll only get 30% of the sale price. Some people opt out of particular geographical distributors because of perceived problems.

Essentially, it's your choice. Same as with the UK newspaper scheme - lower prices, ages to wait for payment; but you'd have to have a super-rare and highly-desireable photo to get a full price sale in that market via Alamy - plus a citizen journalist might already have emailled the photo from their phone. Actually, my sales through the UK newspaper scheme have earned me more than I'd have earned via iStock, as they often are just for their website, so wouldn't need an EL from iS. (Odd, you can buy a photo on iStock for the normal price and have it on your website for ever, but if your newspaper print run is over 1/2 million, you need an EL, even though the next day it's in the recycling bin.)