MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => DepositPhotos => Topic started by: roede-orm on February 12, 2014, 03:50
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Through a hint of a photographer I found my entire Depositphotos port on the German Agency Shotshop. Shotshop seems to be a reseller of DP. All who offer directly to Shotshop have now often the same images twice at Shotshop. The problem is - they are also available at different prices! If I would buy a photo from the Depositphotos portfolio in XLLarge-VP at ShotShop, I would pay 19,90 €. Don't know, what earnings you get from DP, for me it's mostly cent amounts or sometimes 2, xx dollars. The profit margin of DP must be better than margins of Istock. And there is no opt out option! For me this is a reason to cancel both DP and Shotshop.
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The well-known German stock photographer Robert Kneschke has tested it now: For a standard image purchase via Shotshop to the relatively high prices, the photographer only gets the price of a subscription sale from DepositPhotos! >:(
http://stockfotografie-forum.de/discussion/813/shotshop-loescht-bilder#Item_32 (http://stockfotografie-forum.de/discussion/813/shotshop-loescht-bilder#Item_32)
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Thanks for sharing this here Roede, had read this before in the stockfotografie forum. Unbelievable.
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What concerns me is that one photographer claims to have opted out of the "partner program" from Depositphotos and still finds his images at Shotshop.
Can somebody please check this if you find your images on Shotshop though you have clearly opted out of the partner program from Depositphotos?
The file number from Depositphotos and the imported photos at Shotshop are identical, so just enter some of your DP image numbers in the Shotshop search...
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We tested this too.
For a 19,90€ single purchase at Shotshop you will get a 0.30$ Sub sale on Depositphotos !!!
I wonder what you'll get for an EL ... if this isn't a bug, it's a complete rip-off.
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Ticket ID: 80088
Department: Partnership
Full Name:
E-mail:
Priority: Critical
Shotshop deal
Dear Depositphotos,
please remove my portfolio from all partner sites (especially Shotshop)and close my account as soon my payment has processed.
Thanks in advance!
Best Regards
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Oh yeah and some people still like to bash Symbiostock ::)
0.30 $ are about 0.20 € at the current rate that results in a pretty much exactly 1% commission, I already stopped uploading to them months ago but still had a portfolio about 3800 with them, what a scam!
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I asked them some question first, but if the answers are not satisfactory, I'll be out there in a second...
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Scam is the right word for it! What have a standard puchase to do with any subscription? I'm afraid, thats the peak of an iceberg!
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Thanks for this post, I send them the same email as Stocked.
I have opted out of the partner program from Depositphotos in march 2013 and found today my images at Shotshop.
I think we have a similar problem with Fotolia, they have tons of partners, some with high price, and I never have sales for more than 2.50$.
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how do you opt out of pattern program? I found all my images at Shotshop and now i cannot find whether I'm in or out of DP partner program :-[
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how do you opt out of partner program?
I sent them an email : [email protected]
1 day after : "The Partner Sales program has been disabled for your account."
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Are you telling me, guys, that:
I get $0,30 with DP, when I sell
Maximum 4256 x 2832 $24,90 € in Shotshop?
(I have just found my images here as well, of course)
Oh, please, tell me this is bad joke, error, mistake... :o :-\ >:(
It obviously should be forbidden ... Who is most happy when I do my work?
Btw. I asked CanStockPhoto about PP. Take a look there partners of canstockphoto (http://www.microstockgroup.com/canstockphoto-com/partners-of-CanStockPhoto/msg365162/#msg365162)
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this is terrible practise, thanks for pointing it out to us all.
Just slightly off topic - a few have mentioned that their images are already on ShotShop - do you guys mean you sell there direct? I've never heard of these guys. Do they sell much?
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this is terrible practise, thanks for pointing it out to us all.
Just slightly off topic - a few have mentioned that their images are already on ShotShop - do you guys mean you sell there direct? I've never heard of these guys. Do they sell much?
ShotShop is a Agency based in Berlin, Germany. They are known for their terribly cumbersome upload process that takes much time for the indexing. But they have acceptable prices. Look here (but it's in German!) http://photographer.shotshop.com/page/briefing. (http://photographer.shotshop.com/page/briefing.) I have a small port there and made some good purchases during the last years.
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Are you telling me, guys, that:
I get $0,30 with DP, when I sell
Maximum 4256 x 2832 $24,90 € in Shotshop?
(I have just found my images here as well, of course)
Oh, please, tell me this is bad joke, error, mistake... :o :-\ >:(
It obviously should be forbidden ... Who is most happy when I do my work?
Btw. I asked CanStockPhoto about PP. Take a look there partners of canstockphoto ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/canstockphoto-com/partners-of-CanStockPhoto/msg365162/#msg365162[/url])
I'm afraid, even if you would sell an EL for 99 Euros, you would get only 30 U.S. cents from DepositPhotos.
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The only positive side I've found so far is that when I disable an image on DP (did this a few hours ago), it is no longer available on this other site (the thumb is still there, but when you click on it its gone).
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All my stuff is on shotshop too even though I opted out of partner sites more than a year ago. I just site mailed DP for an explanation.
Anyone hear back from them yet?
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Thanks for highlighting .. this is a great post! I've written to DP as well and am now waiting for their response. Have asked to clarify both commission % from Shotshop sales (different sizes), as well as opt out options from this and other partner programs.
Am looking forward to the response so that I can figure what to do with my port on DP.
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I've disabled my whole port until I know more. I was already unhappy seeing xl sized photos for 30 cents, but I could deal with it sorta kinda. But this is a bit too much for me.
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Sent them an e-mail to remove me from this program and I encourage everyone to do the same.
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I sent an inquiry email to Depositphotos yesterday noon as well, so far no feedback.
I got feedback from Shotshop via mail, but they say they have a NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) with Depositphotos, so all financial questions need to be directed to Depositphotos.
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I opted out of their partner program 6 month ago. In December i found out that my whole portfolio is available on shotshop. I send depositphotos an mail to clarify this topic.
This is the answer i got:
"We disabled the Partnership program for you when you required. The websites you mentioned (www.ibudgetphoto.com (http://www.ibudgetphoto.com) and shotshop.com) are our resellers. They sell your files under the same License agreement as we do and you get the same commission for each sold file as you get on our website.
Should you have any further questions feel free to contact us.
Kind regards,
Stacey. "
They claim in their mail that i get the same commission for each sold file as i get on their website.
Now I found out that i get a Subscription payment on their site when the picture was directly bought with credits on shotshop.
Yesterday i sent them another mail to clarify the payment problem.
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Thanks for bringing this up and calling it, what it is. Then they say it's not a partner program? But people are finding sub payments instead of the promised ratios and commissions?
They sell your files under the same License agreement as we do and you get the same commission for each sold file as you get on our website. Really? 30 cents? My front page says "Royalty: 44%" not 4%
Sounds like these folks are trying to pull a switch on all of us and steal the big money, right off the top. Sad because I was giving them a chance for some new ideas and this could just end it all.
If DP is trying to scam everyone, there needs to be a mass exodus and it needs to be exposed on every stock forum.
Waiting for the final answer.
Scam is the right word for it! What have a standard puchase to do with any subscription? I'm afraid, thats the peak of an iceberg!
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If it wasn't for the subs commision I would understand it like this: they are offering the files at the regular prices for depositphotos to shotshop. A sale on shotshop will give deposit the same result as a sale on their own site. So if a file is sold in a category that is equivalent to a 6 dollar sale on deposit, you get 44% of that, i.e. something just under 3 dollars, which fits with the 2,64 USD I have seen for "partner sales".
Deposit then gets their 56% of the 6 dollars.
Shotshop is the one that keeps the big difference.
You don't have to like it, but there is a logic in that.
However it absolutely does not explain how we end up with a subscription sale for a 20 euro single image sale.
Since we apparently cannot opt out of this "reseller programm" we will have to take other decisions if we don't like this.
I will maybe apply to shotshop to also understand how they work. If a file sells there through deposit, it would be best to deactivate on deposit and send it straight to them.
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@Cobalt:
Yes, giving the contributors the normal credits commissions would make much more sense.
I don't recommend uploading directly to Shotshop, because their uploading process is painful. But if you want to try it out, feel free to do so... :-)
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If deposit pays out the normal commission instead of a subs sale, I really don´t see how people can complain. After all deposit is just trying to sell the content with their own price system in other countries. And because they offer files cheap they can probably close these deals. I am sure many agencies offer reseller deals and getting in is also a competitive challenge.
If you are sending files to deposit you accept their price system. Which again shows how important it is to divide ones work by price point and quality and feed the agencies selectively with your content.
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If deposit pays out the normal commission instead of a subs sale, I really don´t see how people can complain. After all deposit is just trying to sell the content with their own price system in other countries. And because they offer files cheap they can probably close these deals. I am sure many agencies offer reseller deals and getting in is also a competitive challenge.
If you are sending files to deposit you accept their price system. Which again shows how important it is to divide ones work by price point and quality and feed the agencies selectively with your content.
They should provide a list of partners that sell through their API and allow opt out per partner. The same way that Yay does it. That would allow contributors to choose where they want their files to be sold, and would allow to exclude those outlets we already deliver to directly.
If they did this (and of course pay credit royalties instead of sub royalties) it would be ok with me.
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If deposit pays out the normal commission instead of a subs sale, I really don´t see how people can complain. After all deposit is just trying to sell the content with their own price system in other countries. And because they offer files cheap they can probably close these deals. I am sure many agencies offer reseller deals and getting in is also a competitive challenge.
If you are sending files to deposit you accept their price system. Which again shows how important it is to divide ones work by price point and quality and feed the agencies selectively with your content.
I don't agree. The point is- the revenue for subs you get paid for any sale on Shotshop has nothing to do with credit sales. Shotshop offers no subscriptions. And there is another point. The prices of the deposit-pictures at Shopshop are higher than the "original" ShotShop Pictures.
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I've sent a request to DP to enlighten me about this issue as well. No matter if we agreed to the price system of DP, if this accounting reveals to be true it's an unfair and unethically Deal (You can call me naive, I dont'care). I'm definetely not interested to sell my work with a share of around 1 % or even below.
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And there is another point. The prices of the deposit-pictures at Shopshop are higher than the "original" ShotShop Pictures.
This, though, is not entirely true. The intial price for a XS and S file size might be higher, but the prices for a L or XL files seem to be lower. (0,99 to 49,90 EUro compared to 1,99 to 19,90 Euro für DP files)
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I am not saying you have to take the deal or be happy about it. But it was my choice to send files to an agency that sells files for 6 dollars. I also have the option not to do that. As long as I get the full 44% of what deposit receives, i really don´t see how I can be upset with them. If they sell it for a subs sale - that is a different issue.
If deposit photos was getting a bigger share than the contract says I would be genuinely upset, but if it is correct that they are paying out the same percentage as on their own site, they are not getting an additional benefit.
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Looking at my own files, I can see this price structure:
Shotshop Direct
XSmall 300 x 200 0,99 €
Small 600 x 400 4,99 €
Medium 1200 x 800 9,95 €
Large 1875 x 1250 15,95 €
XLarge 2700 x 1800 22,90 €
XXLarge 3750 x 2500 30,90 €
Maximum 5760 x 3840 39,90 €
EL 5760 x 3840 79,00 €
Shotshop Depositphoto
XSmall 300 x 200 1,99 €
Small 600 x 400 4,99 €
Medium 1200 x 800 9,95 €
Large 1875 x 1250 14,95 €
XLarge 2700 x 1800 19,90 €
XXLarge 3750 x 2500 24,90 €
Maximum 5760 x 3840 29,90 €
EL 5760 x 3840 99,00 €
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I am not saying you have to take the deal or be happy about it. But it was my choice to send files to an agency that sells files for 6 dollars. I also have the option not to do that.
If deposit photos was getting a bigger share than the contract says I would be genuinely upset, but if it is correct that they are paying out the same percentage as on their own site, they are not getting an additional benefit.
The one to blame is shotshop, that advertises that it pays artists between 35-75% but then makes deals with other agencies where they can get files a lot cheaper and don´t have to pay out what they claim they do on their website.
I find shotshops actions extremely misleading, because even their customers will assume that they are paying out what it says on their website. Since they are a German agency, I wonder if this would even be legal over here, but I am not a lawyer.
Actually this is a good reason not to work with shotshop, because for me this is false advertising. I also would´t be surprised if they then also rig their best match to prefer files from deposit because they pay out so much less than to their own artists. They even have exclusive artists that get 75%, i wonder how they feel about this deal.
Right now, all this about who is to blame is speculation, because DP has not yet responded AFAIK. The only thing we know for sure is that it's us that's been screwed in this deal. And if DP agrees to a deal like this, I will be pulling my port sooner than they can find some arguments why this is such a brilliant business idea that will make us all so much money ...
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I removed my comments about shotshop, because like you say we need more information.
Especially how a sale with credits on shotshop turns into a subs sale on deposit. That is not acceptable.
The best solution is if they offer an opt out from resellers as well.
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Answer from Depositphotos:
Depositphotos reserves the right to determine the conditions of its cooperation with Partner companies. We sell those files by subscriptions, but it is up to our partners to set their prices.
It is stated in our Supply Agreement:
“Depositphotos reserves the rights to distribute Files not only on the Website directly, but also through Partners. Contributor agrees that Depositphotos has the right to grant or pass along to Partners under separate agreements specific rights, constraints, obligations, licenses and other legal and business matters regarding Files. Depositphotos has the implicit right to provide Partners with access to the Files accepted at the Website via its own program interfaces (API) or any other means sanctioned and approved by Depositphotos, provided such access does not breach the provisions of the Standard and Extended License Agreements. “
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That is completely crazy.
Very disappointing deposit. Very.
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Instead of closing my account I've got a reply from Depositphoto an excerpt:
'Our Partnership programs have been created to boost your sales.
Moreover, it is a great opportunity to enter new markets and use extra trading channels.
Depositphotos reserves the right to determine the conditions of its cooperation with Partner companies. We sell those files by subscriptions, but it is up to our partners to set their prices.'
Though I still think that Depositphotos shouldn't make deals like this I have to say now that Shotshop is the real scam and not Deposit!
I will ask them if option out of partnersales guarantee me that my photos will removed from Shotshop and similar deals and if yes I maybe leave my port there.
Nevertheless this was a real eye opener I will have a closer look at all partner deals!
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ah you got the same email :)
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Did they also write this sentence in your email vilainecrevette:
If for some reason, you would like to opt out of our partnership programs, just let us know and we will comply with your request. However, please keep in mind, in that case you will be excluded from all our partnership programs and your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com
?
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I got that whole spiel too. For me its more about the transparency of the whole thing. I trust these agencies to represent me honestly. Yes they conform to the letter of their agreements but this so very much violates the spirit of them. Anyone, if they pay out balances less than payout I'll likely shut down my account.
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duplicate post, sorry
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I've got an answer from Depositphotos as well, seems to be Copy & Paste:
"Hello Robert,
Our Partnership programs have been created to boost contributors's sales via new markets.
Our contributors were opted out of our Extended license partner sales upon their requests, so their files are no longer sold via our Extended license partner sales. Shotshop is our API reseller. Shotshop purchases our subscriptions to resell our images under the Standard license.
Depositphotos reserves the right to determine the conditions of its cooperation with Partner companies. We sell those files by subscriptions (under the standard license), but it is up to our partners to set their prices and the way to sell them as long as they stick to license terms.
It is stated in our Supply Agreement:
“Depositphotos reserves the rights to distribute Files not only on the Website directly, but also through Partners. Contributor agrees that Depositphotos has the right to grant or pass along to Partners under separate agreements specific rights, constraints, obligations, licenses and other legal and business matters regarding Files. Depositphotos has the implicit right to provide Partners with access to the Files accepted at the Website via its own program interfaces (API) or any other means sanctioned and approved by Depositphotos, provided such access does not breach the provisions of the Standard and Extended License Agreements. “
If contributors want to opt out of our partnership programs, we will exclude their portfolios from all our partnership programs upon their requests and their images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com
Kind regards,
Vicky."
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I got that whole spiel too. For me its more about the transparency of the whole thing. I trust these agencies to represent me honestly. Yes they conform to the letter of their agreements but this so very much violates the spirit of them. Anyone, if they pay out balances less than payout I'll likely shut down my account.
Yeah if I think a little bit a longer about it you're right, they can't be trusted anymore first the sms-deal and then this. Though they didn't make much of this deal they acted completely against our interests.
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Deals like these totally undermine any trust you can have in deposit as an agency. I just deactivated 200 files. I will continue to supply deposit but it will be content suitable for "deals" like these.
What a terrible disappointment. They must realise that the artists are connected worldwide and you can´t hide these things.
And what a shame how shotshop is treating their artists. Claiming to payout of 35-75% on their website and then paying out less than 1%...
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I recieved the same e-mail from DP and I came to the conclusion that they are not a fair company!
Opted out of their partnership programs and if they try to make another stupid deal I will remove my whole portfolio! >:(
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I got that whole spiel too. For me its more about the transparency of the whole thing. I trust these agencies to represent me honestly. Yes they conform to the letter of their agreements but this so very much violates the spirit of them. Anyone, if they pay out balances less than payout I'll likely shut down my account.
Remember dp was caught up in shenanigans a few years back and came to msg to try to repair their reputation. This is to say that they already have history with cheating contributors.
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I got that whole spiel too. For me its more about the transparency of the whole thing. I trust these agencies to represent me honestly. Yes they conform to the letter of their agreements but this so very much violates the spirit of them. Anyone, if they pay out balances less than payout I'll likely shut down my account.
You're so right. Probably all the agencies get clever legal writers to write the contracts in such a way that you'd never guess what you might be in for down the line, but somehow there's always flexibility - on their side of the contract.
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Did they also write this sentence in your email vilainecrevette:
If for some reason, you would like to opt out of our partnership programs, just let us know and we will comply with your request. However, please keep in mind, in that case you will be excluded from all our partnership programs and your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com
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After I sent my Shotshop OPT OUT request I received this, as well.
Fair play is dead on stock.
Hmm,
what to do ???
Again same old question: Is it better 0,30 $ or nothing?
This subs "stinks like ferret."
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Okay, I'm not someone making rush decisions on business issues.
Here is my take on it: There have been agency partnerships in the industry for a very long time. The "industry standard" is that the revenue is being split even between selling agency and supplying agency. Of that supplying agency's share, the photographer would get their usual share.
In this case, to me it would mean that if ShotShop sells an image for $20, I expect Deposit to earn $10 from it and pay me $4.40. This would be acceptable, especially as ShotShop has higher prices than Deposit, so I would get a fair share of what the actual client pays. Well, with 44% of 50%, I still get 22% which is higher than some other agencies are paying for direct sales. :o
A "subscription" is a totally different thing. It means a client uses a large amount of images for their own purposes. There is no "re-licensing" option as part of a subscription. I have not seen any subscription licensing agreements allowing re-licensing, did you? And most definitely not with a profit margin that high...
I have sent Deposit an email inquiring about the situation stating more or less my understanding of the industry. I will definitely not accept my files being offered for $40 and me getting paid $0.30.
But I am willing to let Deposit think about the situation as more and more photographers are going to be informed and question their support. If they come up quickly with a better solution for the future that makes us all win, I will stay. If they believe that this is their final word, then I will have my final word.
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Got pretty much the same response from DP. Here's how I understood it. DPs contention is that they are selling at Sub rates and paying us accordingly. However the buyer/vendor (in this case Shotshop) is selling at rates fixed by them (much higher) as - 'it is up to our partners to set their prices (sic)' .
So on the one hand we have a sub sale in a 'new market' which we otherwise would not have (the gist of DP's contention). But we are only getting a tiny fraction of the actual sale price - making this an abysmal deal for us. They have the legal/ contractual right to do this, according to the quoted text in DP's response. And finally, we can take it or lump it! We can't opt out of individual partner programs - but we can opt out of all their partner programs if we wish to.
The ball rests squarely in our court.
Welcome to microstock 2014! :(
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Got pretty much the same response from DP. Here's how I understood it. DPs contention is that they are selling at Sub rates and paying us accordingly. However the buyer/vendor (in this case Shotshop) is selling at rates fixed by them (much higher) as - 'it is up to our partners to set their prices (sic)' .
And no doubt, as with all these deals, DP got a good price for brokering the deal with Shotshop, which they aren't sharing with contributors.
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The plus side is that they are not (for me) a strong enough player for me to worry about pulling my portfolio from them. I don't make enough from their site with just a handful of sales each day. Looks like its a going to be a "fool me once" instance for me, plus I'll have to do a better read when I submit to any new agencies.
I also think any new agency could potentially have a gold mine of disgruntled microstockers willing to go exclusive for a generous commission deal, if they had enough buyers, were upfront and transparent, and were focused on more than just volume of images in the db...
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"Depositphotos reserves the right to determine the conditions of its cooperation with Partner companies. We sell those files by subscriptions (under the standard license), but it is up to our partners to set their prices and the way to sell them as long as they stick to license terms."
Regarding the mail of Deposit that would mean that Shotshop is a Subscriber. That's nonsense!
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"Depositphotos reserves the right to determine the conditions of its cooperation with Partner companies. We sell those files by subscriptions (under the standard license), but it is up to our partners to set their prices and the way to sell them as long as they stick to license terms."
Regarding the mail of Deposit that would mean that Shotshop is a Subscriber. That's nonsense!
That is indeed complete nonsense. Someone "subscribing" photos does not receive a license for resale. I am done with Depositstock.
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Today i received the same Mail from Deposit.
I opted out of their partner program in August 2013.
In December 2013 i told Deposit that my complete portfolio is on shotshop.
The answer form Deposit was that i´m opted out of their partner program but shotshop is a reseller.
In their mail for today they say:
"If for some reason, you would like to opt out of our partnership programs, just let us know and we will comply with your request. However, please keep in mind, in that case you will be excluded from all our partnership programs and your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com "
i don't get it. What is, in their opinion, the difference between a Partner and a Reseller?
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[quote author=MarcvsTvllivs link=topic=21952.msg365311#msg365311 date=1392309127
That is indeed complete nonsense. Someone "subscribing" photos does not receive a license for resale. I am done with Depositstock.
[/quote]
Precisely. A subscription download does not allow the resale of the file. That is what special extended licenses are for.
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[quote author=MarcvsTvllivs link=topic=21952.msg365311#msg365311 date=1392309127
That is indeed complete nonsense. Someone "subscribing" photos does not receive a license for resale. I am done with Depositstock.
Precisely. A subscription download does not allow the resale of the file. That is what special extended licenses are for.
This thing could become a case for a lawyer!
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If we still have our pictures there is because we are stupid and we deserve the 1% commission and we like spanking.
Right now I run to buy a subscription of your photos on Shutterstock. These photos I sell them on my own website to my 20 euros, you will have 025-38 dollars and me 19, 60-70 euros .... this is business and not take pictures
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This thing could become a case for a lawyer!
Oooh yes! There is many things to do for lawyer, and not even one lawyer ready to go for it... Strange... And I mean all stock agencies, all market is full of surprises, not only DP, CanStockPhoto or IS....
Before you guys close your accounts, what about talk to them about changes? Maybe they'll be interested in sharing good % of re-sell price? Lets say image was sold for 69$, so you (author) get 40%, and they share the rest - DP and PP site? ;)
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It's a game of semantics - partners or resellers. Years back I used to license photos with Gamma. If they had another agency sell an image for them (which I had to approve) Gamma got 50% and the other agency got 50%. I received my 50% (25% or the gross) of Gamma's take. Pretty simple math. These convoluted partnership arrangements are just unfair to the photographer. I guess better quit living in the past!
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This thing could become a case for a lawyer!
Oooh yes! There is many things to do for lawyer, and not even one lawyer ready to go for it... Strange... And I mean all stock agencies, all market is full of surprises, not only DP, CanStockPhoto or IS....
Before you guys close your accounts, what about talk to them about changes? Maybe they'll be interested in sharing good % of re-sell price? Lets say image was sold for 69$, so you (author) get 40%, and they share the rest - DP and PP site? ;)
After getting "the letter" this morning I emailed them back and told them to remove me from all Partner Programs and specifically Shotshop. I'll have to see if there is any fancy footwork involved stating that Shotshop is not a partner but a buyer. If so I'll remove my entire (small) portfolio.
I am afraid as someone else stated that this may be a case of a contract between DP and Shotshop whereas as Shotshop paid DP a sum to have access to DP's images under a subscription license. So DP gets a large sum upfront which they do not have to share with artists because it is not a licensing contract but simply a contract that allows them access to the images at a set price. This is the only reason why I would think DP would do such a deal. I obviously do not know if any of this is true, but it certainly is food for thought.
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And whoever is on the fence about staying with DP, don't forget about this
http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-$2-64!!!!!!/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-$2-64!!!!!!/).
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And whoever is on the fence about staying with DP, don't forget about this
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-[/url]$2-64!!!!!!/ ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-[/url]$2-64!!!!!!/).
Exactly
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Interestingly, if one looks at the DP Standard and Extended License Agreement:
http://depositphotos.com/license.html(link) (http://depositphotos.com/license.html(link))
It is clearly noted that - The Standard License allows the use of the purchased File for the creation of different kinds of items (except Items for Resale or Items for Free Distribution, where the File plays a major role in the item and adds value to it) (sic).
Its also noted that items for Re-sale require an Extended license. Isn't Shotshop re-selling? So why is this treated as a Standard license for payment of (sub) royalties to contributors?
So now I'm really confused?? If Shotshop sales are a re-sale (as it clearly looks to be) then WHY aren't we paid Extended license commissions? That would seem to be the correct and fair thing, isn't it.
Or am I missing something here??!
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All this sounds incredibly bad. Anb, btw, what happens if this partner agency sell one photo mre than one time? Do you just get the first 0.30?
Maybe I should thing of buying subscriptons from DP and start my own "reselling" site...
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I always wondered why the percentage of credit sales on DP was so much lower than the percentage of ODDs/SODs over on SS. I guess this explains it.
I'll give DP a couple weeks to find an acceptable solution that fixes this situation. If they don't I'll pull my port and be done with them.
Big THANK YOU to everyone involved uncovering this scam.
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All this sounds incredibly bad. Anb, btw, what happens if this partner agency sell one photo mre than one time? Do you just get the first 0.30?
Maybe I should thing of buying subscriptons from DP and start my own "reselling" site...
Actually a great idea.
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LOL I started to post that earlier but erased it :) If I can ever make a payout - that's 19 subs away ... you
won't shouldn't be able to include mine. I hated to walk away from the money on the table, but I should have grown a pair and left the first time they peed me off.
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My images are up there too. I've emailed to see what the deal is.
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Excerpt from DP's API PROGRAM AGREEMENT: (text bolded by me)
Reseller API. The Reseller API enables the sale of the File Provider’s Files on the Reseller’s website and offers the greatest price flexibility to the Reseller. Buyers are not redirected to the File Provider’s website for payment. This method is designed for a Reseller to create his/her own stock file website in order to sell Files acquired either wholly from the File Provider, or in conjunction with Files from other databases.
The File Provider delivers Files to the Reseller at standard prices or via a subscription plan. The Reseller sets the price of Files resold to Buyers.
The File Provider reserves the exclusive right to change the price of Files delivered to the Reseller through the API Program, upward as well as downward, at any time and at its sole discretion, with or without prior notification to the Reseller.
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This small print means they are a bottom feeder agency. Nobody can take them seriously with a deal where the artist is paid 30 cents and the content is then resold with a 6000% markup. It makes absolutely no sense.
They gave such a good presentation in Berlin. Why would they ruin their momentum with such "deals"?
Do they really think we will not find out? That they can hide deals, the way getty thought they can hide the goggle deal?
I am really disappointed, because in Berlin I thought they really want to grow and be a serious agency with longterm plans.
Thank you Robert for discovering this. It shows how important it is we keep checking on the agencies by buying our own files to see the results.
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My images are up there too. I've emailed to see what the deal is.
I thought your files weren't available at DP for subscription sales.
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Interestingly, if one looks at the DP Standard and Extended License Agreement:
[url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html(link)[/url] ([url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html(link))[/url]
It is clearly noted that - The Standard License allows the use of the purchased File for the creation of different kinds of items (except Items for Resale or Items for Free Distribution, where the File plays a major role in the item and adds value to it) (sic).
Its also noted that items for Re-sale require an Extended license. Isn't Shotshop re-selling? So why is this treated as a Standard license for payment of (sub) royalties to contributors?
So now I'm really confused?? If Shotshop sales are a re-sale (as it clearly looks to be) then WHY aren't we paid Extended license commissions? That would seem to be the correct and fair thing, isn't it.
Or am I missing something here??!
Yes, you are missing something.
Even under the extended license the sub-licensing of the file is not allowed. The scenario that Shotshop "buys" the files (e.g. under a subscription plan) and then "sells" it again is not allowed with neither the standard nor the extended license.
Shotshop is licensing those files to their customers, that is not a re-sale.
The only way that this is not conflicting with the DP license terms is that the transaction is between Shotshop's customer and DP (and not between DP and Shotshop, because that would require Shotshop to sub-license the file).
And this is why I cannot understand how they legally can create a situation where we only get paid a subscription royalty (as Shotshop does not offer subscriptions, so the Shotshop customer can only have bought a single license).
I am now waiting if they comply with my request to remove my portfolio from all partner programs.
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Interestingly, if one looks at the DP Standard and Extended License Agreement:
[url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html(link)[/url] ([url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html(link))[/url]
It is clearly noted that - The Standard License allows the use of the purchased File for the creation of different kinds of items (except Items for Resale or Items for Free Distribution, where the File plays a major role in the item and adds value to it) (sic).
Its also noted that items for Re-sale require an Extended license. Isn't Shotshop re-selling? So why is this treated as a Standard license for payment of (sub) royalties to contributors?
So now I'm really confused?? If Shotshop sales are a re-sale (as it clearly looks to be) then WHY aren't we paid Extended license commissions? That would seem to be the correct and fair thing, isn't it.
Or am I missing something here??!
Yes, you are missing something.
Even under the extended license the sub-licensing of the file is not allowed. The scenario that Shotshop "buys" the files (e.g. under a subscription plan) and then "sells" it again is not allowed with neither the standard nor the extended license.
Shotshop is licensing those files to their customers, that is not a re-sale.
The only way that this is not conflicting with the DP license terms is that the transaction is between Shotshop's customer and DP (and not between DP and Shotshop, because that would require Shotshop to sub-license the file).
And this is why I cannot understand how they legally can create a situation where we only get paid a subscription royalty (as Shotshop does not offer subscriptions, so the Shotshop customer can only have bought a single license).
I am now waiting if they comply with my request to remove my portfolio from all partner programs.
According to a previous post Shotshop is a reseller and NOT a partner (whatever the fk that means). So even if you opt out of PP, BFD. You will still get hosed unless you simply cut your losses and close your DP account. At least that's how I read this.
"We disabled the Partnership program for you when you required. The websites you mentioned ( newbielink:http://www.ibudgetphoto.com [nonactive] and shotshop.com) are our resellers. They sell your files under the same License agreement as we do and you get the same commission for each sold file as you get on our website.
If this comment were true I'd breath a little more easily. But according to yet another post in this thread, someone purchased a $19 euro file and received 30 cents commission. How is that happening? DP being deceitful? They've been caught with their dicks in their hands before.
"We tested this too.
For a 19,90€ single purchase at Shotshop you will get a 0.30$ Sub sale on Depositphotos !!!
I wonder what you'll get for an EL ... if this isn't a bug, it's a complete rip-off.
[/b]"
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FYI payout can be made at 50$, but you forfeit any balance if you close your account before that.
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FYI payout can be made at 50$, but you forfeit any balance if you close your account before that.
That sucks...
I need to hear what they say about opting out and if that includes out of this stinking deal. If not, I'm out of there and they get to keep my $20 they owe me.... I'll not stick around to meet $50.
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I am not with DepositPhotos because there were a number of things I wasn't happy with about how they operate.
However, I do think that if you don't get a better answer than the insultingly idiotic ones so far - it's not a partner it's an API reseller - the only way to get this kind of nonsense to stop is to leave.
I did that with BigStock last year over the lack of opt out for subs (which where at ridiculous royalties).
I stopped uploading to Veer over their handling of partner programs - no opt out and although they don't do such sleezy deals as DepositPhotos, they do have partners who sell at high prices but we only get the same royalty as "regular" sales
I opted out of Distributor sales at Alamy because they give a distributor 40% of the gross, often sold at very high prices, and I get 30%. The only good thing about this is they have an opt out, although it's only once a year.
I all but left iStock over the Getty Google deal when they wouldn't give us an opt out.
If we don't vote with our content, the agencies will keep on with this abusive behavior. They have no sense of responsibility in that they don't even bother to tell us about these things - it's always one of us finding out.
This one isn't my squabble, but I'd suggest setting a date - March 15th has a nice ring to it - and if they don't give an opt out for all off site sales by then (i.e. who cares what you call it) then pull your portfolios if you don't like this sleazy deal
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I don't need a date, I need $5.50 in sales. There is nothing they can say or promise or fix by March 15 that will entice me to support them.
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Awhile back after finding out I got paid a paltry $2.84 for a Partner sale EL , which sells for 80 credits BTW, I requested opt out of Partner Sales.
DP sent a confirmation e-mail that I was opted out of all partner sales.
Thank you DP.
Now after reading this thread I find my images are available through Shoitshop. Probably because this isn't a 'partner sales' site but a 're-seller'.
Well perhaps they have covered their asses through legal-speak in the contract, but for all practical purposes it ends up being another sly and underhanded way of sellling the content we provide and giving us a crappy deal. Period.
I think DP should come here and explain in clear and unambiguous terms what they intend to do about what is blatantly a deceitful act. If the intention of a contributer to opt out of partner program because the terms are unacceptable - then that should be across the board with ALL parnters - whether you like to call them partners or resellers, who cares, we want opt out because WE DONT WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF!!
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I don't need a date, I need $5.50 in sales. There is nothing they can say or promise or fix by March 15 that will entice me to support them.
I hear you. I'm just under 3 bucks shy myself.
I think I will keep the account for now to see what (if anything) gets resolved. But my photos are down for now.
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Subscription resale ?? Grossly unfair to receive effectively low single figure commission. Deposit photos just joined the list of my most hated agencies.
With shady working like this you could subscription sell your contributors work to another website owned by you, sell them for $5 each and make 94%.
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DP, for that kind of business management we have only one word in Finland, it's PERKELE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQuREhWe8o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQuREhWe8o)
What else I can say..
trust = zero
mood = angry like hell
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I kicked and cried. I have regretted and I have made the relevant jokes
must act now: I asked to close my account.
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My images are up there too. I've emailed to see what the deal is.
I thought your files weren't available at DP for subscription sales.
I thought so too. Looks like that the subscription deal DP makes with its resellers/API/partner agencies does not apply to Sean's wish to exclude his port from DP's own subscription program. :-X
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According to a previous post Shotshop is a reseller and NOT a partner (whatever the fk that means). So even if you opt out of PP, BFD. You will still get hosed unless you simply cut your losses and close your DP account. At least that's how I read this.
That's how I read the previous posts as well.
But: I aked them specifically about this Shotshop deal and how I could opt out of that. And in their reply they stated:
"If for some reason, you would like to opt out of our partnership programs, just let us know and we will comply with your request. However, please keep in mind, in that case you will be excluded from all our partnership programs and your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com"
So maybe they changed their mind about not being able to opt out from the re-seller API. At least the last sentence is clear, if they mean what they say.
I asked them to opt-out my portfolio and now am waiting for a response / their action.
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I don't think so I asked to close my account and got the same mail! I'm not sure if they even read the specific questions.
According to a previous post Shotshop is a reseller and NOT a partner (whatever the fk that means). So even if you opt out of PP, BFD. You will still get hosed unless you simply cut your losses and close your DP account. At least that's how I read this.
That's how I read the previous posts as well.
But: I aked them specifically about this Shotshop deal and how I could opt out of that. And in their reply they stated:
"If for some reason, you would like to opt out of our partnership programs, just let us know and we will comply with your request. However, please keep in mind, in that case you will be excluded from all our partnership programs and your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com"
So maybe they changed their mind about not being able to opt out from the re-seller API. At least the last sentence is clear, if they mean what they say.
I asked them to opt-out my portfolio and now am waiting for a response / their action.
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I don't think so I asked to close my account and got the same mail! I'm not sure if they even read the specific questions.
According to a previous post Shotshop is a reseller and NOT a partner (whatever the fk that means). So even if you opt out of PP, BFD. You will still get hosed unless you simply cut your losses and close your DP account. At least that's how I read this.
That's how I read the previous posts as well.
But: I aked them specifically about this Shotshop deal and how I could opt out of that. And in their reply they stated:
"If for some reason, you would like to opt out of our partnership programs, just let us know and we will comply with your request. However, please keep in mind, in that case you will be excluded from all our partnership programs and your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com"
So maybe they changed their mind about not being able to opt out from the re-seller API. At least the last sentence is clear, if they mean what they say.
I asked them to opt-out my portfolio and now am waiting for a response / their action.
Agree, it's a canned response and they probably did not read anything in detail. But their last sentence is pretty clear to me:
your images will be sold solely on depositphotos.com
That's what I wanted and what I asked for in my reply. And now let's see if that was a lie or if they do remove my images from their API.
If not, I'll leave. Doesn't hurt much.
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I processed my payout and asked to close my account. They processed my payout quick but didn't close my account so far, therefore I have 4.40 $ in new earnings if anyone is about 2$ away from a payout let me know I can spend the 4.40$ at your pictures.
I slept over it and must say trust is finally lost even if they change this they will come up with some new bad deal in the future like they did in the past (sms), I will definitely close my account it's an easy decision for me as Deposit is not a good earner for me.
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I think DP should come here and explain in clear and unambiguous terms what they intend to do about what is blatantly a deceitful act. If the intention of a contributer to opt out of partner program because the terms are unacceptable - then that should be across the board with ALL parnters - whether you like to call them partners or resellers, who cares, we want opt out because WE DONT WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF!!
You wish! ;)
Meanwhile I got replay for my email:
"Yes, you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices.
If you want to opt out of all our partner programs, please confirm and your files will be sold only on depositphotos.com"
Short and precise... ::)
Nauseating reality.
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At this moment we've asked to remove our portfolio from any sort of partnership, distributor or API they have.
We'll reevaluate our participation in DP but considering the amount they earn us I'm very confident they'll be gone as soon as we've earned the last 10usd to ask for payout.
Some things are simply inadmissible, immoral and unethical. And if we must tolerate some things from the larger agencies since we are full-time stock photographers, DP isn't such a loss if we drop them..
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I also requested removal of my images and videos from Shotshop and all partner sites. Allowing subscription buyers to resell images is unacceptable. I'm considering deactivating all my images. Hopefully DepostitPhotos management will correct their policies in a timely matter.
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I have written to DP as well seeking clarifications and will act according to how this pans out from the agency side. It appears completely unacceptable the way it stands and undermines faith in the company unless they act fairly and fast to address/ resolve the issue.
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At this moment we've asked to remove our portfolio from any sort of partnership, distributor or API they have.
We'll reevaluate our participation in DP but considering the amount they earn us I'm very confident they'll be gone as soon as we've earned the last 10usd to ask for payout.
Some things are simply inadmissible, immoral and unethical. And if we must tolerate some things from the larger agencies since we are full-time stock photographers, DP isn't such a loss if we drop them..
If you don't mine me asking, how many images do you have on DP?
Also, has anyone gotten a "custom" response as opposed to a cut and paste?
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My images are up there too. I've emailed to see what the deal is.
I thought your files weren't available at DP for subscription sales.
I thought so too. Looks like that the subscription deal DP makes with its resellers/API/partner agencies does not apply to Sean's wish to exclude his port from DP's own subscription program. :-X
Not even that - I was supposed to be opted out of any off-site partner or distribution sales completely. I have an email that my content would only be sold on DP.
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If you don't mine me asking, how many images do you have on DP?
It's over 2500. Don't know the exact number without looking.
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If you don't mine me asking, how many images do you have on DP?
It's over 2500. Don't know the exact number without looking.
Just curious on what impact you'd make as you have a nice collection going.
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Time to Twitter, Facebook and whereelse?
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I processed my payout and asked to close my account. They processed my payout quick but didn't close my account so far, therefore I have 4.40 $ in new earnings if anyone is about 2$ away from a payout let me know I can spend the 4.40$ at your pictures. It seems not possible to convert earnings into credits I'm sorry :(
I slept over it and must say trust is finally lost even if they change this they will come up with some new bad deal in the future like they did in the past (sms), I will definitely close my account it's an easy decision for me as Deposit is not a good earner for me.
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A good month in Deposit is a bad day in Shutter.
DP need learn a lesson.
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I'm reading and reading and this part "Shotshop purchases our subscriptions to resell our images under the Standard license." is the basis of their deceit and twisted logic.
Let me explain. For people who are opted out of Partner sales, this is not a partner. It's an API reseller.
For people who only sell on DepositPhotos website (and here's the kick in the ass)
These people at Shotshop are purchasing the files from DP. So they are only sold on DP. According to the agreement with us.
Not saying I like any of this sleeze or their sneaking around until someone catches them, just pointing out how they might be justifying the deals and pay us a SUB commission for a reseller.
However! They can't license subs for RESALE can they? Oh but DP says it's a standard license. So they purchase with a standard license at sub prices? What a twisted mess of manipulation.
When DP started I was a detractor. I went along with the people who exposed who and what was behind the site. But everyone got their 25c for feeding the beast. I watched and DP moved up the charts and apparently I was Wrong. I started test uploading last year.
Now this? I should have trusted my original instincts when I saw them throwing money at people to get artists to sell out and then people found back door deals and irregularities and left. This is the DP I expected, twisted and greedy, dishonest deals behind our backs. Too bad, I wanted to like them and give them a fair chance.
I'd like to ask a question. I've heard the term ShitStorm before and never really saw one. Is this it? :)
My images are up there too. I've emailed to see what the deal is.
I thought your files weren't available at DP for subscription sales.
I thought so too. Looks like that the subscription deal DP makes with its resellers/API/partner agencies does not apply to Sean's wish to exclude his port from DP's own subscription program. :-X
Not even that - I was supposed to be opted out of any off-site partner or distribution sales completely. I have an email that my content would only be sold on DP.
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I know they have it in their TOS, but is it actually legal for them to keep a balance (for a contributor) if you close your account? I couldn't find anything on it except its in Florida. Does anyone know?
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Not even that - I was supposed to be opted out of any off-site partner or distribution sales completely. I have an email that my content would only be sold on DP.
This would be a Standard sale according to them? (reading between the boilerplate response lines)
Not agreeing at all, but that seems to be their way of getting around and promises to anyone.
I know they have it in their TOS, but is it actually legal for them to keep a balance (for a contributor) if you close your account? I couldn't find anything on it except its in Florida. Does anyone know?
Ha Ha, Russian company with a front in FL.
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I'm reading and reading and this part "Shotshop purchases our subscriptions to resell our images under the Standard license." is the basis of their deceit and twisted logic.
Let me explain. For people who are opted out of Partner sales, this is not a partner. It's an API reseller.
For people who only sell on DepositPhotos website (and here's the kick in the ass)
These people at Shotshop are purchasing the files from DP. So they are only sold on DP. According to the agreement with us.
Not saying I like any of this sleeze or their sneaking around until someone catches them, just pointing out how they might be justifying the deals and pay us a SUB commission for a reseller.
However! They can't license subs for RESALE can they? Oh but DP says it's a standard license. So they purchase with a standard license at sub prices? What a twisted mess of manipulation.
When DP started I was a detractor. I went along with the people who exposed who and what was behind the site. But everyone got their 25c for feeding the beast. I watched and DP moved up the charts and apparently I was Wrong. I started test uploading last year.
Now this? I should have trusted my original instincts when I saw them throwing money at people to get artists to sell out and then people found back door deals and irregularities and left. This is the DP I expected, twisted and greedy, dishonest deals behind our backs. Too bad, I wanted to like them and give them a fair chance.
I'd like to ask a question. I've heard the term ShitStorm before and never really saw one. Is this it? :)
My images are up there too. I've emailed to see what the deal is.
I thought your files weren't available at DP for subscription sales.
I thought so too. Looks like that the subscription deal DP makes with its resellers/API/partner agencies does not apply to Sean's wish to exclude his port from DP's own subscription program. :-X
Not even that - I was supposed to be opted out of any off-site partner or distribution sales completely. I have an email that my content would only be sold on DP.
Well stated uncle Pete. I hearted you for such a clear roadmap.
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For those who can read German, this is the current discussion on another forum that involves regular contributors to shotshop. Apparently they had files rejected "as not suitable" for shotshop only to discover they were accepted via deposit. Of course their regular uploads to shotshop would net them 35-75% royalty, for a file via deposit only 30 cents.
the question now is - in how many cases have files been intentionally declined because they could get them for a subs sale from deposit?
So not only will the artist get a negligible subs sale for a a full credit sale, they also have an increased risk of having files rejected in favour of having their files brought in via deposit.
So you really should only send content to deposit, that you are not planning to submit directly to a site that also accepts files from dp.
http://stockfotografie-forum.de/discussion/813/shotshop-loescht-bilder/p2 (http://stockfotografie-forum.de/discussion/813/shotshop-loescht-bilder/p2)
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I'd never heard of shotshop, so I thought I'd take a look. I was interested to note that there are multiple pricing models for images there - take a look at the prices on these two as examples, one from Sean and one from Monkey Business Images
http://www.shotshop.com/search/34171731 (http://www.shotshop.com/search/34171731)
http://www.shotshop.com/search/mmq-kap (http://www.shotshop.com/search/mmq-kap)
There are many more examples of images with numerical iDs, which I assume are all the DepositPhotos items and also with the text IDs - which have the same prices as Monkey Business:
http://www.shotshop.com/search/gqy-fmv (http://www.shotshop.com/search/gqy-fmv)
The letter codes have higher prices from Large up but lower extended licenses. Are these images uploaded directly to Shotshop or are they a different deal with a different agency "partner"?
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My DP-images seem to be gone from Shotshop. At least I can't find any of them any more when performing the same test searches where I found them before.
So they (DP) did apparently remove them.
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My DP-images seem to be gone from Shotshop. At least I can't find any of them any more when performing the same test searches where I found them before.
So they (DP) did apparently remove them.
well mine are still there, so maybe they are doing it one user at a time.
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I don't need a date, I need $5.50 in sales. There is nothing they can say or promise or fix by March 15 that will entice me to support them.
This exactly how I feel. Just that I need about $8 in sales. There is literally nothing a bottom-feeder agency with rip-off tactics like that can say or do to make me stay now.
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There is another site that's a 'Reseller' of DP:
http://www.ibudgetphoto.com (http://www.ibudgetphoto.com)
They sell by credits, but I haven't been able to make a test purchase yet (registration not working).
They have DP and also DT images:
DP images can be found by DPPS_(imagenumber)
Example: DPPS_15846517
DT images show as DRMT_(imagenumber)
Example: DRMT_22356161
And they show no Info on who the Image Author is !
At least I couldn't find that info anywhere on the picture ...
I disabled DTs PP yesterday, it looks like they are already going offline over there now.
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Upload work to DP (and few others) = voluntary service?
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Since nobody has gotten a custom response and they are being silent, they are telling us to fk off. If you don't like it, leave. To be fair they "may" be trying to work things out with their resellers before crafting a response. How long does that take, though? Two weeks? Two months? Until then there is no serious, constructive dialog on their part, probably because they have the terms (law) on their side.
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The contract for the API reseller can be found on the Depositphotos site here:
http://depositphotos.com/api-agreement.html (http://depositphotos.com/api-agreement.html)
It states a.o.:
" Reseller API. The Reseller API enables the sale of the File Provider’s Files on the Reseller’s website and offers the greatest price flexibility to the Reseller. Buyers are not redirected to the File Provider’s website for payment. This method is designed for a Reseller to create his/her own stock file website in order to sell Files acquired either wholly from the File Provider, or in conjunction with Files from other databases.
The File Provider delivers Files to the Reseller at standard prices or via a subscription plan. The Reseller sets the price of Files resold to Buyers.
The File Provider reserves the exclusive right to change the price of Files delivered to the Reseller through the API Program, upward as well as downward, at any time and at its sole discretion, with or without prior notification to the Reseller."
(highlights by me)
As I read it: They can offer DP material at standard prices OR as subs. It makes sense to give photographers a sub sale if it has been sold via a sub, but if a file has been sold as a normal credit sale, photographers should get the normal credit commissions. Simple as that.
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Since nobody has gotten a custom response and they are being silent, they are telling us to fk off. If you don't like it, leave. To be fair they "may" be trying to work things out with their resellers before crafting a response. How long does that take, though? Two weeks? Two months? Until then there is no serious, constructive dialog on their part, probably because they have the terms (law) on their side.
That's true.
I guess there are only two ways we as a community and individuals can handle this:
1) Keep contacting them so they know the magnitude of the problem and fix it asap.
2) Deactivation of accounts, be it as individuals or like a group (like D-day or something). March 1st sounds like a good date.
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Looks like a number of agencies represented, Yay, Monkey Business, and others as above.
I don't want to start a debate here, but...
This one isn't my squabble, but I'd suggest setting a date - March 15th has a nice ring to it - and if they don't give an opt out for all off site sales by then (i.e. who cares what you call it) then pull your portfolios if you don't like this sleazy deal
Someone started a date of The Ides of March a page back, which may have been missed?
"Et tu, DP?" Without having two different dates, maybe stay with the first one?
Since nobody has gotten a custom response and they are being silent, they are telling us to fk off. If you don't like it, leave. To be fair they "may" be trying to work things out with their resellers before crafting a response. How long does that take, though? Two weeks? Two months? Until then there is no serious, constructive dialog on their part, probably because they have the terms (law) on their side.
That's true.
I guess there are only two ways we as a community and individuals can handle this:
1) Keep contacting them so they know the magnitude of the problem and fix it asap.
2) Deactivation of accounts, be it as individuals or like a group (like D-day or something). March 1st sounds like a good date.
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As DP suggested, I've already opted out of PP and re-sellers... So I sell only with DP, directly. Does it make any difference if I deactivate all my images from DP? They will loose enought much with deactivating from PP and re-s.
Or I'm missing something?
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Or I'm missing something?
Regarding to their mail there is actually no opt out (for reseller).
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As DP suggested, I've already opted out of PP and re-sellers... So I sell only with DP, directly. Does it make any difference if I deactivate all my images from DP? They will loose enought much with deactivating from PP and re-s.
Or I'm missing something?
...and it might just be a matter of time untile Depositphotos decides that there are no "opt-outs" possible...
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As DP suggested, I've already opted out of PP and re-sellers... So I sell only with DP, directly. Does it make any difference if I deactivate all my images from DP? They will loose enought much with deactivating from PP and re-s.
Or I'm missing something?
you better check on that - I opted out of PP some time ago but discovered my port on Shotshop due to this thread, so I bet your still on resellers like everyone else,
thats what makes this whole thing infuriating
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As DP suggested, I've already opted out of PP and re-sellers... So I sell only with DP, directly. Does it make any difference if I deactivate all my images from DP? They will loose enought much with deactivating from PP and re-s.
Or I'm missing something?
Are you sure about this? You can opt out of PP but I don't think there's an opt out for resellers.
Also, how is everyone communicating with DP? Through their "contact us" link? If so, are you selecting "critical"? We need to flood their inbox with critical requests. I just sent in my second email since they never responded to the one I sent last week.
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Also, how is everyone communicating with DP? Through their "contact us" link? If so, are you selecting "critical"? We need to flood their inbox with critical requests. I just sent in my second email since they never responded to the one I sent last week.
I sent my "critical" message yesterday that I want out of the resale sham. And I want sell only by DB directly. Lets see..
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Yes roede-orm, as usual, I try to explain too much in too many words, while you do it in five. :-[
Opt out for PP is not opt out for Resellers, according to the responses from DP and the reports from people who have been opted out, by contract or by notice. They are still being sold by resellers.
If anyone wants a list, I'll start collecting who, while I'm watching the Olympics. It was many agencies that are selling on Shotstop. I found my DP files there also. But I'm not opted out of anything. Just saying, I'm on that site as well.
Or I'm missing something?
Regarding to their mail there is actually no opt out (for reseller).
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DP:
"Yes, you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices. If you want to opt out of all our partner programs, please confirm and your files will be sold only on depositphotos.com"
Me:
"Yes, absolutely OPT me OUT of any partner programs and re-sellers now."
DP:
"...It will take some time to remove your portfolio from API re-seller/partner sites".
I'm waiting only for the replay to my question - what is the "some time".
Why should I have worries? I think it's clear situation... If I find my images anywhere else, they immediately loose my 1k files (every day some sells) and that's it. They're to low earner for me to be sad after all. They'll loose much more than I do :)
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DP:
"Yes, you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices. If you want to opt out of all our partner programs, please confirm and your files will be sold only on depositphotos.com"
Me:
"Yes, absolutely OPT me OUT of any partner programs and re-sellers now."
DP:
"...It will take some time to remove your portfolio from API re-seller/partner sites".
I'm waiting only for the replay to my question - what is the "some time".
Why should I have worries? I think it's clear situation... If I find my images anywhere else, they immediately loose my 1k files (every day some sells) and that's it. They're to low earner for me to be sad after all. They'll loose much more than I do :)
That's the first bit of good news from this debacle. I hope that is TRULY AN OPTION.
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DP:
"Yes, you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices. If you want to opt out of all our partner programs, please confirm and your files will be sold only on depositphotos.com"
Me:
"Yes, absolutely OPT me OUT of any partner programs and re-sellers now."
DP:
"...It will take some time to remove your portfolio from API re-seller/partner sites".
I'm waiting only for the replay to my question - what is the "some time".
Why should I have worries? I think it's clear situation... If I find my images anywhere else, they immediately loose my 1k files (every day some sells) and that's it. They're to low earner for me to be sad after all. They'll loose much more than I do :)
That's the first bit of good news from this debacle. I hope that is TRULY AN OPTION.
I wrote to them yesterday. They did not reply - but my images have already been removed from Shotshop!
(Hope, they won´t put them up again later on ;) )
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DP:
"Yes, you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices. If you want to opt out of all our partner programs, please confirm and your files will be sold only on depositphotos.com"
Me:
"Yes, absolutely OPT me OUT of any partner programs and re-sellers now."
DP:
"...It will take some time to remove your portfolio from API re-seller/partner sites".
I'm waiting only for the replay to my question - what is the "some time".
Why should I have worries? I think it's clear situation... If I find my images anywhere else, they immediately loose my 1k files (every day some sells) and that's it. They're to low earner for me to be sad after all. They'll loose much more than I do :)
That's the first bit of good news from this debacle. I hope that is TRULY AN OPTION.
I wrote to them yesterday. They did not reply - but my images have already been removed from Shotshop!
(Hope, they won´t put them up again later on ;) )
Exactly. Once the waters calm, then what? Geeze why should we have to worry so much?
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DP:
"Yes, you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices. If you want to opt out of all our partner programs, please confirm and your files will be sold only on depositphotos.com"
Me:
"Yes, absolutely OPT me OUT of any partner programs and re-sellers now."
DP:
"...It will take some time to remove your portfolio from API re-seller/partner sites".
I'm waiting only for the replay to my question - what is the "some time".
Why should I have worries? I think it's clear situation... If I find my images anywhere else, they immediately loose my 1k files (every day some sells) and that's it. They're to low earner for me to be sad after all. They'll loose much more than I do :)
That's the first bit of good news from this debacle. I hope that is TRULY AN OPTION.
I wrote the exact same thing two days ago. I asked them to opt me out from all partners and all API-resellers, and the same day my files were gone from Shotshop.
Don't know why so many people still write that there is no opt out from the API, maybe you should just write to them and request to be opted out.
Don't get me wrong, I am not defending them and still think the whole deal stinks. But at least there seems to be a way to get the images removed from the reseller sites, that's what I think is most important in the short term.
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Did you check for your port on ibugdgetphotos.com ? My pictures are gone from Shotshop, but they are still up over there ...
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My images are on there twice, from Dreamstime and from Yay, but not from Deposit anymore.
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I think Sean said he had email promising his work would be sold only on deposit's own site and his work ended up on shot shop anyway. Be careful to check.
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More importantly, why should their letting us opt out by email make us forgive a low earner with terrible terms that are the most hostile thing since Getty/Google? I mean, it's not like they're iStock. Most of us won't even feel the loss of earnings from them. And they should not get off this easily.
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Requested to remove my port from the shotshop scam too. This is outrageous, shotshop are guilty as well, maybe even more than deposit.
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Requested to remove my port from the shotshop scam too. This is outrageous, jerks from shotshop are guilty as well, maybe even more than deposit.
IMO, as a disinterested, but not uninterested, observer, DP is totally at fault. Shotshop are only doing what DP willingly allow them to do. I can't believe their gall in admitting, "you get $0,30 even though our API re-seller sells a file for € 24.90. Our API re-sellers have the right to set their own prices."
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shotshop "classifies" you and your royalties depending on wether you supply micro stock or not. If you supply the micros they pay out the lowest royalty of 35%. It gives the impression that they look down on microstock and want to set an example with higher prices and no subs package.
http://photographer.shotshop.com/page/briefing/b4 (http://photographer.shotshop.com/page/briefing/b4) (in German)
So to discover that they have been secretly taking content they normally reject from deposit and are happy to license micro files for 30 cents is really insulting to the artist.
Especially because their royalty model does not allow you to differentiate,i.e. even if a small portion of your images are available at subs or micros you will be on the lower royalty rate. They don´t classify according to the single image. They "label" you completely as a "subs" or Microstock" photographer even if you have content available at all price points and all the major agencies in the industry.
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Here's where I'm struggling. Do I reactivate my images to get the last few dollars to hit payout and then close? Or just close. The money is incidental, but I hate defaulting it to them. I also hate the idea of letting more of my images go through this scheme. So I'm not sure which way to lean.
To switch them to buyer credits, apparently you need to open a buyer account with a 50 credit minimum. Otherwise I'd do that and spend it on other shooters close to payout.
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Here's where I'm struggling. Do I reactivate my images to get the last few dollars to hit payout and then close? Or just close. The money is incidental, but I hate defaulting it to them. I also hate the idea of letting more of my images go through this scheme. So I'm not sure which way to lean.
To switch them to buyer credits, apparently you need to open a buyer account with a 50 credit minimum. Otherwise I'd do that and spend it on other shooters close to payout.
you could say something like "i am so disgusted with your actions that you can keep the money i have and just close my account, thats how fast and bad i want out." at least let them know.
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Here's where I'm struggling. Do I reactivate my images to get the last few dollars to hit payout and then close? Or just close. The money is incidental, but I hate defaulting it to them. I also hate the idea of letting more of my images go through this scheme. So I'm not sure which way to lean.
To switch them to buyer credits, apparently you need to open a buyer account with a 50 credit minimum. Otherwise I'd do that and spend it on other shooters close to payout.
if your only a few bucks away just wait and then pull the plug - either way their going to get money from you, either through the last few sales or by you just handing them over $40 or so
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you could say something like "i am so disgusted with your actions that you can keep the money i have and just close my account, thats how fast and bad i want out." at least let them know.
I like that.
My actual words were along the lines of needing to protect my reputation and brand by not associating with...., and the rest I won't post here just in case (I'd hate to get sued)..
I'm going to get the payout though, then say goodbye. I just can't let them keep my money (its not much but again, the principal of the thing). If anyone has 2.70 in buyer credits to spend, let me know and I'll reciprocate via Symbiostock or something.
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This whole issue sounds entirely unfair to contributor interests. I am wondering how a reseller can be permitted to get our files on subscription, as they are not end-users who are buying in bulk at highly discounted sub rates. They are resellers apparantly taking high markups at contributor expense.
I have asked DP to remove my files from all partners, resellers, API and any other affiliate sites of this company.
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I've just sent them my opt-out request of all partner site and made clear that I want to sell my files solely on depositphotos. Let's see how that goes. I am still a few weeks from cash-out. I'll sit back until then and just watch. After that, at the slightest hic-up, I'll be out of there. I actually hope that someone higher up at Depositphotos decides to do some damage control and comes up with a solution that will appease contributors. Am I naïve?
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Same for me, I send opt-out too. To be honest if they do such things, that means there is no one driving the business properly and fairly and they are just trying to squeeze the maximum from the library they have whatever it takes. It doesnt seem to me like bright future for this company.
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We ewidently have a good lesson today - read your agreement before first upload.
As an author, photographer (or any other artist) you must take care of your work, that's obvious. You decide where images go, who sells them, how, for what price, what partners (never again! That is no control), etc...
I'm so dissapointed with all that situation, I feel done in... and just can't believe that. Of course, that's my fault, that I didn't understand agreement for 3 years (I read it before). Today it's to late to repair my mistake but I can make the decision for future - no more partner programs, re-sellers, secret PP list, no control, ...
They have their business, I have mine. I don't want to be part of this game. Phew!
About agencies - who wants to much, gets nothing.
In Polish it is: sly man looses twice.
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I read the agreement. I thought that a partner sale meant I would get 44% of whatever deposit got for a credit sale and I would get a subs royalty if the END customer bought a subs license through the partner.
I never in my wildest dream imagined, they would sell my file for a subs royalty and allow their partners to sublicense my files with 6000% profit.
I also really don't see how you can read that out of the text presented. It takes some very brave legal and english überthinking to even consider that they are saying we can sell it for a subs even if our partner sells it for 30 dollars.
Their license agreement doesn't allow sublicensing anyway, so how could I have known?
I thought deposit was serious about becoming a major player. They have a very good interface for uploading files and managing content. And of course the VIP keywording service made my life very easy, but i also thought this would help keep their library well keyworded so that it is easier to translate into many languages. A real advantage over many other agencies who can suffer from bad results through poor keywording.
They also sold my files more and more.
But of course now I have to assume the growth came from selling our work for pennies to resellers who were happy to avoid paying regular royalties to their own artists.
I am suprised the other agencies are accepting this as well. How can they compete with deposit if they pay out a normal royalty to their contributors and don't do these deals?
Shotshop and deposit are acting like they own the content completly, like we gifted it all to them.
I am lucky I never took the 50 dollar bait, where they pay you for uploading as long as the files remain with deposit for a year. So I can deactivate at will.
I haven't yet written to them to be opted out, they should have the brains to do that themselves after reading this thread. If they give us an unmistakable no nonsense opt out, or better "I will ONLY sell my files via the website depositphotos.com button", I might reactivate what I removed and watch what happens.
On the other hand, the biggest problem is trust. This is such a sneaky and low handed way of dealing with their business partners, it leaves me worried what kind of stupid nonsense will come next.
Whoever makes the business decisions simply isn't thinking longterm. They just need one really expensive court case to go belly up and this reseller scam just might be it.
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At this time I'm thinking of contacting all other agencies inquiring about their pricing policies for their resellers/PPs. I have a funny feeling that DP is by far not the only one doing this... Hopefully I'm wrong. :-X
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Now just images other agencies might do this as well: Maybe Getty Images does similar stuff with Thinkstock and photos.com?
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Maybe it is of interest for some: I've written a blog article about the deal in my Blog (in german):
http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/ (http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/)
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Thank you, Robert!
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We do have colourbox as a direct comparison. We knew for years that even a credit sale would only net you a subs royalty. They were totally honest about it. They also allow schools and students to download all files for free.
Very clear terms, everyone knew what would happen if you upload there. And as a result there was a lot of content they simply never got.
However, they did communicate with us and when several people complained over the years, they finally changed their system so now you get 20% from a credit sale. Still very low, but miles better than the system they had before.
But with deposit I think it is safe to assume that everyone understood their terms to be simply - credit royalty for a credit sale and subs royalty for an end customer subs sale.
I mean, like a normal agency...
So as a results people sent them their normal content.
With hindsight the "we will pay you for uploading" and the generous VIP keywording service take on a very sinister sub note,like there was a trap being laid out and not a serious agency that works hard to become an industry leader from a humble beginning.
But like others have said, they have done strange things before, I just wasn´t affected at the time.
Again, it shows how important it is that we have msg where can exchange information and that the artists keep doing test buys of their own work to check up on the agencies.
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ibudgetphotos.com belong to indiapictures. They advertise that they pay out 50% to contributors.
http://www.indiapicture.in/photographers/index.php (http://www.indiapicture.in/photographers/index.php)
How many more agencies are there out there that advertise themselves as artist friendly, but then pay out less than 1% through special "deals"?
My files are still on there, I think should write to deposit to have them removed.I can´t find my files anymore on shotshop.
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I can´t find my files anymore on shotshop.
That´s interesting! So they removed them without you asking them to?
That would mean they probably received so many emails / bad feedback that they cancelled the Shotshop API for everybody!??
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Or they just preemptively removed it from people who posted here and where obviously unhappy. It would be a logical thing to do. I also deactivated many files, it probably got someones attention.
They need to offer an unambiguous totally clear opt out for all media types.
There will still be people who don´t mind and will opt in. But we need to be a given a clear choice. If we want our files only on deposit photos.com, this is what we should get.
They can offer incentives for the people who are opted in if they want. Higher royalty, better placement in best match etc...just make it transparent and honest and upfront. No sneakiness and hiding behind legalese doublespeak.
But then of course...this is what they promised Sean...and....
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I complained and was told they would remove mine, but I see they are still currently there.
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I wrote 2 Emails, got no replay at all.
I just disabled the first 2000 images, 3200 left to go :D Once my click flinger has recovered, I'll disable the rest.
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I wrote 2 Emails, got no replay at all.
I just disabled the first 2000 images, 3200 left to go :D Once my click flinger has recovered, I'll disable the rest.
Same here
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I have asked and invited them to answer on this thread .
They answered me directly by email:
"Our Partnership programs have been created to boost your sales and expose your portfolio to new markets.
Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level. So the point is that our partners re-sell your portfolio by credits as well throughout the world. Regardless the way your files are sold on our partner sites, Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue.
If you want to opt out of all our partner deals, please confirm and your portfolio will be sold only on depositphotos.com."
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On Robert´s Blog someone is reporting that shotshop is calling the artists who wrote to to them and complained. Apparently they say that until 2 days ago it was not possible to filter out the artist who were also uploading to shotshop directly, but now this was possible. They also didn´t like being blamed in any way and put all blame on the artist for supplying an agency like deposit in the first place.
They will not reply to anyone in writing, I guess they must be aware they have a liability problem.
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I complained and was told they would remove mine, but I see they are still currently there.
So their deal with Shotshop (who purchases our images through subscription) did include your images that were not supposed to be sold at subscription prices?
Technically there is no excuse why your images should have been at (least at) Shotshop in the first place.
As contributor of your caliber I'd expect a more "professional" treatment...
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I complained and was told they would remove mine, but I see they are still currently there.
So their deal with Shotshop (who purchases our images through subscription) did include your images that were not supposed to be sold at subscription prices?
Technically there is no excuse why your images should have been at (least at) Shotshop in the first place.
As contributor of your caliber I'd expect a more "professional" treatment...
They were simply hoping he wouldn't find out.
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I complained and was told they would remove mine, but I see they are still currently there.
So their deal with Shotshop (who purchases our images through subscription) did include your images that were not supposed to be sold at subscription prices?
Technically there is no excuse why your images should have been at (least at) Shotshop in the first place.
As contributor of your caliber I'd expect a more "professional" treatment...
They were simply hoping he wouldn't find out.
That's the really scary part. On the one hand they write in the contributor terms that they can sell our images as they please but after agreeing with Sean not to include his images in the subscription plan it's absolutely disrespectful to hand out his content under that very subscription simply labeled "PP" or "reseller program".
Bold move.
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Bold move.
[/quote]
underhanded/ backdoor move
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...They also didn´t like being blamed in any way and put all blame on the artist for supplying an agency like deposit in the first place...
To be fair, they're kinda right. DepositPhotos didn't exactly have a clean start in microstock, we all know about their past. But for me personally I eventually opted to give them the benefit of the doubt and signed on, accepting them for who they were and hoping for the best moving forward.
So Shotshop is right, we supplied the images to this company. We're at least partially to blame.
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Shotshop thinks it is stupid to offer files at subs prices, does´t have a subs program themselves but will happily take our files as a sub reseller and make their incredible credit profits from it.
So if they feel they can benefit from taking advantage of us...everything is fine...
Sorry, I will never work with a company like that.
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DP's noticeable absence from these boards speaks volumes in itself doesn't it?
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At this time I'm thinking of contacting all other agencies inquiring about their pricing policies for their resellers/PPs. I have a funny feeling that DP is by far not the only one doing this... Hopefully I'm wrong. :-X
Exactly the right thing to do. But don't hold your breath waiting for replies that make sense. And whatever they do tell you, it could change next week.
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I have asked and invited them to answer on this thread .
They answered me directly by email:
"Our Partnership programs have been created to boost your sales and expose your portfolio to new markets.
Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level. So the point is that our partners re-sell your portfolio by credits as well throughout the world. Regardless the way your files are sold on our partner sites, Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue.
If you want to opt out of all our partner deals, please confirm and your portfolio will be sold only on depositphotos.com."
This is the boilerplate response I got verbatim.
Read it carefully.
It says that resellers can sell your images by either subscription or credits. Fine.
Next it says you will get paid according to your royalty level, whether the reseller bought your image via subscription or credits. Fine.
Now comes the inevitable question: If the reseller purchased my images by subscription from DP, and I got paid according to my royalty rate on subscription sale, but turns around to sell it via credit, I am getting hosed 2 ways.
Firstly I'm getting the paltry rate of a sub, secondly, is this not a violation of the licensing agreement of turning around and re-selling an image without a proper EL that is needed for resale?
I have received no answer yet on these further questions. I have also told them to come here to MSG as it is a topic of grave concern for many contributers. So, they probably know about this thread, but so far have kept silent.
Not a good sign.
That response they sent to us above dances around the issues at the very crux of discontent. Namely, whether licensing restrictions are being blantantly violated, and the amounts being paid to contributers are being done in an underhanded way.
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"your royalty rate is fixed and depends [on] whether...". followed by a bunch of gobbled-gook about credits and APIs.
So it's fixed... but it depends. On something, somehow, which we can't coherently explain. Don't worry, be happy.
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I have received no answer yet on these further questions. I have also told them to come here to MSG as it is a topic of grave concern for many contributers. So, they probably know about this thread, but so far have kept silent.
Yep, ditto here. I've told them via email and livechat that we are all watching carefully to see how this gets handled, and that we are concerned.
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Firstly I'm getting the paltry rate of a sub, secondly, is this not a violation of the licensing agreement of turning around and re-selling an image without a proper EL that is needed for resale?
I think it's worse than that.
ELs allow "items for resale", i.e. your image printed on a t-shirt that is sold.
What they are effectively doing is sub-licensing. That is not at all allowed within any of the licences.
I told them as well that they should join the discussion here (and that they should publish all terms of their partner deals in detail on their website and provide an opt-in/opt-out option per deal).
Their response was "Thank you for all your suggestions, we will definitely take them into consideration." (plus the copy & paste response everyone else seems to have received).
I'm not holding my breath though.
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I complained and was told they would remove mine, but I see they are still currently there.
Likewise. I asked them to remove my images from all their partner, reseller, API and any other affiliate sites. Got a response that it will be done as soon as possible. However find that my images are still showing up on Shotshop. Have sent them another email asking them to remove promptly and am waiting. If there is no action from their side in next day or two to remove all my files from their partners, resellers etc, I plan to delete a significant number of my portfolio from DP itself.
Can't imagine why this agency does not respond in a fair and comprehensive manner to address a problem that is now literally in their face. It's also disappointing that they haven't found it necessary to come around to this forum to try resolve issue! Someone mentioned March 1st as day to deactivate in an earlier post.. Something to seriously think about I guess?
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I wonder if DP has to make financial amends to their partners/resellers and also future lost revenue?
1. reimburse shotshop for the purchase price of the images
2. look at the sales history of the images and pay a penalty to shotshop for lost future revenue for those images that were producing revenue for shotshop.
I can't images its as simple as telling them to take down these images you purchased from us legitimately.
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Forgive my ignorance - what does the acronym API stand for?
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Forgive my ignorance - what does the acronym API stand for?
Application programming interface, a way for companies to communicate/work with each other.
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Forgive my ignorance - what does the acronym API stand for?
Application programming interface, a way for companies to communicate/work with each other.
Thank you.
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DP's noticeable absence from these boards speaks volumes in itself doesn't it?
They had some troll accoucts come to tell us how dp is the best money agency and how happy they are. Posters with 3 and all on dp form. That's the way they work. I think this back door deal is just like them to make money from underhanded deals. Now caught they make excuses. It's against the contract and they know it.
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I have asked and invited them to answer on this thread .
They answered me directly by email:
"Our Partnership programs have been created to boost your sales and expose your portfolio to new markets.
Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level. So the point is that our partners re-sell your portfolio by credits as well throughout the world. Regardless the way your files are sold on our partner sites, Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue.
If you want to opt out of all our partner deals, please confirm and your portfolio will be sold only on depositphotos.com."
Why is a partner having to buy images via depositphotos.com like a regular buyer ? Do they not have the API route to get all the DP images and host them on their site ? If I were to go by the statement from DP (in bold), it means that I will get a max of 1 subs sale per image purchased by Shotshop eventhough Shotshop might sell the image any number of times. In reality, I checked for any sales on DP for an image of mine that I saw in Shotshop and I could not find any sale (subs or credits) in DP. To be honest, I am not sure what exactly is the real deal :(
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First, THNX to our CSI dpt. for reporting this Depositphotos "fraud situation".
Second, I have been in communication with DP since first day of publishing this.
I asked them to remove all my files from ALL partner programs and API re-seller sites...
Three times.
Last reply was on Monday:
Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible.
And yes, all files are today still active on all partner programs and API re-seller sites.
Maybe is this also reason, why is acceptance on DP almost 100 % ?
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I can´t find my files anymore on shotshop.
That´s interesting! So they removed them without you asking them to?
That would mean they probably received so many emails / bad feedback that they cancelled the Shotshop API for everybody!??
Unfortunately that seems not to be the case. I just did a quick search and still found many files with only digits as file numbers (in contrast to the original Shotshop files with numbers and letters as file names): http://www.shotshop.com/search/26901455 (http://www.shotshop.com/search/26901455)
So the API is generally still intact.
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I can´t find my files Robert. i tried numbers and direct search, they don´t show up. But the ones that are still active are still available at ibudgetphoto.com
However the files that are deactivated are gone immediately.
I haven´t received a reply to my email yet, I might have sent it to the wrong department or they might just be overwhelmed.
This is certainly quite a dramatic disaster. I am still sad, they made a good impression on me before...but I really had no idea what was going on. I thought they really wanted to become a major player and move up in the industry. Having well keyworded content alone would have set them apart from the normal micros.
Your instinct was correct, unfortunately.
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I wonder if DP has to make financial amends to their partners/resellers and also future lost revenue?
1. reimburse shotshop for the purchase price of the images
2. look at the sales history of the images and pay a penalty to shotshop for lost future revenue for those images that were producing revenue for shotshop.
I can't imagine it's as simple as telling them to take down these images you purchased from us legitimately.
Good point!
Hell mend 'em.
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Didn't want to wait until march and requested the closing of my account. So DP is almost history for me.
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I wonder if DP has to make financial amends to their partners/resellers and also future lost revenue?
1. reimburse shotshop for the purchase price of the images
2. look at the sales history of the images and pay a penalty to shotshop for lost future revenue for those images that were producing revenue for shotshop.
I can't imagine it's as simple as telling them to take down these images you purchased from us legitimately.
Good point!
Hell mend 'em.
My gut tells me this will create a financial hit to DP, but who knows. Like someone else said I directed them to this thread, so someone is probably lurking. And like Cobalt, I was giving DP the benefit of the doubt, but now it's clear that they will try anything to screw contributors as long as they get to laugh all the way to the bank while we eat beans and franks as our gourmet meals.
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I asked them to remove all my files from ALL partner programs and API re-seller sites...
Three times.
Last reply was on Monday:
Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible.
And yes, all files are today still active on all partner programs and API re-seller sites.
I'm sure I've said it before:
"It will take some time to remove your portfolio from API re-seller/partner sites."
"What this "some time" means? Weeks, months, year, how much time? Please, qualify your informations".
"I cannot tell you the exact time, it make take up to one month. Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible."
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Didn't want to wait until march and requested the closing of my account. So DP is almost history for me.
well I requested this a couple of days ago too but my portfolio is still online probably I have to go through every single file and deactivate them myself. I will be very careful to whom I upload anything in the future.
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So I deactivated all my photos just 15min ago on DP, because all my images were still on shotshop.
Now I can still see my thumbnails there but when I click the thumbnails on shotshop, no details popup, no image, only price 99$.
That means that the database on shotshop is directly linked to DP via that api, and is caching only small previews on shotshop.
So if DP is saying it will take some time, they are just lying or they are lazy. The only thing they need to do, deactivate API for the author.
So time to quit i guess :)
update : the same happened on ibudgetphoto
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I got a reply that my files will be removed shortly. They do sound quite defiant and mentioned that their api programs are there to boost my sales.
Sounds like they have a hard time owning up their mistakes.
But to allow the sub licensing of files and then paying the artist just a sub royalty of 30 cents even though it was a 30 euro credit sale is just transferring royalties away from the artist to the agencies.
If all agencies did this - just sublicense the content to each other, they would cut out the artist completely.
I will now go and see if I am still opted into API sales on other agencies and have my files removed from these "deals"
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I wonder if DP has to make financial amends to their partners/resellers and also future lost revenue?
1. reimburse shotshop for the purchase price of the images
2. look at the sales history of the images and pay a penalty to shotshop for lost future revenue for those images that were producing revenue for shotshop.
I can't imagine it's as simple as telling them to take down these images you purchased from us legitimately.
Good point!
Hell mend 'em.
My gut tells me this will create a financial hit to DP, but who knows. Like someone else said I directed them to this thread, so someone is probably lurking. And like Cobalt, I was giving DP the benefit of the doubt, but now it's clear that they will try anything to screw contributors as long as they get to laugh all the way to the bank while we eat beans and franks as our gourmet meals.
Why would you assume that? It's an API deal, ShotShop did not BUY any of our images. If they had BOUGHT all of my images, even at a subscription price, I would have made some decent money. But with an API deal, they just get access to all images Deposit offers and whenever one of their customers buys a license, they make a subscription download for only that single file. This is no different from any subscription buyer: You don't get a guarantee that any of the images available today will still be there tomorrow.
And the depressing part is that most likely a huge number of contributors will never hear about it or won't care at all, so out of the 20+ million images available on Deposit, ShotShop might "lose" a few hundred thousand of images now with those people reporting here in the thread.
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Here is the reply I got:
Hello,
Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level. So the point is that our partners re-sell your portfolio by credits as well throughout the world. Regardless the way your files are sold on our partner sites, Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue.
Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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It is a speculation, but quite disturbing anyway.
Imagine that DP will create their "sister's" company, you will never know that they are connected. And now imagine that company will be doing all the marketing and promotions and selling for whatever amount, but then they will pull the images from DP for subsc. prize.
If they will do serious business, they will put all these options to you profile page for you to choose from. How hard it is to flag an account in database for different PP?
This business practice is just wrong, so I sent a closing request :/
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Here is the reply I got:
Hello,
Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level. So the point is that our partners re-sell your portfolio by credits as well throughout the world. Regardless the way your files are sold on our partner sites, Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue.
Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is what Orwell created the word "Doubletalk" for. They never answer why somebody can sell files via credits, but only needs to payout a subscription for it... I have not heard a reasonable explaination either from Shotshop or Depositphotos...
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The whole concept that they think it is acceptable to sell our files for subs and allow the reseller to sell our files for credits at whatever price they want to set is just crazy.
If it was a real API connection, where we get a credit sale and royalty if the end customer pays buys a sub license we get a sub license, it would be different. Again I am surprised the other agencies who sell via normal API deals are allowing this.
Depositphotos might have 20 million files and will still receive a lot of content every week, but the artists who supply the interesting and unusual content will have to make their decisions. Because these sub licensing deals are so lucrative for the agencies that do them, it will mean our returns will be greatly diminished. Why should the other agencies pay for our content, if they can get it all much,much cheaper from deposit?
It is a legal trick - sell the content to a reseller cheaply - cut out the artist afterwards from all follow up royalties.
If they remove my content from their resellers we will see how much deposit itself really knows how to sell. If I then find my files again at resellers, inspite of having in writing that I have been opted out, I will remove everything.
I have considered to deactivate completely, but I do have content that is suitable for all price levels. It is up to the agency to decide what kind of content they want.
The sooner they give us an opt out button, like Dreamstime and others have it, the better. It would send the message that they listen, even if they don´t post here.
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This is what Orwell created the word "Doubletalk" for. They never answer why somebody can sell files via credits, but only needs to payout a subscription for it... I have not heard a reasonable explaination either from Shotshop or Depositphotos...
They're beating about the bush all the time. It is simply dishonest. And it shows that they have something to hide!
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I have also sent an email to remove my pictures from all PP and API sites, so far (three days after) I can still see them there... :( So sad. Anyway I am sure that once I reach the payout, DP will be a history for me.....
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update : the same happened on ibudgetphoto
interesting agency as well, how much is DP paying us from those big credit sales?
just noticed DT is there as well, even more expensive, XS for 588 credits
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interesting agency as well, how much is DP paying us from those big credit sales?
just noticed DT is there as well, even more expensive, XS for 588 credits
LOL - those are Indian rupees, it's not as expensive as you might think :D
A DT test sale got correctly reported as a credit sale, in the end I got 20% of the sale price at ibudget.
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interesting agency as well, how much is DP paying us from those big credit sales?
just noticed DT is there as well, even more expensive, XS for 588 credits
LOL - those are Indian rupees, it's not as expensive as you might think :D
A DT test sale got correctly reported as a credit sale, in the end I got 20% of the sale price at ibudget.
ahah my bad, you just reminded me of Slumdog Millionaire ;D
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A DT test sale got correctly reported as a credit sale, in the end I got 20% of the sale price at ibudget.
That is good to know. Thank you for sharing.
Does anyone have an idea how much more they earned by opting into the api of dreamstime? Or any other agency?
Is it possible to track the volume of regular sales versus API sales?
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It is a speculation, but quite disturbing anyway.
Imagine that DP will create their "sister's" company, you will never know that they are connected. And now imagine that company will be doing all the marketing and promotions and selling for whatever amount, but then they will pull the images from DP for subsc. prize.
That's what I've been thinking all the way.
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Is it possible to track the volume of regular sales versus API sales?
not at DP or DT, unless I never got a sale from a partner, never seen such information in my sales
pixmac, yaymicro, zoonar gives that info
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Not to get into nip picking corrections Rob, but it's "Doublespeak" in Orwell's books. And yes it's still doubletalk. :)
They never answer how the API resellers can purchase by subscription and then re-sell? Isn't that against the contract? "Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com."
"Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue." Only in their narrow view of things. ::)
I do have my own answer for this mess. Never upload anything I care about to DP again. If they are going to treat it like trash and devalue my work down to selling subs for resale as subs, I'm not going to help them. They can have all the CrapStock and I'll keep the good files elsewhere. Fair enough?
Here is the reply I got:
Hello,
Our API re-sellers re-sell images not only by subscriptions but by credits as well. Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether our API re-sellers purchased your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level. So the point is that our partners re-sell your portfolio by credits as well throughout the world. Regardless the way your files are sold on our partner sites, Depositphotos remains your main source of revenue.
Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is what Orwell created the word "Doubletalk" for. They never answer why somebody can sell files via credits, but only needs to payout a subscription for it... I have not heard a reasonable explaination either from Shotshop or Depositphotos...
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Not to get into nip picking corrections Rob, but it's "Doublespeak" in Orwell's books. And yes it's still doubletalk. :)
Sorry, but it's "nit-picking". Couldn't resist. ;D
On with the serious matter in hand ...
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interesting agency as well, how much is DP paying us from those big credit sales?
just noticed DT is there as well, even more expensive, XS for 588 credits
LOL - those are Indian rupees, it's not as expensive as you might think :D
A DT test sale got correctly reported as a credit sale, in the end I got 20% of the sale price at ibudget.
Thank you for bringing this up.
I checked ibudgetphoto and my images were there. I guess I didn't pay enough attention to the details at Dreasmtime - they separate out the choice to enroll in partner sales under a button labeled "Alliances" in the management area (I expect I just ignored that as I thought it was about generating referral income).
I opted out - not because there's anything specific wrong with ibudgetphoto but because I think all these deals are a really bad idea and I'm tired of not knowing who has my images on any given day. I guess I don't trust the agencies much at this point so it's no longer "if the agency thinks the partner is OK, I'm sure they've checked them out thoroughly".
The connection with DT must be live because when I clicked on search results including some of my images (search generated before I opted out) I got a largely blank screen with no image details beyond the number. I'm guessing in a day the images won't even show up in searches any more. So kudos to DT that opting out was immediate.
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A member of the german based Stock Photography Forum asked Deposit Photos, how he could delete his pictures. The answer is that this is not possible and DP will keep the images for statistical purposes even if the pictures are disabled!
They keep each photo! That means - close your account and your images are without any control! I never thought that this would be possible once! http://stockfotografie-forum.de/discussion/813/shotshop-loescht-bilder#Item_172 (http://stockfotografie-forum.de/discussion/813/shotshop-loescht-bilder#Item_172)
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Did he close his account completly? Or just deactivate the file?
For comparison: on istock you can also just deactivate the file. You cannot delete it as long as you have an account.
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I think, if you have no account longer, there is no possability to delete the images too
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Let me be clear on the outrage... DP has a 'partner' or 'reseller' API like many other sites. Getty, DT, etc. People are angry because when their image gets licensed at X site for whatever price, DP is only paying the contributor a subscription sale?
Is there actually anything in the legal somewhere that clarifies what images sold through re distributors is supposed to net? Like, at Getty, you have no idea what the content is sold for on a partner, but still you only get 20% of what Getty gets, which could be $.10....
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Ech... today I tried to close my account with over $40. I though this is my money and it's obvious I'll get it, but no way:
"As for the withdrawal, you may withdraw payments for the sale of your images once the balance in your account reaches $50 or more. It is technically impossible to withdraw less."
So, technically I just need more sells, which will take some time here.
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Let me be clear on the outrage... DP has a 'partner' or 'reseller' API like many other sites. Getty, DT, etc. People are angry because when their image gets licensed at X site for whatever price, DP is only paying the contributor a subscription sale?
Is there actually anything in the legal somewhere that clarifies what images sold through re distributors is supposed to net? Like, at Getty, you have no idea what the content is sold for on a partner, but still you only get 20% of what Getty gets, which could be $.10....
I can only offer virtual outrage, but I think it's unethical to offer a partner opt out and then claim the reseller API isn't the same and that's why images were included; I think it's also unethical to tell a new contributor (you) the images would only be on deposit photos own site and then they're elsewhere (and they still are today, BTW); I think it's highly unethical to play silly buggers with how the contributor is compensated for a reseller API sale - if it's sold as an individual item, not as a subscription, then that's how the contributor should be paid
I think that every site should offer an opt out - where no means no - for contributors who do not want to participate in these money-skimming schemes.
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Well, it sounds like most people who are complaining are being opted out. Is it a case of just screwing up, over malevolence?
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Why are we schmucks instead of wholesalers? Shouldn't content providers have their sell price and then the agencies can sell at whatever the heck they want. Why did we ever give them the power to treat us with 0 respect.
And.... I can see a photo that has sold being retained by an agency for future dispute or liability issue, but what right do they have to keep photos that were never sold?
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only get 20%
20% is bad but it's still twenty times more than you get from Deposit.........
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Well, it sounds like most people who are complaining are being opted out. Is it a case of just screwing up, over malevolence?
Obviously I don't have any information on how this came about, but when you are so careless and haphazard with your operations that this sort of thing can happen, plus, when it's first noticed, instead of expressing dismay over the screw up and apologizing profusely, you send out weasel worded, cut and paste e-mails, it looks to me as if ethical practices are an afterthought at best. What you do when you're caught and face consequences.
If you set up shop as a stock image agency, you have a number of obligations towards your contributors that you could reasonably be expected to fulfill. As an example, that you didn't leave full size images easily accessible and thus available to download for free; not allowing employees to use the images without paying for them, and so on. Even if you do not act as the contributor's agent (in the legal sense) in these transactions, the disregard for contributor interests is pretty despicable, even if it was thoughtless. At some point, enough thoughtlessness becomes de facto malevolence in my book
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It is probably deliberate thoughtlessness >:(
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Well, it sounds like most people who are complaining are being opted out. Is it a case of just screwing up, over malevolence?
I am baffled that this legitimate question got (at least) two thumbs down -one of which I have negated. People should be able th ask for clarification, surely?
Fwiw, this seems like business as usual for a lot of sites now. We are always having one site or other putting something over on us now, seems like. I dont expect Sean to know or follw all the ins and outs of such deals, having so recently come from career-long Istock exclusivity.
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They just plain piss me off.
No clear answers to questions asked through e-mail, and even though I am sure they know about this thread and the shitestorm that it has caused with their contributers, no one to show up here and provide explanations, apologies, etc. to their contributers
You suck DP
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DP response that they may take a month to remove my content from their partners resellers etc certainly does not sound either professional or competent or contributor- friendly in any way, to me.
I also asked them to clarify exactly where it reads in the agreement that they can sell my content at the sub rates to their resellers for further re-sale.
Wonder if I will get clear and specific responses instead of the generalised stuff they've been feeding me to now.
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Maybe it is of interest for some: I've written a blog article about the deal in my Blog (in german):
[url]http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/[/url] ([url]http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/[/url])
Is there an English translation of this article that I can find somewhere?
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I also asked them to clarify exactly where it reads in the agreement that they can sell my content at the sub rates to their resellers for further re-sale.
Wonder if I will get clear and specific responses instead of the generalised stuff they've been feeding me to now.
You wont get an answer to your question like I didn't. They will say the same thing as they did before but just switch the words around to make it sound like a new answer.
I think if they admitted to what was actually happening to our files through their resellers programs, they would incriminate themselves.
They know what is going on, even on this forum, but theres no way in helll they are going to say anything.
I think at the least any self respecting contributer would opt out of all these crappy ripoff schemes if not ditching them completely.
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Here's a website with some interesting facts about Depositphoto.
http://www.crunchbase.com/company/depositphotos (http://www.crunchbase.com/company/depositphotos)
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DP’s libraries are updated daily through contributor uploads that are closely scrutinized for quality and originality
Has anyone ever had a rejection at DP?
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Here's a website with some interesting facts about Depositphoto.
[url]http://www.crunchbase.com/company/depositphotos[/url] ([url]http://www.crunchbase.com/company/depositphotos[/url])
Did I miss something? This just reads like an ad for Depositphoto. Was there some relevant information there I overlooked? (not being sarcastic BTW - curious if something isn't showing in my browser)
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http://inventures.eu/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-and-100m (http://inventures.eu/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-and-100m)
and a number of BBB complaints
http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/photo-processing-centers/depositphotos-in-fort-lauderdale-fl-90028035/complaints (http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/photo-processing-centers/depositphotos-in-fort-lauderdale-fl-90028035/complaints)
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Maybe it is of interest for some: I've written a blog article about the deal in my Blog (in german):
[url]http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/[/url] ([url]http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/[/url])
Is there an English translation of this article that I can find somewhere?
Yes, it is called Google translate ;)
http://translate.google.com (http://translate.google.com)
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=it&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de%2F2014%2F02%2F17%2Fweniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich%2F (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=it&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de%2F2014%2F02%2F17%2Fweniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich%2F)
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Maybe it is of interest for some: I've written a blog article about the deal in my Blog (in german):
[url]http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/[/url] ([url]http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/[/url])
Is there an English translation of this article that I can find somewhere?
No, but you can try using Google Translate:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de%2F2014%2F02%2F17%2Fweniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich%2F&sandbox=1 (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de%2F2014%2F02%2F17%2Fweniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich%2F&sandbox=1)
If somebody who is able wants to translate the German article into English (so maybe Tyler can put it up on the MSG blog section), I am more than willing to allow the translation.
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I only just discovered this topic, and read all 9 pages, hoping for 1 reply/explanation/excuse/anything by DP themselves. Nothing. Nihil. Can't believe this. This topic is more than a week old.
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Here's a website with some interesting facts about Depositphoto.
[url]http://www.crunchbase.com/company/depositphotos[/url] ([url]http://www.crunchbase.com/company/depositphotos[/url])
Did I miss something? This just reads like an ad for Depositphoto. Was there some relevant information there I overlooked? (not being sarcastic BTW - curious if something isn't showing in my browser)
It's Crunchbase, it will always read like an ad. It's a circle-jerking site for startups and their employees... and I say that as the employee of a startup with my own Crunchbase profile, so I know what I am talking about :D
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I only just discovered this topic, and read all 9 pages, hoping for 1 reply/explanation/excuse/anything by DP themselves. Nothing. Nihil. Can't believe this. This topic is more than a week old.
they do have 2 accounts here at MSG but they don't log in for quite a long time (years!)
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I only just discovered this topic, and read all 9 pages, hoping for 1 reply/explanation/excuse/anything by DP themselves. Nothing. Nihil. Can't believe this. This topic is more than a week old.
they do have 2 accounts here at MSG but they don't log in for quite a long time (years!)
Bad, very bad public relations, like a big pile of dog s..t. Hopefully as many as possible of artist will be aware about this scam in the future!
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They just plain piss me off.
No clear answers to questions asked through e-mail, and even though I am sure they know about this thread and the shitestorm that it has caused with their contributers, no one to show up here and provide explanations, apologies, etc. to their contributers
You suck DP
AND.....What about the many contributors who don't know this is happening and don't participate here? DP will continue to screw them and their content still probably makes up 99 % of the dp collection. So in my mind it is only peanuts to dp by removing the few of us who know the truth.
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Just for info:
I emailed them 5 times.
After well known reply and promise about "we will remove..."
THEY STOPPED TO COMMUNICATE.
No more replyies.
Of course, all my files are still online on PP and API... sites
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Please ask them here. I tried last week but no response.
https://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN (https://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN)
Not on Twitter but maybe someone else can post their contact info.
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Like others here I have told them to remove my images from all partner and reseller sites including Shotshop.
My only question to DP would be did they receive compensation from Shotshop for the access to all of DP's images. My guess would be yes.
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BTW, who are the owners of Shotshop.. I am just thinking.. some very bad scenery..
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https://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN/posts/10151986576072992?stream_ref=10 (https://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN/posts/10151986576072992?stream_ref=10)
I added a comment to a post on Deposit Photos FB page made last week. These sorts of posts are a bit hidden, but I thought it worth broadcatsing this thread a bit
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BTW, who are the owners of Shotshop.. I am just thinking.. some very bad scenery..
See here (http://www.shotshop.com/en/bildagentur) and here (http://www.shotshop.com/en/contact) and here (http://www.shotshop.com/de/impressum).
Privately owned company in Germany (it's a GmbH which is - AFAIK - simlar to a LLC).
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https://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN/posts/10151986576072992?stream_ref=10 (https://www.facebook.com/DepositPhotosEN/posts/10151986576072992?stream_ref=10)
I added a comment to a post on Deposit Photos FB page made last week. These sorts of posts are a bit hidden, but I thought it worth broadcatsing this thread a bit
I think we should flood of negative comments their Facebook page every day and several times a day
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Here's a little nefarious thinking...
If this kind of deal is ok for them to do then what is stopping them from setting up a new agency, sub licensing all of DP images to the new agency and selling the images for whatever price the want (like $99) and just giving the artist their 25¢ sub license fee?
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Here's a little nefarious thinking...
If this kind of deal is ok for them to do then what is stopping them from setting up a new agency, sub licensing all of DP images to the new agency and selling the images for whatever price the want (like $99) and just giving the artist their 25¢ sub license fee?
exactly
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puh halfway through :)
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done :D
as they played deaf to my requests to close my account I now deactivated my 3800 files manually by hand took me about one and a half hour, reasonable fast but still an incredible waste of time as I shouldn't have uploaded to them in the first place.
I also noticed how incredible low the actually earnings are there I had sales that only earned me 0.15 and none over 4.00 let alone a two-digit earnings. You would guess with several hundred of sales that you would have at least one that should have you earned a two-digit sum but none nada!
I feel so much better know :D :D :D
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DP’s libraries are updated daily through contributor uploads that are closely scrutinized for quality and originality
Has anyone ever had a rejection at DP?
Yes, back when I first signed up. Dec. 2012:
When viewed at full size, the image has obvious, unnatural quality issues. This could be caused by a high ISO setting at the time the photograph was taken. Printed images that have been scanned can inherit flaws such as scratches, dust and/or other foreign matter during the scanning process. In addition, a low resolution scan setting can lead to image quality issues, preventing your photo from being accepted.
It's not a scan? I'd have to go back a couple years to find the original and see what camera or how I took it.
Oddly enough it's one that sells on SS from time to time. :) Now there's one for the book. Accepted on SS but it's refused on DP? Amazing!
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Another link of interest:
http://www.linkedin.com/company/2435798?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tas%3Adepositphoto%2Cidx%3A1-1-1 (http://www.linkedin.com/company/2435798?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tas%3Adepositphoto%2Cidx%3A1-1-1)
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done :D
as they played deaf to my requests to close my account I now deactivated my 3800 files manually by hand took me about one and a half hour, reasonable fast but still an incredible waste of time as I shouldn't have uploaded to them in the first place.
Omg! 3,8k uploaded files? So much work for nothing? :-\
This is really sad. This is how it ends when there is no fair play, honest cooperation with agency...
And, that's great moment for other agencies to take a lesson and draw conclusions of that example...
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done :D
as they played deaf to my requests to close my account I now deactivated my 3800 files manually by hand took me about one and a half hour, reasonable fast but still an incredible waste of time as I shouldn't have uploaded to them in the first place.
Omg! 3,8k uploaded files? So much work for nothing? :-\
This is really sad. This is how it ends when there is no fair play, honest cooperation with agency...
And, that's great moment for other agencies to take a lesson and draw conclusions of that example...
And like I've said above think about all those 99% of contributors who DON'T know this is happening. And that DP isn't about to inform them of opting out and that they will be cheated BIG TIME.
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When I look at transactions, I have sales that are "Subscription" and sales that are "Subscription Plan". I wonder if this is anyway to differentiate between real subs vs sleezy subs?
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That´s possible. I just sold a file on "subscription plan" that had no views. Must have been a partner sale.
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When I look at transactions, I have sales that are "Subscription" and sales that are "Subscription Plan". I wonder if this is anyway to differentiate between real subs vs sleezy subs?
there isn't any differentiation in Portuguese
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set it to English
For me the majority of sales are normal subscriptions, so if these are indeed partner plan sales, i don´t have that many.
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set it to English
For me the majority of sales are normal subscriptions, so if these are indeed partner plan sales, i don´t have that many.
now I can see them, from the last 20 sales (13 Sub, 3 Sub Plan, 4 Credit)
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Yes, I also looked at that that there is Subscription and subsciption plan and was wandering what the difference is ....
It is such a shame that most of the contributor will not even find out about this horrible scam... ;(
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One thing is for sure, no matter which subscription is which, I still get both even after the deactivation of the partner program and all other types of schemes was confirmed a few days ago.
This means that, either the withdrawal of our portfolio from the other sites takes more than 4 days, or that they didn't do it despite the mail confirming it, or even if they did do it there are other schemes that are not contemplated in the so called partner programs.
The last two options are particularly serious since we seem to have no control over our work and if this is happening I think that the honesty of the agency may be questioned, and very serious questions may be raised about what else they may be doing with our work.
One thing is for sure, until now I have no answer to the questions mailed about our images still being online on SweatShop (Shotshop).
At this moment we're uploading hundreds of images to other sites, but DP won't see any until things are clarified, if any time...
One question that is bothering me is if sites like SweatShop (Shotshop) are obtaining our images with licenses that they can later continue to sell even if we leave DP and in an extreme case submit to other agencies and compete with ourselves with our own images!
After all if they have an agreement that they can resell our images (which is different from distribute I think)...
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On Twitter:
Less than 1% photographer fee? Questions raised on #Depositphotos business practice (English translation from German)
http://goo.gl/SLDLA0 (http://goo.gl/SLDLA0)
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If anyone wants to RT or Fav it, it should be possible here:
https://twitter.com/sdeva/status/437023786219880448
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On Twitter:
Less than 1% photographer fee? Questions raised on #Depositphotos business practice (English translation from German)
[url]http://goo.gl/SLDLA0[/url] ([url]http://goo.gl/SLDLA0[/url])
excellent.
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https://twitter.com/sdeva/status/437050164319371264
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Its a crap deal and we should spread the word via blogs, twitter, etc to get the word out there.
Thanks the the OP who found this whole mess out and let us know about it - lets keep his work going!
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All that I want is an opt out. Right now my files are still on ibudgetphotos, at least those I didn´t deactivate. I hope they will offer us general opt out button and not rely on a system where we always have to write to them.
I also would´t be surprised if many people keep their files opted in,even if they have the possibility to opt out.
But at least everyone then has a choice and deposit can point to their opt out button in the future if people complain.
I think everyone who is serious about stock,is certainly following the threads here. If you see it as a business,you stay informed.
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All that I want is an opt out. Right now my files are still on ibudgetphotos, at least those I didn´t deactivate. I hope they will offer us general opt out button and not rely on a system where we always have to write to them.
I also would´t be surprised if many people keep their files opted in,even if they have the possibility to opt out.
But at least everyone then has a choice and deposit can point to their opt out button in the future if people complain.
I think everyone who is serious about stock,is certainly following the threads here. If you see it as a business,you stay informed.
I hope you are right about this, but DP's silence in this whole despicable cheat fest means to me that they don't want to disrupt the apple cart, meaning most of their contributors haven't sent them opt out emails. But that's just my opinion.
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Maybe I should have said,that I believe that the artist as an entrepreneur also has a responsibility to stay informed. And to share information with their own friends and community.
The Getty Google deal spread really quickly around the globe, I think that made everyone aware how important it is to share information.
I don´t understand why DP is so silent and does´t send an admin here to explain things, it certainly gives a bad impression. Maybe they will do it once they have an opt out available. I don´t know how long it takes to program something like that and talk to their business partners to prepare them.
The sooner they have the option, the better it is for them.
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I wonder if DP has to make financial amends to their partners/resellers and also future lost revenue?
1. reimburse shotshop for the purchase price of the images
2. look at the sales history of the images and pay a penalty to shotshop for lost future revenue for those images that were producing revenue for shotshop.
I can't imagine it's as simple as telling them to take down these images you purchased from us legitimately.
Good point!
Hell mend 'em.
My gut tells me this will create a financial hit to DP, but who knows. Like someone else said I directed them to this thread, so someone is probably lurking. And like Cobalt, I was giving DP the benefit of the doubt, but now it's clear that they will try anything to screw contributors as long as they get to laugh all the way to the bank while we eat beans and franks as our gourmet meals.
Why would you assume that? It's an API deal, ShotShop did not BUY any of our images. If they had BOUGHT all of my images, even at a subscription price, I would have made some decent money. But with an API deal, they just get access to all images Deposit offers and whenever one of their customers buys a license, they make a subscription download for only that single file. This is no different from any subscription buyer: You don't get a guarantee that any of the images available today will still be there tomorrow.
And the depressing part is that most likely a huge number of contributors will never hear about it or won't care at all, so out of the 20+ million images available on Deposit, ShotShop might "lose" a few hundred thousand of images now with those people reporting here in the thread.
However it's structured, DP doesn't just open up their collection to any tom, dick and harry who wants to use their images and make money. My point is that there HAS TO BE A FINANCIAL implication if portfolios are being removed from the API resellers. Shotshop, for example, in some way has to pay DP for images that Shotshop sells from the DP collection. If a mass of high selling portfolios are suddenly removed, I'd probably conclude that is covered somewhere in their agreement, but what if it's not? What if they didn't plan for a mass exodus? So all I am saying is that "I WONDER" if there is a financial implication. And if you consider my more recent posts I am basically saying the same thing as you.
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I fully agree. I doubt their partners are pleased to lose content. Customers will lightbox files for future projects and then suddenly they can´t find them anymore. Especially an agency that offers files at a much higher price point, if I was the customer, I wouldn´t be happy.
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I fully agree. I doubt their partners are pleased to lose content. Customers will lightbox files for future projects and then suddenly they can´t find them anymore. Especially an agency that offers files at a much higher price point, if I was the customer, I wouldn´t be happy.
But if they could find the same image much cheaper, they'd be ecstatic.
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I fully agree. I doubt their partners are pleased to lose content. Customers will lightbox files for future projects and then suddenly they can´t find them anymore. Especially an agency that offers files at a much higher price point, if I was the customer, I wouldn´t be happy.
But if they could find the same image much cheaper, they'd be ecstatic.
So true. And perhaps one of the biggest risks. Knowledge is power.
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No more new uploads from me to DP until they remove my portfolio from all their partner sites! If they don't do it soon I will deactivate all my images! They bring me less than 1,5% of my microstock income. No big deal!
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No more new uploads from me to DP until they remove my portfolio from all their partner sites! If they don't do it soon I will deactivate all my images! They bring me less than 1,5% of my microstock income. No big deal!
+1 Same here!
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No more new uploads from me to DP until they remove my portfolio from all their partner sites! If they don't do it soon I will deactivate all my images! They bring me less than 1,5% of my microstock income. No big deal!
+1 Same here!
I am not uploading any of my new stuff either. In fact, I am on the fence about closing my account with them altogether. I have a niche image collection that they would lose. The only reason I uploaded to them in the first place was that, like many others, was asked privately by them to join in return for "favored" positioning. Yea, um, okay, I fell for it. But it is at a point where my work has far more value sitting on my hard drive collecting dust when you consider the way DEPOSIT PHOTOS has scammed us.
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I'm afraid, even if you would send a request, they don't close your account. My account is still active, never got an answer when I asked for closing of my account.
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...The only reason I uploaded to them in the first place was that, like many others, was asked privately by them to join in return for "favored" positioning.
And that was where they lost me. We can't all be favored - everyone's above average!
That promise was a negative on two fronts from my perspective - one was that it was truly unsustainable (versus the unfortunate use of that term by the Getty fabrication machine); the other was that it was anti-buyer. A search should be delivering the most useful results to the buyer if the site is to do well long term.
I had given some thoughts to reconsidering my position - given the ever changing landscape of one flavor of turmoil or another - but DP's response to this situation, even more than the scummy deal itself, has led me to conclude that this is an outfit I could not give my content to.
We always worry about trusting agencies, but DP has scored an own goal in showing their ethics very plainly for us to see. At this point even if they offered an opt out for all off-site sales I'm not sure I'd trust them to abide by that - Sean's content is still on Shotshop this morning...
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I'm afraid, even if you would send a request, they don't close your account. My account is till active, never got an answer when I asked for closing of my account.
I'm leaving only one image up for now and keeping my account. My concern is that since they don't delete the images (even if they are disabled) that someday/somehow they'd change their TOS and reactivate them. I'd prefer to keep what access I have to my images, even if they are not for sale.
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I'm afraid, even if you would send a request, they don't close your account. My account is till active, never got an answer when I asked for closing of my account.
I'm leaving only one image up for now and keeping my account. My concern is that since they don't delete the images (even if they are disabled) that someday/somehow they'd change their TOS and reactivate them. I'd prefer to keep what access I have to my images, even if they are not for sale.
Being too lazy to check, if I were to deactivate images, could I reactivate them myself unfettered?
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I'm afraid, even if you would send a request, they don't close your account. My account is till active, never got an answer when I asked for closing of my account.
I'm leaving only one image up for now and keeping my account. My concern is that since they don't delete the images (even if they are disabled) that someday/somehow they'd change their TOS and reactivate them. I'd prefer to keep what access I have to my images, even if they are not for sale.
Being too lazy to check, if I were to deactivate images, could I reactivate them myself unfettered?
No problem at all, because your pictures are still there.
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What a difference a year makes. I found this response to Luis on a thread from just a year ago. I guess Shotshop doesn't have any qualms about displaying "the same images like the subscription stocks" anymore considering their alliance with DP.
Hi Luis Santos,
thanks for your interest contributing images at shotshop.com. please let me explain that we are mainly focussed on the german speaking markets with more selected images and even higher prices than the usual microstocks. It doens't make sense for us to display the same images like the subscription stocks. I am sorry and hope for your understanding.
good luck and
best regards
Stephan Krömer
http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020)
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"It doens't make sense for us to display the same images like the subscription stocks. I am sorry and hope for your understanding. good luck and
best regards
Stephan Krömer
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020[/url])
;D ;D ;D ." Sure, we understand it 8)
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What could be the reason for customers to buy from Shotshop, when they can buy them cheaper via DP (credits or subs) ? Is DP not accessible to German markets ?
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What could be the reason for customers to buy from Shotshop, when they can buy them cheaper via DP (credits or subs) ? Is DP not accessible to German markets ?
Of course, they are available and they offer an interface complete in German. Wondering the same, so I don't have an answer! But it must be lucrative in any way.
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What could be the reason for customers to buy from Shotshop, when they can buy them cheaper via DP (credits or subs) ? Is DP not accessible to German markets ?
Of course, they are available and they offer an interface complete in German. Wondering the same, so I don't have an answer! But it must be lucrative in any way.
Thanks Roede-orm !
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What a difference a year makes. I found this response to Luis on a thread from just a year ago. I guess Shotshop doesn't have any qualms about displaying "the same images like the subscription stocks" anymore considering their alliance with DP.
... thanks for your interest contributing images at shotshop.com. please let me explain that we are mainly focussed on the german speaking markets with more selected images and even higher prices than the usual microstocks. It doens't make sense for us to display the same images like the subscription stocks. I am sorry and hope for your understanding...
Thanks, you made my day! ;D
This all situation is just unbelievable... :-\ >:(
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Either they speak with double tongue or they have changed their business model completely within one year.
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What a difference a year makes. I found this response to Luis on a thread from just a year ago. I guess Shotshop doesn't have any qualms about displaying "the same images like the subscription stocks" anymore considering their alliance with DP.
Hi Luis Santos,
thanks for your interest contributing images at shotshop.com. please let me explain that we are mainly focussed on the german speaking markets with more selected images and even higher prices than the usual microstocks. It doens't make sense for us to display the same images like the subscription stocks. I am sorry and hope for your understanding.
good luck and
best regards
Stephan Krömer
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020[/url])
nice find! how ridiculous is this?
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Lol, this is so much worse than iStock, in my opinion.
I would be really surprised if a mass exodus doesn't start happening soon. We just need to spread the word.
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What a difference a year makes. I found this response to Luis on a thread from just a year ago. I guess Shotshop doesn't have any qualms about displaying "the same images like the subscription stocks" anymore considering their alliance with DP.
Hi Luis Santos,
thanks for your interest contributing images at shotshop.com. please let me explain that we are mainly focussed on the german speaking markets with more selected images and even higher prices than the usual microstocks. It doens't make sense for us to display the same images like the subscription stocks. I am sorry and hope for your understanding.
good luck and
best regards
Stephan Krömer
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/shotshop-anyone/msg290020/#msg290020[/url])
So Shotshop are scum bag liars too. Guess it takes one to know one.
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What could be the reason for customers to buy from Shotshop, when they can buy them cheaper via DP (credits or subs) ? Is DP not accessible to German markets ?
Maybe (I have no idea) Shotshop has better SEO, therefore a customer might find them there and have no idea they are available via DP (and often via other low-cost sites also). I have no idea how many customers would do a GIS to see if an image is available cheaper elsewhere.
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shotshop advertises that their editors hand pick the files and only select the best work. The German contributors all report a large number of rejections,usually as "not suitable for sale on shotshop".
So now they find masses of files from deposit that are obviously not handpicked including files that were rejected before.
I guess shotshop just found a simple way to avoid paying photographers fairly and also no longer bothers to hand pick the best files for their customers.
At the same time they don´t offer subs and will pay lower royalties to artists who also sell via sub sites.
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shotshop advertises that their editors hand pick the files and only select the best work. The German contributors all report a large number of rejections,usually as "not suitable for sale on shotshop".
So now they find masses of files from deposit that are obviously not handpicked including files that were rejected before.
I guess shotshop just found a simple way to avoid paying photographers fairly and also no longer bothers to hand pick the best files for their customers.
At the same time they don´t offer subs and will pay lower royalties to artists who also sell via sub sites.
I think you've pegged a big part of it, Jasmine. Roed-orm has done an excellent job of exposing what amounts to "probably" only a fraction of the shenanigans that are likely occurring across more than one MS site. The more I am finding out the more likely I will just close my account at DP. Rather, deactivate my images so that I can maintain access to my account to test/check to make sure my images are not on their partner sites. I made about $1200 last year with DP and I wonder what I would have made if Shotshop (and all their partners/resellers) paid decent royalties.
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... and also no longer bothers to hand pick the best files for their customers.
And guess where they learned that trick from? >:(
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I've been browsing the Shotshop website ...
If you click on a people-image, it says "Releases : none" (while I happen to know that mine are ALL released).
So they "hire" all DP images without the releases (for some reason, I find that reassuring ???)
They also give "quality guarantee" :
"Shotshop is big in benefits (services) and small in prices. This is how our Money-back Guarantee works:
You might have used budget stock photography before and know the problem: a budget price comes with budget quality. Images are out of focus or pixelated, dirty and dusty, suffer from strong image noise, clumsy masking or bad retouching... the list of possible deficiencies is long and very annoying.
Shotshop's Money-back Guarantee proves that our quality is reliable:
If you are not satisfied with the image quality or find severe deficiencies in one of our images, we will refund your money immediately.
Shotshop.com has always been a pioneer in terms of quality and has focused on quality rather than quantity from the very beginning. Every single image is checked by our own image editors. We employ very strict technical and thematic standards and only images that meet these high Shotshop quality standards go into our portfolio. Although we have our editorial staff work a lot more than many other stock agency, we are convinced that it's worth it.
We can guarantee you a portfolio of well sorted, high quality images!"
This made me smile : what if I made a list of my 10 crappiest, out of focus, noisiest photos on DP, and listed them here on MSG, so people with some free time could buy them, and ask their money back ;D Childish? yeah, I know, but fun!
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What could be the reason for customers to buy from Shotshop, when they can buy them cheaper via DP (credits or subs) ? Is DP not accessible to German markets ?
Maybe (I have no idea) Shotshop has better SEO, therefore a customer might find them there and have no idea they are available via DP (and often via other low-cost sites also). I have no idea how many customers would do a GIS to see if an image is available cheaper elsewhere.
Sue - What you say is definitely a good possibility !
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This made me smile : what if I made a list of my 10 crappiest, out of focus, noisiest photos on DP, and listed them here on MSG, so people with some free time could buy them, and ask their money back ;D Childish? yeah, I know, but fun!
Fun, but given the company in question, risky.
Given their track record of being - how to put it politely - economical with the truth, who's to say that the money back guarantee is any more solid than the hand picked curated collection of high quality noise free images? :)
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This made me smile : what if I made a list of my 10 crappiest, out of focus, noisiest photos on DP, and listed them here on MSG, so people with some free time could buy them, and ask their money back ;D Childish? yeah, I know, but fun!
Fun, but given the company in question, risky.
Given their track record of being - how to put it politely - economical with the truth, who's to say that the money back guarantee is any more solid than the hand picked curated collection of high quality noise free images? :)
True! Very risky! ;D
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I would be really surprised if a mass exodus doesn't start happening soon. We just need to spread the word.
Well, I've certainly started to do that as far as my DP portfolio is concerned. Ever since the excellent investigative report appeared in the 'Alltag eines Fotoproduzenten' (many thanks to the guys who did that, made test purchases, and uncovered the issue), I've tried number of times but failed to get any clear professional response from DP - beyond platitudes and general cut-and-paste type email replies that don't clarify anything to my understanding!
So I've deactivated about 25% of my port already and more will go in coming days. Obviously am not uploading any new content.
Like some others, have been asking them to remove my files from all their partner, reseller, API etc deals but got told that this will take about a month!!! Am waiting >:(
On a related note, it's really surprising that no one from senior management within DP has started to engage - for instance on this forum - to address contributor concerns in any genuine way. All the responses I got were from someone called Vicky and Stacey (no last name - no business title) which were the cut-and-paste kind. And as this matter is slipping more and more, deactivations are probably increasing, and its appearing on social media - the article itself, Facebook, Twitter etc. - all of which is only likely to increase deactivations, and undermine future uploads, if contributor's trust will keep falling in this company. And if it really goes viral on social media, it can affect contributors, buyers, anyone that has dealing with them. But maybe they don't care about that either!?!
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Can you please lead us to the report you mention so we can translate and read! Thank you!
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Here's english translation, from fotorob's blog:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de%2F2014%2F02%2F17%2Fweniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich%2F&sandbox=1 (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de%2F2014%2F02%2F17%2Fweniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich%2F&sandbox=1)
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I'm relatively new with DP, only had 210 images with them and they owe me $23.
At first I did the e-mail Vicky thing and requested my images be removed from partner and API programs, specifically Shotshop.
Well after reading all of this I decided they are not worthy of supporting in any way and just deactivated all but 1 image. If I can't get the $23 I'll chalk it up to a learning experience.
I just hope every contributor sees what needs to be done and deactivate their images ASAP.
Just watch though, maybe they'll change their TOS and make you wait 6 months...
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Well after reading all of this I decided they are not worthy of supporting in any way
I wonder if anybody ever notice how you are loosing control over your images (your work)?
Where's the limit?
http://depositphotos.com/license.html (http://depositphotos.com/license.html)
http://depositphotos.com/license-comparison.html (http://depositphotos.com/license-comparison.html)
Welcome to the world of microstock... and enjoy your 0,27 or 0,30 $ ::)
or
Deposit Photos Extended Licence $2.64! (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-$2-64!!!!!!/)
and here. (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/is-this-a-record-for-an-el)
Microstock is great, first sales are great, until you realize there's something wrong with your business...
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Well, I've certainly started to do that as far as my DP portfolio is concerned. Ever since the excellent investigative report appeared in the 'Alltag eines Fotoproduzenten' (many thanks to the guys who did that, made test purchases, and uncovered the issue), I've tried number of times but failed to get any clear professional response from DP - beyond platitudes and general cut-and-paste type email replies that don't clarify anything to my understanding!
Yes, Robert (Fotorob) did a great job! Wondering, what about Shotshop? Most contributors are focused on DepositPhotos, but even what ShotShop do is absolutly dubios. In the German based Stockfotografieforum people are discussing the possability of a quality seal for agencies. Maybe this could be a way to fight back.
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Well after reading all of this I decided they are not worthy of supporting in any way
I wonder if anybody ever notice how you are loosing control over your images (your work)?
Where's the limit?
[url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html[/url] ([url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html[/url])
[url]http://depositphotos.com/license-comparison.html[/url] ([url]http://depositphotos.com/license-comparison.html[/url])
Welcome to the world of microstock... and enjoy your 0,27 or 0,30 $ ::)
or
Deposit Photos Extended Licence $2.64! ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-[/url]$2-64!!!!!!/)
and here. ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/is-this-a-record-for-an-el[/url])
Microstock is great, first sales are great, until you realize there's something wrong with your business...
100% agree.
Your comment is not just for one +
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Well after reading all of this I decided they are not worthy of supporting in any way
I wonder if anybody ever notice how you are loosing control over your images (your work)?
Where's the limit?
[url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html[/url] ([url]http://depositphotos.com/license.html[/url])
[url]http://depositphotos.com/license-comparison.html[/url] ([url]http://depositphotos.com/license-comparison.html[/url])
Welcome to the world of microstock... and enjoy your 0,27 or 0,30 $ ::)
or
Deposit Photos Extended Licence $2.64! ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/deposit-photos-extended-licence-[/url]$2-64!!!!!!/)
and here. ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/is-this-a-record-for-an-el[/url])
++++++++++++++++
Microstock is great, first sales are great, until you realize there's something wrong with your business...
100% agree.
Your comment is not just for one +
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With all due (dis)respect for DP, I think that the shotshop guys are in fault to the same extent! They were perfectly aware what was going on, plus they took advantage of this sick situation by pretending to be a selective top-notch agency at the same time receiving content from DP which was waaaay cheaper for them to pay royalties to photographers.
They deserve to be pushed in the black abyss of the microstock world and never be let in again.
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After having disabled all my images with them I still try to delete definitively my account.
Last response from them:
"Hello xxxx,
Could you specify the reason for deleting an account, please?
Kind regards,"
The response was short and easy.
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With all due (dis)respect for DP, I think that the shotshop guys are in fault to the same extent! They were perfectly aware what was going on, plus they took advantage of this sick situation by pretending to be a selective top-notch agency at the same time receiving content from DP which was waaaay cheaper for them to pay royalties to photographers.
They deserve to be pushed in the black abyss of the microstock world and never be let in again.
Totally agree. They know the front to end of where their money is going and know Dam&*n well we are only getting sub commissions and them, well, a hell of a lot of money in comparison, yet they roll on, trying to blame everyone but themselves. Despicable.
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After having disabled all my images with them I still try to delete definitively my account.
Last response from them:
"Hello xxxx,
Could you specify the reason for deleting an account, please?
Kind regards,"
The response was short and easy.
Link to this topic? ;)
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After having disabled all my images with them I still try to delete definitively my account.
Last response from them:
"Hello xxxx,
Could you specify the reason for deleting an account, please?
Kind regards,"
The response was short and easy.
Link to this topic? ;)
I have sent them the link to this topic, and I have invited them to answer here.
Today they answered me: "If anybody from the forum has any questions or doubts - he can contact us anytime and we will provide the full response."
!
I asked them some questions too.
As answer I have got this one: "In case you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But they did not answer to my question!!!!
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I think
all most helpdesk people must go to the same training school.
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I'm wondering if a petition of sorts would help to get our message across to DP as individuals are not getting responses or action.
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What do you expect? Even if they would answer, it would be the usual BlaBa. As Linda of YAY for example >:(
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I'm wondering if a petition of sorts would help to get our message across to DP as individuals are not getting responses or action.
I believe they are already (very) aware of the issue.
And even if they weren't it doesn't matter.
"Plan of action" should be:
1) Determine if this what they're doing is illegal (reselling images bought through subscription plan)
2) IF YES: Sue them (as a collective)
2) IF NO:
a) accept this as a fact and just continue contributing to them (this is personal choice, of course)
b) deactivate your portfolio and inform as many people (through twitter, facebook, blogs) about the business practice they are using
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I have been out of the loop for a while and have only just found this thread. I am deeply disappointed that Deposit are behaving in this way when I had thought them quite a nice little agency that was making a concerted effort to grow and challenge the big boys.
When I first started with them in 2010 I had 8 images rejected but since then they have taken everything I upload. I am sure they don't inspect them at all. I recently uploaded the same image twice in the same batch by accident and both copies were accepted. I deleted the spare but it didn't fill me with much confidence in their inspection process. You only have to look at the 'newest uploads' section to see glaring examples of technically poor images or images that contain recognisable trademarks being sold as royalty-free.
This SnotShop deal would seem to fit in with the acceptance policy in that both are short-sighted money grabs, perhaps suggesting that the owners are planning on selling the business soon.
I will send an email asking for my images to be removed from all other sites except Deposit and will see what happens. It is extremely galling to see my stuff being sold on SnotShop for high prices - if my images aren't removed then I will also delete my portfolio from Deposit as I would rather forego my tenner a month and keep some semblance of pride.
I think the 'Fair Trade' mark idea is an excellent one - we are getting paid at sweatshop levels after all.
Edited to add - though I am not sure that anyone other than Stocksy would qualify at the moment....
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I already said how crappy this situation is and I am thinking to leave them. I asked the last time, how long is your ASAP:
Due to some technical reasons it takes some time to remove all your files from all our partner program.
There is no exact timeframe but we are doing our best to do it as quickly as possible.
Please wait a little bit more.
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Ok, I emailed them yesterday and received this reply today:
Dear StockCube,
Deleting you from the Partner program is a difficult technical process. Thus, unfortunately, it can’t be achieved momentarily. Our technical department is already working on it. We are planning to complete the process by March 8th.
Thank you for patience and understanding.
Kind regards,
Depositphotos Team
I guess I can live with that and it was good to get an acknowledgement so quickly. Will need to put something in the diary to remind me to look again at this on March 8th.
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Ok, I emailed them yesterday and received this reply today:
Dear StockCube,
Deleting you from the Partner program is a difficult technical process. Thus, unfortunately, it can’t be achieved momentarily. Our technical department is already working on it. We are planning to complete the process by March 8th.
Thank you for patience and understanding.
Kind regards,
Depositphotos Team
I guess I can live with that and it was good to get an acknowledgement so quickly. Will need to put something in the diary to remind me to look again at this on March 8th.
I emailed them yesterday and received the same reply today too...
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The thing is, about this whole debacle, wouldn't it be easier if DP worked with their resellers to pay us a better commission rather than having to develop a technical solution to pull individual images from resellers? I mean, if ShotShop would just pay what DP pays for non sub sales (percentage wise) I would think that's far more favorable for EVERYONE as opposed to Shot Shop possibly losing good selling images altogether and accepting a 100% loss as opposed to a 20-30% loss.
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Well yeah, but they have been caught with their pants down so having to react now. Also I suspect they have probably charged an up-front fee to SnotShop or maybe an annual fee so renegotiating that wouldn't be that easy when it might involve refunding some of what they have been paid. As has been pointed out already, most contribs won't see this thread so the numbers that remove their images from the partner sites won't be that great in the grand scheme of things.
After reading this yesterday I had a look at CanStock to see what I had received for their partner program and found these:
$26.76
$24.96
$19.80
$8.00
all marked 'distribution regular'. Now that is more like it - if CanStock can do it then Deposit are just being greedy b*$%%&$s.
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Ok, so they have given us a date, let´s hope they can make it work and give us a general opt out.
I will then upload again, if I see that the opt out is working. I´ll make careful choices with the content though until I see things are safe.
Between the subs deals of deposit and shotshop and the current drama with "overpayments" on istock...who is benefitting? Shutterstock! They just humbly move along and make money...
Trust IS Money. Why is that so hard to understand?
Looking forward to March 8.
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I know what you mean - at this rate I will be selling on SS and DT and not much else. :(
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Well, the finally answered me:
Deleting you from the Partner program is a difficult technical process. Thus, unfortunately, it can’t be achieved momentarily. Our technical department is already working on it. We are planning to complete the process by March 8th.
Thank you for patience and understanding.
––
I wonder how it can be a so difficult and long process…
it's unbelievable that they do not have a simple and automatic way to do it
So, let's hope…
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Still find my DP images selling on Shotshop this morning ... >:(
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Over one month (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365789/#msg365789)?
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Over one month ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365789/#msg365789[/url])?
No, but my last email from DP received last week said..
"Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites shortly."
For me shortly does not mean one month.
Just now I got another email that reads (extract):
"Deleting you from the Partner program is a difficult technical process. Thus, unfortunately, it can’t be achieved momentarily. Our technical department is already working on it. We are planning to complete the process by March 8th."
So I guess I must wait till 8th March!
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That can only be partly true.
When I asked them to delete my images from all their partners and API-Resellers, they were gone from Shotshop the same day...
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That can only be partly true.
When I asked them to delete my images from all their partners and API-Resellers, they were gone from Shotshop the same day...
Mine were gone from Shotshop BEFORE DP even asnwered my email. I THINK it was Shotshop who removed the duplicate files from photographers contributing directly.
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It's a pain seeing my photos on this scam website called sh*tshop. I hope they will be gone asap.
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Last reply from DP :
We are planning to complete the process by March 8th.
Thnx God, I have several other hobbies.
This fraud confusion with DP, IS ...
Bull sh..
Something is more than OK today:
my lunch:
Porcini with risotto with fresh herbs...
Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella, fresh basil...
and glass or Merlot ...
Cheers
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Last reply from DP :
We are planning to complete the process by March 8th.
Thnx God, I have several other hobbies.
This fraud confusion with DP, IS ...
Bull sh..
Something is more than OK today:
my lunch:
Porcini with risotto with fresh herbs...
Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella, fresh basil...
and glass bottle of Merlot ...
Cheers
Yum, same here but with one little change...see above.
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;)
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Yes it's that simple but they would rather have people leaving, removing, getting angry and basically feeling that we can't trust DP to do anything but try to cheat us. How many other deals are going on like this, that someone hasn't discovered yet?
Based on this, it's either leave right now or leave after the next payout.
The thing is, about this whole debacle, wouldn't it be easier if DP worked with their resellers to pay us a better commission rather than having to develop a technical solution to pull individual images from resellers?
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I don't have much invested in DP, but I do agree with you Uncle P. I'm glad in this instance I don't have thousands of photos and many hours of work invested because the decision to leave is pretty easy.
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So after one week agent sent a mail about deactivation. As i had there $14 he will transfer it to my buyers account and close the contributor one. Another one bites the dust....
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How did U do this?! :o
I got that answer: "As for the withdrawal, you may withdraw payments for the sale of your images once the balance in your account reaches $50 or more. It is technically impossible to withdraw less."
So I must wait this stupid $4 (drop by drop)...
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Yea, sure technically impossible... I find that hard to believe with the use of computers.
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I've been pondering and wondering what to do next with DP like everyone else and also have been fed a constant diet of subs at .30 each when low and behold an EL pops out of the blue.
Feb.26, 2014 EL Credits $31.68 $0.00 $31.68
I have asked to be removed from the api and partner programs which I trust will happen soon. Other than that I've decided to stay at DP and see if they'll get things sorted out.
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How did U do this?! :o
I got that answer: "As for the withdrawal, you may withdraw payments for the sale of your images once the balance in your account reaches $50 or more. It is technically impossible to withdraw less."
So I must wait this stupid $4 (drop by drop)...
I received the same mail, but I replied, that I deactivated all my images and there will be no more sales. So I asked them again to send me the money. The next mail came with information that they can transfer it to my buyers account if I wish so. So I send them ID and that was it. They replied it will be done shortly.
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I've read this entire thread from start to finish, and I must say I'm astonished by the actions of Deposit and ShotShop. I don't have any personal involvement because I'm exclusive iStock/Getty, but I'd like to add my commiserations to all those affected by this situation.
It seems to me inconceivable that Deposit could not have known that photographers were being fleeced by this deal. And it also seems very unlikely indeed that they would have entered into this arrangement if there wasn't some significant financial benefit to Deposit. There is certainly massive financial incentive for ShotShop who appear to be actively selling photographer's work knowing that they are paying hardly any compensation to those photographers.
Extraordinary and unacceptable behaviour.
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I've read this entire thread from start to finish, and I must say I'm astonished by the actions of Deposit and ShotShop. I don't have any personal involvement because I'm exclusive iStock/Getty, but I'd like to add my commiserations to all those affected by this situation.
It seems to me inconceivable that Deposit could not have known that photographers were being fleeced by this deal. And it also seems very unlikely indeed that they would have entered into this arrangement if there wasn't some significant financial benefit to Deposit. There is certainly massive financial incentive for ShotShop who appear to be actively selling photographer's work knowing that they are paying hardly any compensation to those photographers.
Extraordinary and unacceptable behaviour.
This is what I have stated in some form a couple of times in this tread. Good portfolios being removed have to somehow hurt them. I agree wholeheartedly that DP knew exactly what they were doing and that they were SCREWING contributors. There's nothing innocent here. Pure * greed.
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I have been waiting for them to fix the keyword issue where compound keywords are split up in their editor. They have been telling me for 9 months it would be fixed, today they told me it would take another few months which is just a blatant lie. I had a backlog of 700 images but they dont care. Today I told them I am done. Mainly because of their sheer disrespect for contributors and this mess with Shotstop. Deactivated all but one and requested removal from all partners.
I am keeping my account open, because I dont trust them and so I can keep an eye on my images and 1.53$ balance, since they wont delete them from their servers ever.
I left this image online. A fitting image if you ask me.
(http://st.depositphotos.com/1470737/2039/i/450/depositphotos_20399375-Young-woman-showing-two-middle-fingers.jpg)
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Well done ;D
+1
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Deactivated all but one and requested removal from all partners.
You are aware that they keep full resolution of the files you deactivate for "statistics only".
I think this is a far more serious issue than Shotshop since they keep the full-resolution of the file when for the intended use an x-small size would do.
Considering that they have deals with distributors that we never heard off, or find one and think that a site distribute FL, 123RF or another agency we may end having our images sold without our consent and DP keeping 100% of the sale.
I'm not saying that this happens or will happen, but the risk is HUGE!
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I am aware, but they dont delete them upon request either. So I better deactivate them and keep an eye out, rather than close my account.
Same happened on DT. I deactivated all my images about 18 months back, asked them to delete my images and close my account and keep the 11 dollar. They closed my account. 2 weeks ago I wanted to open a new account but I couldnt do that with my usual email address. Said privileges were revoked. I asked them to reset my email address and low and behold, all my images and money were still there. Wonderful isnt it.
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Deactivated all but one and requested removal from all partners.
You are aware that they keep full resolution of the files you deactivate for "statistics only".
I think this is a far more serious issue than Shotshop since they keep the full-resolution of the file when for the intended use an x-small size would do.
Considering that they have deals with distributors that we never heard off, or find one and think that a site distribute FL, 123RF or another agency we may end having our images sold without our consent and DP keeping 100% of the sale.
I'm not saying that this happens or will happen, but the risk is HUGE!
THIS is the way in which we all get hosed. I am sure it says something to this effect in their fine print that they keep hi-rez files in perpetuity for some legal xyz reason, but the true intent is more than obvious. And I want to reiterate to viewers of this thread, "WHERE ARE YOU DP? WHY ARE YOU NOT TRYING TO SHOW YOUR LEGITIMACY IN THE MS WORLD BY BEING A GOOD CONTRIBUTOR STEWARD AND COMING IN HERE TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE?" Unfortunately, we know the answer. Simply pathetic.
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([url]http://st.depositphotos.com/1470737/2039/i/450/depositphotos_20399375-Young-woman-showing-two-middle-fingers.jpg[/url])
This is great Ron :)
We could all make a similar image and give it for free on Depositphoto
And of course disable all our other images……
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Showing solidarity of spirit with a deactivated file from IS :)
(http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/1772060/2/stock-photo-1772060-hot-pink-granny.jpg)
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Awesome photos! Ron, yours has a timeless quality. The clothes and hair almost look like they are from the 1940s. Great choice to go black and white!
JoAnn, you have some serious stones to have posed for that and uploaded to your own account. Being in microstock, you must have plenty of opportunities to use it! ;D
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Few days ago I was thinking of taking that photos... I completly don't know why it comes to me when I think of this partners sites, re-sellers, secret lists of them, percent for us, $ for us, and all this cheap sh*t...
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Awesome photos! Ron, yours has a timeless quality. The clothes and hair almost look like they are from the 1940s. Great choice to go black and white!
Thank you Lisa, unfortunately it hardly ever sold. I think it got some exposure on 123RF, but it wont sell properly across the board. Dont know why. I thought it would be useful for a lot of present day issues, and problems.
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JoAnn, you have some serious stones to have posed for that and uploaded to your own account. Being in microstock, you must have plenty of opportunities to use it! ;D
I'm shameless!!
I have pictures of my face with seborrheic dermatitis and bell's palsy; I've found my images in ads for Xanax and showing how well I'm doing after my heart attack (I was gardening in the image and the visiting nurse service apparently helped me a lot). But many of the micros wouldn't take the "bird" image - too rude :) iStock was OK with it and I had a note saying any buyer who wanted the English (two finger) version to site mail me :)
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Showing solidarity of spirit with a deactivated file from IS :)
([url]http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/1772060/2/stock-photo-1772060-hot-pink-granny.jpg[/url])
What an appropriate location for the iStock watermark. You couldn't have planned it any better.
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What an appropriate location for the iStock watermark. You couldn't have planned it any better.
;D ;D ;D
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Reading everything today, I am at page 14 now and what do I see right between Uncle Pete and Pixart’s comments?
“Earn royalties with Depositphotos. Get started!”
Funny! But Leaf cannot put this elsewhere in a “Whoojay for DP topic” I suppose… ;D
A few months ago I was looking if I could find another agency to submit to and I searched the MSG forum to find info about Depositphotos. It costs me some time to find out, but what I found about their actions in the past made me decide not to deal with them.
And now I am glad I did not! And I am sure I never will in the future too. What a mess!
Hopefully for all of you this turns out well.
A quality label for agencies is a good idea, as it is very difficult for new contibutors to find out if an agency is a bit trustworthy or not. We should have a database here on MSG with info about every agency. Their rules and their behaviour. Only facts of course. Things like this should be documented and remembered.
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JoAnn, you have some serious stones to have posed for that and uploaded to your own account. Being in microstock, you must have plenty of opportunities to use it! ;D
I'm shameless!!
I have pictures of my face with seborrheic dermatitis and bell's palsy; I've found my images in ads for Xanax and showing how well I'm doing after my heart attack (I was gardening in the image and the visiting nurse service apparently helped me a lot). But many of the micros wouldn't take the "bird" image - too rude :) iStock was OK with it and I had a note saying any buyer who wanted the English (two finger) version to site mail me :)
Hilarious! Shameless are the best kind of models. :D
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Awesome photos! Ron, yours has a timeless quality. The clothes and hair almost look like they are from the 1940s. Great choice to go black and white!
Thank you Lisa, unfortunately it hardly ever sold. I think it got some exposure on 123RF, but it wont sell properly across the board. Dont know why. I thought it would be useful for a lot of present day issues, and problems.
Weird! I would think it would sell like hotcakes. Some of my favorites don't sell much either. I have concluded that most buyers don't share my sense of humor.
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Today I got a personal message. It seems that what I wrote about a quality label for agencies can be misunderstood, so I’ll try to explain a bit:
What I meant with ‘quality label’ was a list with basic information about every specific agency and info added about problems contributors had with them.
No personal opinions, only facts.
Like with Istock:
This is the agency.
This are the rules.
Prices can be found here. (link)
This is the submitting system. (No FTP, info about Deepmeta)
(That kind of things…)
And added:
In 2010 they cut commissions this and that way.
In 2012/2013 contributors discovered…. (some info about ‘the Google deal’)
Discussions can be found here: (links)
Same with Depositphotos:
Basic info about the agency.
Added:
In 2014 contributors discovered that for standard licenses that are sold at Reseller sites like Shotshop for higher prices then DP does, DP only pays out subscription amounts. Sometimes this is only 1 percent of the original sale. Opting out from Partner sales is not a solution, for DP says a Reseller is not a Partner. DP also says resellers has the right to set their own prices. Contibutors say that reselling licenses for standard or subscription prices is against the agreement.
Discussion can be found here: (link)
No rating, no votes, only facts.
Things that are published in such a list must be indisputable. No personal opinions.
People can decide for themselves if they want to join such an agency or not, based on facts. But this way they are able to easy find the facts.
Now it is often difficult to find enough information. It costs time to search the forum and the internet, read the discussions etc. Not everything people are saying about an agency is true. The anonymous voting system can be cheated. You have to weigh all the opinions. The negative experience one person has is not something you can publish as a fact about the behaviour of an agency. Often there is simple miscommunication or something like that.
Agencies that doesn’t have such behaviour qualifies themselves automatically on such a list, for there are no added comments...
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Collete, I was thinking out your idea last night when in bed. Been sick all week with a viral infection. I had the same suggestions as you just typed up. Just a summary of their terms and conditions and pros and cons. Maybe add a scorecard to that and then let people decide for their own if they want to join.
All you need is a domain, a wordpress site and someone to maintain it.
I did a list once which is something similar to what you just wrote. http://semmickphoto.com/2013/06/19/top-8-microstock-agencies-explained/ (http://semmickphoto.com/2013/06/19/top-8-microstock-agencies-explained/)
I think your idea deserves a thread on its own.
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That's a good idea. If someone wants to take the time to post T&C and then HIGHLIGHT key parts of it and maybe have some form of "legalese for dummies" rewrite of those key points....all within a single portal, would be cool. Personally I don't have the technical know how or the time, but of someone wants to do it I's heart them.
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Hi Ron,
Hopefully you will feel beter soon!
I take a look at your list, but although the info seem to be correct, it is also mixed up with personal opinions.
For this list is on your own website, you are free to do so of course.
But what I meant was a list with only undisputable facts. Nothing else. No scorecard. No earnings rating. Nothing personal.
It must be about more agencies then only the Top and Middle Tier and it must be corrected when info is wrong.
People easily forget, new contributors do not know and I think things that happen must be documented in a way that is not mixed up with personal feelings.
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This is an excellent idea.
As a matter of fact a few days ago I was thinking that having a wall of shame regarding each agency would be a good thing, to keep track of things and warn new submitters and avoid us to forget.
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Today I got a personal message. It seems that what I wrote about a quality label for agencies can be misunderstood, so I’ll try to explain a bit:
What I meant with ‘quality label’ was a list with basic information about every specific agency and info added about problems contributors had with them.
No personal opinions, only facts.
I think its a great idea. Over time we would get a historical build up with factual info on the agencies, that would help microstockers new and old. Realtime factual data is information and information is everything! As long as we can keep emotions out of it and keep to facts, it would serve all contributors and even agencies (or some of them).
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... have some form of "legalese for dummies" rewrite of those key points....all within a single portal, would be cool.
The trouble is, that legalese, particularly on iStock, is written (IMO) in a deliberately obfuscatory fashion.
Several of the terms are ambiguous, and you can get different explanations from different admins or CR reps depending on who you ask.
I've seen several threads, particularly in the excusive forum, asking about the meaning of various clauses in the ASA, and there are always varying opinions of what they mean and never a definitive explanation.
Almost as soon as I joined, I asked that al the legal papers be rewritten in plain English, inasmuch as if an educated native English speaker can't definitively know what is allowed/disallowed, what about all the people for whom English isn't a first language, nor is any of the other 'community languages'.
Even knowing what the terms mean doesn't mean that an agency won't find ways of screwing you within their contract, in ways you never imagined.
Contracts can change, whereupon you've no choice between accepting or quitting, which can be a difficult decision if you have invested a large port on the site.
Some terms and conditions can change outwith the contract, so you might not know about it for a long time. E.g. iS used to have a maximum size over which a buyer could not post a file unaltered on a website, but that seems to have quietly disappeared.
And on that note, some of the agencies make it extremely difficult to find the licence conditions, even when I've deliberately been looking, so the chances of a buyer even bothering about them are pretty slim.
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Sure a database of facts and no background or opinions would be useful for someone to see how the place operates, where it is, what it pays, and Just The Facts.
But opinions that are informational (not just hate messages from someone who left and is getting revenge) is also needed for any of us to make an intelligent and informed decision. Facts and history section. "Like lowered commissions in 2009..."
You can't have one without the other or it's rather blind to see a place that looks great, but has serious pay, distribution and internal operations issues that would scare any of us away?
Poll on the right does a fine job of showing money rank, for the people who reply. It may be questioned and have a rather large margin of error, because it's on a volunteer basis. But it's better than nothing at all. :)
The partner program database does a good job also, people can look at see if they want in or not. There are no opinions in that, just facts and a list.
What ShadySue added is also an issue, because sometimes terms and contracts are particularly vague. Can someone resell this as a print or not? What license allows this or that. My favorite (to hate) is POD sites that show images and claim they don't have to pay for an EL Until they print and sell it. So what they get our work for free, to market and advertise, For Free, until they make a sale?
I think the facts are good, but there also needs to be some exposure of history and practices as well.
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Sure a database of facts and no background or opinions would be useful for someone to see how the place operates, where it is, what it pays, and Just The Facts.
But opinions that are informational (not just hate messages from someone who left and is getting revenge) is also needed for any of us to make an intelligent and informed decision. Facts and history section. "Like lowered commissions in 2009..."
You can't have one without the other or it's rather blind to see a place that looks great, but has serious pay, distribution and internal operations issues that would scare any of us away?
Poll on the right does a fine job of showing money rank, for the people who reply. It may be questioned and have a rather large margin of error, because it's on a volunteer basis. But it's better than nothing at all. :)
The partner program database does a good job also, people can look at see if they want in or not. There are no opinions in that, just facts and a list.
What ShadySue added is also an issue, because sometimes terms and contracts are particularly vague. Can someone resell this as a print or not? What license allows this or that. My favorite (to hate) is POD sites that show images and claim they don't have to pay for an EL Until they print and sell it. So what they get our work for free, to market and advertise, For Free, until they make a sale?
I think the facts are good, but there also needs to be some exposure of history and practices as well.
You and Liz both make excellent points. I do believe something along the lines of experiential summaries, especially if there are enough data to conclude a trend, is helpful. Something robust and PUBLIC might encourage agencies to change their shady practices (no pun on you, ShadySue) ;)
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Hi Ron,
Hopefully you will feel beter soon!
I take a look at your list, but although the info seem to be correct, it is also mixed up with personal opinions.
For this list is on your own website, you are free to do so of course.
But what I meant was a list with only undisputable facts. Nothing else. No scorecard. No earnings rating. Nothing personal.
It must be about more agencies then only the Top and Middle Tier and it must be corrected when info is wrong.
People easily forget, new contributors do not know and I think things that happen must be documented in a way that is not mixed up with personal feelings.
Yes, I agree, the link was just an example of something similar, but not meant as quality seal.
I agree with everyone else that it needs to be factual.
I dont mind purchasing a domain. Just need a good name to build on.
Microstock Impartial Facts Figures Extracted Directly - MIFFED ;)
But seriously, what would it be called?
Micro Stock Certification Mark - MS-CM
Micro Stock Quality Mark - MS-QM
I think we should open a thread to discuss this separately. I think Colette should do the honours as its her idea.
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I didn’t expect so much reactions on what came up in my mind when thinking about the unrighteous way contributors are treatened by DP. Now it feels we are deducting from the original subject of the topic.
The reason I made the decision to deactivate my images with Istock last year was the way some contributors were treatened. For me that was unacceptable. Spread over the world as contributors we have no power. The only power we have is to make the principal choice not to stand with unrighteousness. But that is a personal choice and everyone must decide for him/herself what to accept or not.
But when we stay and accept everything only to have some money, things will only get worser and worser.
I wrote that I choose to be not with DP for what I read about them, but when I should have a portfolio with them, I should leave very soon when they don’t change their behaviour quickly.
Thinking again, I suppose that I should leave nonetheless. Why should I trust someone who has delivered proof that he can not be trusted?
That they say to keep the original images for ‘statistical reasons’, when someone wants to leave them made me very angry. It gives me the feeling that contributors are catched in a trap.
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Ron, I am not interested in being honoured in any way. It was a simple thinking coming up and I don't even know if it can be realised. I only think that there is a need for this knowledge.
Let's keep it simple: When Leaf has no problems with it and tells us what is not allowed on such a list, we can start a separate topic and gather the information we need. The list will grow over time with new agencies. From a lot of agencies I know nothing at all, but perhaps others do.
Stay with facts. What Shady Sue writes may be true, but we need to be careful to not write unproven accusations.
And there are other things contributors needs to know.
For example: There was a question about The 3d Studio and tax witholding on this forum. The saying was: they withhold 30 percent tax for every non US contributor. I have searched their website and it seems no problem for contributors from countries that has a tax treaty with the US. It is just the same as with other agencies: Simply fill in the appropriate form. But I can't find a clear answer. Or possibly they have recently change it. When someone wants to join them and he is from outside the US, he needs to know before if this is true or not. This kind of things can easy be found and cleared up too this way.
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From what I said, I think the key is "Even knowing what the terms mean doesn't mean that an agency won't find ways of screwing you within their contract, in ways you never imagined."
Did anyone think iS would potentially go into the Getty/Google deal?
Did anyone imagine DP would do the Shotshop deal, and be happy to say that you get a sub sale but they can sell for whatever they like?
The objective facts should be checked out by anyone signing up with an agency.
It's what's between the lines that can catch everyone out.
(other than the people who sign up, submit images, then are suprised when certain things happen that are clearly spelled out).
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
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A well-made, objective list like that would indeed be a worthy project to contribute to.
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Shady Sue: Yes, you are right, but you can't protect yourself from what you do not know and from what tomorrow brings.
Nothing is certain in life.
When someone decide to join Istock today: It is his own choice. No problem.
But let him don't come and complain about the way he is treatened when another finding from Istock comes up.
For he knew before what to expect!
You (and others onboard) have the right to complain. You couldn't imagine that Istock should go this low.
And, as far as we know until now, still today there are agencies that don't do such things. Even from the 'former Istock' nobody expected such behaviour.
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Ron, I am not interested in being honoured in any way. It was a simple thinking coming up and I don't even know if it can be realised.
I think I am being misunderstood. I meant do the honors of opening a separate thread about this. :)
Someone else can start the thread, Leaf can move this part of the topic to the new thread. No problem.
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
Nope. Something similar to a wiki would be a better idea, I think. With obligatory moderation from someone before any edits.
Also, we can get in touch with agencies who treat contributors fairly and "certify them". I know there has been talk about this before, and it's probably a good idea.
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Deleting you from the Partner program is a difficult technical process. Thus, unfortunately, it can’t be achieved momentarily. Our technical department is already working on it. We are planning to complete the process by March 8th.
Amazing. It's a Roach Motel - you check in, but you can't check out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roach_Motel_(insect_trap) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roach_Motel_(insect_trap))
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
Nope. Something similar to a wiki would be a better idea, I think. With obligatory moderation from someone before any edits.
Also, we can get in touch with agencies who treat contributors fairly and "certify them". I know there has been talk about this before, and it's probably a good idea.
I like that
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
Nope. Something similar to a wiki would be a better idea, I think. With obligatory moderation from someone before any edits.
Also, we can get in touch with agencies who treat contributors fairly and "certify them". I know there has been talk about this before, and it's probably a good idea.
I like that
Didn't we even have a mockup of a seal the agency could put on their site at one time?
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Drats... $1.50 short of payout so I guess I can't quit for another month.
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Drats... $1.50 short of payout so I guess I can't quit for another month.
2.70 for me, but I only have one photo left up.
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Trip adviser thing, cool!
After reading this tread a bit ago I too contacted DP by live chat....
she informed me that "shotshop" was a "partner site" ??? And told me that I could email support with a heading in the subject "shotshop" and they would remove me...
I have not seen any of my images on that site but wanted to make sure I was not and will not appear on any :)
Lack of transparency and a need NOT to have a middle agency taking yet another cut in my small earnings is why I always "opt out"
My Very Best :)
KimsCreativeHub.com
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
I regularly use TripAdvisor and find it an excellent source of information for travel planning. And this is a brilliant idea particularly as it could serve the public at large, contributors and buyers alike.
Consumers or buyers are frequently as concerned about the ethical standards of a business, as much as we as contributors are, when we find ourselves exposed to malicious or unfair trade practices.
A public forum can therefore help to keep the whole supply chain 'cleaner' by forcing everyone to be more actively concerned about their total business image.
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Hi all,
i think its a great idea to make the Agencies transparent. We can create an information networks linking for Contributors to inform artists quickly about API joint ventures like this DP-Shotshop deal.
- Twitter
- Facebook
etc.
Strengthening of competition among the agencies for better Contributor conditions:
- make the Agencys transparent and ready to benchmark.
- creating a Contributor Award for good Agencies
Maybe there is a start:
microstock-transparency.wikia.com
Wikia is a great place to work together and using our swarm intelligence. Everyone can help to fight back >:(.
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
I regularly use TripAdvisor and find it an excellent source of information for travel planning. And this is a brilliant idea particularly as it could serve the public at large, contributors and buyers alike.
Consumers or buyers are frequently as concerned about the ethical standards of a business, as much as we as contributors are, when we find ourselves exposed to malicious or unfair trade practices.
A public forum can therefore help to keep the whole supply chain 'cleaner' by forcing everyone to be more actively concerned about their total business image.
I also use Trip Advisor. In fact I actually signed up to become a member because that way I am allowed to contact "individuals" who post. I do this especially when I am traveling to new, third world locations. If they post negative or positive feedback you can contact them directly to get further clarification. The real questions is....
1. Would anyone (buyers or contributors) use it as decision making criteria?
2. Would the agencies consider the postings (feedback, experience, etc) vital enough to listen and react?
I would also think that there should be a buyer section where they can post their experiences around service levels, pricing, etc.
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1. Would anyone (buyers or contributors) use it as decision making criteria?
2. Would the agencies consider the postings (feedback, experience, etc) vital enough to listen and react?
I would also think that there should be a buyer section where they can post their experiences around service levels, pricing, etc.
Yes they would. A purchase is an emotional decision - and the overall impression that we hold about a company always plays a significant role.
And yes they would. Because they could ignore it only at their own peril once there is enough circulation or readership of content.
Yes absolutely. A buyer section can even be in the same string as contributor section in my opinion. Its simply anyone or public at large, that can post or respond there. And the company itself would also have the opportunity to comment or respond - just as they can do on TripAdvisor.
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My all images, all gallery, old photos are in photogenica.pl
Looks like it's a partner from DP. I've found images deactivated long time ago, months, or even a year ago... It's still on partner's site :o :-\
I didn't upload the same images anywhere else. DP was the only one who could sell that old photos.
I'm waiting my last $4 and I'm out of here for good!
>:(
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Ariene, have you clicked on the photo to see if you can go through with purchase - in many cases it is just a placeholder and the real photo is not available for download. Hopefully this is the case!
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Hmm, could not find any of my images there. Seems to me, that many picture on this polish site are of low quality (not all, but a lot of them I saw).
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@ Pixart, you're right, can't do purchase, but it shouldn't be there at all.
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They have my images as well... image numbers are the same as on Deposit with prefix PHX
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This Polish site is very, very slow to load, but has a few of my images from Veer (I have never been on Deposit Photos and it does mention Veer's name in the image description). Unless their search is broken I apparently have only 8 images from the 800+ I have on Veer. The images aren't best sellers or even high traffic subjects, so I have a hard time imagining they were picked out on purpose
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This stock is partner from Veer. But I didn't know that they get images from DP as well.
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Oh my, looks like entire ports from DP and Veer. Why do they charge more for Veer Images? Do we make more? They do also appear to give Veer better position in the search.
http://photogenica.pl/zoom/PHX12370421/ (http://photogenica.pl/zoom/PHX12370421/) 49 zt Large
http://photogenica.pl/zoom/VMP3241314/ (http://photogenica.pl/zoom/VMP3241314/) 79 zt Large
Does anyone know what a zt is worth U.S.?
ANSWERED EDIT: 49 Zloty is almost $U.S.16
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Photogenica.. there is my images from DP, Veer and 123RF also!
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I don't know how many of you use TripAdvisor, but it seems like we want a type of TripAdvisor site for stock agencies (and possibly other businesses too). That isn't as easy as one might like - fighting off fake entries for example - but it's a great way for people to see what hotels/restaurants stock agencies/services are like.
You can sort things by date so that old/bad behavior can be over time ameliorated by improvements, but history is never erased (unlike the BBB and Angie's List)
I regularly use TripAdvisor and find it an excellent source of information for travel planning. And this is a brilliant idea particularly as it could serve the public at large, contributors and buyers alike.
Consumers or buyers are frequently as concerned about the ethical standards of a business, as much as we as contributors are, when we find ourselves exposed to malicious or unfair trade practices.
A public forum can therefore help to keep the whole supply chain 'cleaner' by forcing everyone to be more actively concerned about their total business image.
I also use Trip Advisor. In fact I actually signed up to become a member because that way I am allowed to contact "individuals" who post. I do this especially when I am traveling to new, third world locations. If they post negative or positive feedback you can contact them directly to get further clarification. The real questions is....
1. Would anyone (buyers or contributors) use it as decision making criteria?
2. Would the agencies consider the postings (feedback, experience, etc) vital enough to listen and react?
I would also think that there should be a buyer section where they can post their experiences around service levels, pricing, etc.
It would effect my decisions. It would need to be in many different languages though (perhaps translated?). It seems to me one of the problems with connecting contributors is they are from all over and speak many different languages.
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@ jarih,
You can opt out from 123rf partner sites. You can't from Veer. There was a thread about Veer option: http://www.microstockgroup.com/veer-marketplace/veer-reseller-api/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/veer-marketplace/veer-reseller-api/)
Ajaj, I feel really bad with this partners sites and to low earnings :(
Wish I knew (and care) before... Whatta mess to clean up now...
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It looks like most of my portfolio is on the Polish site, too. I don't have anything on Veer, but I do have my port with DP and 123. Where are they getting my images from? Are they a partner with DP?
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Oh my, looks like entire ports from DP and Veer. Why do they charge more for Veer Images? Do we make more? They do also appear to give Veer better position in the search.
[url]http://photogenica.pl/zoom/PHX12370421/[/url] ([url]http://photogenica.pl/zoom/PHX12370421/[/url]) 49 zt Large
[url]http://photogenica.pl/zoom/VMP3241314/[/url] ([url]http://photogenica.pl/zoom/VMP3241314/[/url]) 79 zt Large
Does anyone know what a zt is worth U.S.?
ANSWERED EDIT: 49 Zloty is almost $U.S.16
If you select the Union Jack button to get English, the prices switch to Euros: 3, 6, 8 & 13 for DP and 3, 5, 15 & 19 for Veer.
But the way Veer works with its partner program, you get your standard Veer amounts regardless of the price the reseller flogs it for (which is one of the problems I had with Veer's resellers, the other being the lack of opt out).
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... Where are they getting my images from? Are they a partner with DP?
DP:
"Yes, Photogenica.pl is our partner.
Should you have any further questions feel free to contact us."
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I have asked Photogenica where they got my images, because some are still available when I deactivated them on DP. They said their partner was 123RF.
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I do not see my 123rf images at Photogenica - just 8 of my Veer images. Are they hand picking what they want versus taking everything? I did opt out of 123rf partner sales over the weekend, but I checked before that.
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Only just latched onto this thread since I rarely upload there anymore.
What a disgrace. More and more, our so-called representatives and marketeers somehow manage to make Fagin look like an ambassador for decency and fair play.
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Photogenica is showing the portfolio names I only use (or used) at Veer, 123. They are also showing the name I use at DP and others...
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Deactivated couple hundred more images from DP yesterday .. then my finger got tired :)
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I have asked Photogenica where they got my images, because some are still available when I deactivated them on DP. They said their partner was 123RF.
When and how did you contact them?
I've sent email (in polish lang.) at [email protected] March 03 and still waiting for replay...
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[email protected]
http://photogenica.pl/home/ (http://photogenica.pl/home/)
Choose the UK language
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Photogenica has my images using my DP username. It's a username I only use at DP, completely different from my 123RF username.
They also use my DP ID number in the profile URL at Photogenica.
Looks to me like Photogenica images come from DP, not 123RF.
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Would they give me incorrect information about that, or lie about it, or dont know who their supplier is? Maybe 123RF is one of their suppliers. Some images of mine are no longer available which would be images from DP. Other images still available could come from 123.
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They could be getting images from both places. But they're definitely not getting images only from 123RF. DP is supplying some of them for sure. Even the images numbers at Photogenica match DP image numbers.
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Would they give me incorrect information about that, or lie about it, or dont know who their supplier is? Maybe 123RF is one of their suppliers. Some images of mine are no longer available which would be images from DP. Other images still available could come from 123.
Ours are being supplied by 123rf.
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Today is 9th March and my images are still showing on Shotshp! DP had said that by 8th March they should be gone from their partner programs. Obviously that's not happened in my case!!! >:(
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Today is 9th March and my images are still showing on Shotshp! DP had said that by 8th March they should be gone from their partner programs. Obviously that's not happened in my case!!! >:(
Same here
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And here as well...
Did you email them? Got any respond about delay? I'm enough of sending emails over and over again... (not only DP) ::)
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Same here.
I guess deactivation is the only option. :)
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Same here.
I guess deactivation is the only option. :)
Yes and I have already deactivated about one-third of my port from DP by this time.
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Could someone tell me how to deactivate files from Veer? Thanks.
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Could someone tell me how to deactivate files from Veer? Thanks.
I deleted some last year and I had to email them the id number of each file I wanted to delete.
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And Sean Locke's images are still on Shotshop too, all 2308 of them...
http://www.shotshop.com/search/%402273597 (http://www.shotshop.com/search/%402273597)
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btw. I've found that some of my images on DP are in sale %:
XS 299 x 401 Standard License 4.2" x 5.6" (72 dpi) JPG 1 0.8
S 611 x 819 Standard License 8.5" x 11.4" (72 dpi) JPG 2 1.6
M 1222 x 1637 Standard License 4.1" x 5.5" (300 dpi) JPG 4 3.2
L 2848 x 3816 Standard License 9.5" x 12.7" (300 dpi) JPG 8 6.4
EL 2848 x 3816 Extended License 9.5" x 12.7" (300 dpi) JPG 80 64
Is it new or I just missed?
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btw. I've found that some of my images on DP are in sale %:
XS 299 x 401 Standard License 4.2" x 5.6" (72 dpi) JPG 1 0.8
S 611 x 819 Standard License 8.5" x 11.4" (72 dpi) JPG 2 1.6
M 1222 x 1637 Standard License 4.1" x 5.5" (300 dpi) JPG 4 3.2
L 2848 x 3816 Standard License 9.5" x 12.7" (300 dpi) JPG 8 6.4
EL 2848 x 3816 Extended License 9.5" x 12.7" (300 dpi) JPG 80 64
Is it new or I just missed?
I checked a few of my files at random and they are showing the usual prices (no discount). So maybe this is something new and affecting some files only .. certainly haven't been informed anything about it.
Talk about lack of communication...
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Bl*ody freekin h*ll I just got another 2.74 partner el. But I did reach payout last week, I don't know why I thought it was an automatic payout at months end until I hit a wrong tap and discovered. That's awesome as I thought I would have to leave account open till the 30th. Better go warm up my clicking finger.
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Bl*ody freekin h*ll I just got another 2.74 partner el. But I did reach payout last week, I don't know why I thought it was an automatic payout at months end until I hit a wrong tap and discovered. That's awesome as I thought I would have to leave account open till the 30th. Better go warm up my clicking finger.
take comfort from the fact that they sold that EL for 80 credits!!
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Today is 9th March and my images are still showing on Shotshp! DP had said that by 8th March they should be gone from their partner programs. Obviously that's not happened in my case!!! >:(
Here too! :o >:(
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My photos were quickly removed... but then came back. Will write support again.
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I will write them again as well. Once! - If that doesn't do the trick I am out of DP as soon as I reach $50.
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Congrats, DP. I just deactivated most of my portfolio AND you just joined my "crapstock" folder.
Basically, you only get SS rejects from now on. If you discontinue your questionable business practices (shotstop, etc), I may reconsider, but it may take "some time" before that happens.
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Has anyone tried submitting directly to Photogenica? There is a “sell your images” area at the bottom. If so, any sales? It looks like a lot of work to submit directly if the sales are sparse. Right now my images are still there from Depositphotos despite the fact they were supposed to be removed by March 8. >:(
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DS time starts running out, I will be wait two more days anymore..
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Let's see who can post the first response from dp about the delay. I am sure they will say they are just behind on their estimated time. Stringing us along to squeeze every drop out of an already dry orange.
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Let's see who can post the first response from dp about the delay. I am sure they will say they are just behind on their estimated time. Stringing us along to squeeze every drop out of an already dry orange.
Yep - and they did this to themselves
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I have told them they are in violation of the contract and gave them 24 hours.
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Dear X,
I have noticed that my portfolio is still available on Shotshop, even though you claimed that the process of removing it from all your partner programs and API reseller sites should be complete by march 8. If my portfolio is still available on Mar 11, I request that you close my account after my last earnings request has been processed.
Regards,
XY
bye bye, dp. you won't be missed.
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My earnings are lower today, how is that possible? I even had a sale since I last checked, a real one - so it should be $1.68 higher, not $1.24 lower.
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
Exactly the same. Yesterday I sent an ultimatum to DP and today got exactly the same message but my images are still at ShotShop and Ibugetphot...
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
Exactly the same. Yesterday I sent an ultimatum to DP and today got exactly the same message but my images are still at ShotShop and Ibugetphot...
That´s because DP calls them "resellers" and not partners...
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
Exactly the same. Yesterday I sent an ultimatum to DP and today got exactly the same message but my images are still at ShotShop and Ibugetphot...
The only thing that really help with DP is deactivate your files and of course never upload again!
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
And next email:
"Your browser gets it from the cache, but there is no way to purchase those files since your portfolio was removed from those sites."
Wow, I use three different browsers… The cache is somewhere else now :o
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
And next email:
"Your browser gets it from the cache, but there is no way to purchase those files since your portfolio was removed from those sites."
Wow, I use three different browsers… The cache is somewhere else now :o
If you want to suggest some URLs, I can check cache-free if you like.
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I just got this email:
"Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."
But, but.. anyway my portfolio is online Shotshop and Ibudgetphoto.. somebody is lying..
And next email:
"Your browser gets it from the cache, but there is no way to purchase those files since your portfolio was removed from those sites."
Wow, I use three different browsers… The cache is somewhere else now :o
This reply is BS! I've just checked on a fresh computer that never accessed ShotShop before and my arround 1000 images are there available for purchasing!
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Have you checked if your images are available for purchase when you click on the thumbnails?
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Have you checked if your images are available for purchase when you click on the thumbnails?
Yes, they are :-(
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This reply is BS! I've just checked on a fresh computer that never accessed ShotShop before and my arround 1000 images are there available for purchasing!
Same here..
And yes, they are available for purchase..
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Can anyone verify they their "deactivated" images are still available for purchase on Shotshop? That may be the only way now to eliminate this BS short of getting an attorney.
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Can anyone verify they their "deactivated" images are still available for purchase on Shotshop? That may be the only way now to eliminate this BS short of getting an attorney.
I check it out about week ago, I eliminated one image and it was right away not available for purchase!
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In my case, the images I have deactivated are not available for purchase from the moment I deactivated them.
The thumbnails of the images I deactivated about a week ago are still showing, but they are not available for purchase. The thumbnails of the images I deactivated about two weeks ago have recently disappeared and cannot be found at Shotshop anymore.
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In my case, the images I have deactivated are not available for purchase from the moment I deactivated them.
The thumbnails of the images I deactivated about a week ago are still showing, but they are not available for purchase. The thumbnails of the images I deactivated about two weeks ago have recently disappeared and cannot be found at Shotshop anymore.
Then I guess that is the campaign for most of us. Simply deactivate if you can afford to do without the revenue from DP. Our emails to them don't seem to do a thing, so hit them where it hurts, just take all images. Unless I see my images unavailable on partner/reseller sites by Saturday, I will spend the day deactivating my 3000 images. fk em.
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I am not sure but I can not find any of my images on ShotShop anymore. When I did the original search, I remember it wasn't too easy to find mine. But now I tried with several searches for specific images and could find none of them.
So it might be that at least my images were removed from Deposit's API interface...
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I am not sure but I can not find any of my images on ShotShop anymore. When I did the original search, I remember it wasn't too easy to find mine. But now I tried with several searches for specific images and could find none of them.
So it might be that at least my images were removed from Deposit's API interface...
My files were gone from Shotshop before DP even replied to my email. I GUESS they were removed by Shotshop. Somebody on the german forum was told by Shotshop that they found a way to identify duplicate files... So if you contruibute to Shotshop yourself, the DP files should be gone.
However my files are still available at Ibudget.
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Now my images are out from ShotShop!
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Ok, they have actually removed my portfolio from shotshop. Good.
Still not sure if I'll continue to contribute to DP. Probably will just leave files that I have there, but not upload new stuff. Dunno.
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What do you think, is it a good idea to offer images direct for ShotShop?
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What do you think, is it a good idea to offer images direct for ShotShop?
Good idea in what way? That agency was quite happy to pay another a subscription and then offer the file at a high price - what does that say about their business ethics?
I'd think it was an accident waiting to happen - you don't know how they might s*rew you in the future, but the odds are pretty high that they will if they can.
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What do you think, is it a good idea to offer images direct for ShotShop?
They are not interested in microstock images. :rofl:
Luis posted their reply when he inquired about contributing:
Hi Luis Santos,
thanks for your interest contributing images at shotshop.com. please let me explain that we are mainly focussed on the german speaking markets with more selected images and even higher prices than the usual microstocks. It doens't make sense for us to display the same images like the subscription stocks. I am sorry and hope for your understanding.
good luck and
best regards
Stephan Krömer
So, yeah.
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Yep, best to bury the idea :)
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Interesting. I sent them a nasty gram this morning .....my second one....and a few hours later my pics are off shotshop. Now I need to check the other partners. Doing that in the next half day.
We must be diligent. How will DP attempt to screw us next? Something we need to watch out for.
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Now my images are out from ShotShop!
Mine too. Upon your post I've rechecked and they are out. I will check periodically, you know, just in case the show up again...
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Now my images are out from ShotShop!
Mine too. Upon your post I've rechecked and they are out. I will check periodically, you know, just in case the show up again...
Right. Mysteriously. Accidentally on purpose.
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My images appear to be gone from Shotshop, but they are still on Photogenica.
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How do I contact them, through the webform or can someone share an address. Thanks
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That agency was quite happy to pay another a subscription and then offer the file at a high price - what does that say about their business ethics?
How do you know?
I think it´s quite possible Shotshop paid DP 50% like in a normal partner deal.
The whole "subscription" and "reseller" shenanigans DP is talking about just doesn´t make any sense. You cannot re-sell what havn´t bought in the first place, can you?
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Oh joy :) my DP images have disappeared from Shotshop - finally! Don't know if they are still selling at some other 'partners' - must check this out!
Meanwhile and leading up to this event I have deactivated over a third of my portfolio at DP - trying to pick images that have tended to sell well at other sites. Have also stopped all new uploads to DP. I have to say that this event has undermined them in my mind and I am not prepared to take further risk. Because who knows what they might do in future.
The past, as they say, is the best predictor of the future. And at the moment I have learnt my lesson :)
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What do you think, is it a good idea to offer images direct for ShotShop?
Waste of time!
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That agency was quite happy to pay another a subscription and then offer the file at a high price - what does that say about their business ethics?
How do you know?
I think it´s quite possible Shotshop paid DP 50% like in a normal partner deal.
The whole "subscription" and "reseller" shenanigans DP is talking about just doesn´t make any sense. You cannot re-sell what havn´t bought in the first place, can you?
I didn't make the purchases, but earlier in this thread one or two users did and verified that the purchase from Shotshop resulted in a subscription download at DP. If you think they're not telling the full story, find the post and PM them to ask
Here are the links
http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365027/#msg365027 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365027/#msg365027)
http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365039/#msg365039 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365039/#msg365039)
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That agency was quite happy to pay another a subscription and then offer the file at a high price - what does that say about their business ethics?
How do you know?
I think it´s quite possible Shotshop paid DP 50% like in a normal partner deal.
The whole "subscription" and "reseller" shenanigans DP is talking about just doesn´t make any sense. You cannot re-sell what havn´t bought in the first place, can you?
I didn't make the purchases, but earlier in this thread one or two users did and verified that the purchase from Shotshop resulted in a subscription download at DP. If you think they're not telling the full story, find the post and PM them to ask
Here are the links
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365027/#msg365027[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365027/#msg365027[/url])
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365039/#msg365039[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/the-german-shotshop-reseller-of-depositphotos/msg365039/#msg365039[/url])
DP pays the photographer a subscription. Nobody knows how much DP gets from Shotshop.
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My images appear to be gone from Shotshop, but they are still on Photogenica.
Same here. I wonder if they think they are just appeasing us by shutting down shotshop but keeping them everywhere else. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if after things calm down they are quietly back at shotshop.....due to a technical API connector issue and that they will be very sorry.
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i found my pictures on ibudgetphoto in a "Dreamstime Collection"...:-(
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Vicky and DepositPhotos are lying through their teeth.
Your portfolio has been successfully removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites.
Should you have any further questions or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
http://depositphotos.com/20399375/stock-photo-Young-woman-showing-two-middle-fingers.html (http://depositphotos.com/20399375/stock-photo-Young-woman-showing-two-middle-fingers.html)
http://www.shotshop.com/search/20399375 (http://www.shotshop.com/search/20399375)
They are lying as if it was written. Utter disrespect. Everyone needs to get their images deactivated and drop them like a brick. Send a message they cant ignore.
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i found my pictures on ibudgetphoto in a "Dreamstime Collection"...:-(
You can opt out anytime.
http://www.dreamstime.com/alliances (http://www.dreamstime.com/alliances)
Btw. I must ask you again - how are your sales going? As I said before, I used to have sales every day, even few sales a day and it suddenly stopped about 26 Feb. I sold 1 (one!) image in 2 weeks... Still trying to get $3 to reach my payment that I could close account. This is to weird to me. Wonder then, how are your sales going... ???
(yes, my images are still on partners and resellers sites)
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I use a different username on DP than other stock sites. My images from DP are now gone from Shotshop, Photogenica and iBudgetphoto. I did a google search with my username, though, and found them on some other sites (although it looks like some of them are no longer available for download and are just showing up in the google search). These are the sites if you want to check for your photos: Samphotostock, Viewphotos.ru, stock.chroma.pl, dekorowalnia.pl, fototapetygdansk.pl, microfotos.com
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i found my pictures on ibudgetphoto in a "Dreamstime Collection"...:-(
I opted out of partnerships at dreamstime a week or two back (I hadn't realized until this Deposit Photos thing blew up) and unlike the useless Deposit Photos response that it was "hard" to remove, my DT photos were gone immediately - they showed up in searches but couldn't be purchased minutes after I opted out.
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thanks for your info, i´m opted out too now...! :-)
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... found them on some other sites (although it looks like some of them are no longer available for download and are just showing up in the google search). These are the sites if you want to check for your photos: Samphotostock, Viewphotos.ru, stock.chroma.pl, dekorowalnia.pl, fototapetygdansk.pl, microfotos.com
Thank you for this info! My images are here, of course ;D :o >:(
(and they're from my country)
I believe this is in DP licence? Unlimited printing? Not even extended? Partner program or unlimited options? Never again! This is against my business!
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No problem! :)
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Thank you for the list BD. It is good to hear your files are gone, i will check tomorrow for mine.
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I did a quick random check by BDs list (thanks for that), and did not find my images on these sites. Also do not find them on Shotshop any longer. Looking at all these sites, its a bit scary how far and wide DP had managed to spread our content - its as if we had been no longer in control of our work! And to top it all, we were probably being paid a lowly sub rate while the sales may have been made at much higher prices, according to the experience reported by those making test purchase from Shotshop.
I have accordingly started to review all partnership options on different sites. Opted out at 123RF last week. Will look closer at other ones. And possibly stop contributing to any sites that wont allow opt out or wont give a full disclosure about partners and sales. I think that may finally be the way to go to be able to keep some reasonable control of the work.
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I asked who are the API re-sellers that I can check out that my images are out. This was DP´s answer:
"We don't disclose any information about our API re-sellers or partner sites."
This is starting to be too thick "porridge", do they have something to hide? Why we should not to know who sell our pictures? I think this is the end of this story.. I must use my middle.. no.. I mean index finger and do some clicks..
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i found my pictures on ibudgetphoto in a "Dreamstime Collection"...:-(
I opted out of partnerships at dreamstime a week or two back (I hadn't realized until this Deposit Photos thing blew up) and unlike the useless Deposit Photos response that it was "hard" to remove, my DT photos were gone immediately - they showed up in searches but couldn't be purchased minutes after I opted out.
Wow that was fast and easy! Thanks!
And kudos to DT for making it so easy!
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I asked who are the API re-sellers that I can check out that my images are out. This was DP´s answer:
"We don't disclose any information about our API re-sellers or partner sites."
This is starting to be too thick "porridge", do they have something to hide? Why we should not to know who sell our pictures? I think this is the end of this story.. I must use my middle.. no.. I mean index finger and do some clicks..
As I said before, DP, Veer and DT will not give us that list (info from them by email). I've put that info before here somewhere in this thread...
Looks like only Alamy is fair with us and gives the whole list of partners and lets us decide where and if we wish to sell our work by 3rd hand...
Microstock sites maybe give you more (cheap) clients and sales (for $1) but you absolutely lose control over your work... And, if you watch it carefully, you'll see you lose money this way...
Btw. I thought that all that big agencies are big enough (globally) that they don't need any partners, medium...
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If DP has been knowingly selling subs to be resold as credit sales....wouldn't that be a violation of our contract? I think a class-action lawsuit against these jerks might be a good lesson for all the agencies who seem to think THEY own OUR files and can do whatever they please with them.
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I forgot to mention that now the reply from them says "will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible". No mention how long it takes.
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I delayed the inevitable since I had a very small portfolio. But, I decided to go ahead with my OPT OUT:
"Please OPT OUT my FULL portfolio (##) with your agency from all your partnership and reseller programs so that my images will be sold SOLELY on depositphotos.com. Please ensure that my images are removed from all Partners and Resellers at the earliest."
Let me see how quickly this gets done.
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I delayed the inevitable since I had a very small portfolio. But, I decided to go ahead with my OPT OUT:
"Please OPT OUT my FULL portfolio (##) with your agency from all your partnership and reseller programs so that my images will be sold SOLELY on depositphotos.com. Please ensure that my images are removed from all Partners and Resellers at the earliest."
Let me see how quickly this gets done.
It took DP almost a month to take me off their partner sites, claiming that it was a 'difficult technical process'. By comparison, I read another contributor's post that the same thing was done by another agency (DT) promptly and immediately when requested. We can draw our conclusions from that!
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When I disable an image with DP, it almost immediately is no longer for sale on the partner site. The thumbnail takes a little time to go away but the actual sales page is gone almost immediately. Perhaps it is more difficult to separate them into only the DP database than in their other "partner" db's.
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I delayed the inevitable since I had a very small portfolio. But, I decided to go ahead with my OPT OUT:
"Please OPT OUT my FULL portfolio (##) with your agency from all your partnership and reseller programs so that my images will be sold SOLELY on depositphotos.com. Please ensure that my images are removed from all Partners and Resellers at the earliest."
Let me see how quickly this gets done.
It took DP almost a month to take me off their partner sites, claiming that it was a 'difficult technical process'. By comparison, I read another contributor's post that the same thing was done by another agency (DT) promptly and immediately when requested. We can draw our conclusions from that!
I am sure it will take a similar timeframe for me though I am hoping that it would be quicker (like the reply on the ticket that I received in about 2 hours :)))
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And the other four or five sites? We don't even know all of them. DP has allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images. They did this for a contract or payment or both.
This was done under the table until we discovered it. And now people are happy because they could opt out?
What is wrong with you people. DP just cheated everyone of us, did a back door deal and sold the rights to your images illegally. And now you're happy because you found out and they stopped?
Wait until the next scheme they come up with to screw us and then people will be "happy" to discover and end that one?
This is dishonest business and proves what people have said since the day DP opened. They can't be trusted. But some people are so desperate for some quarters, that they will continue to support agencies that steal and cheat us?
Just absurd and ridiculous. Wake up!
DP pays the photographer a subscription. Nobody knows how much DP gets from Shotshop.
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I totally agree with Uncle Pete. As I wrote before, it seems to me just the peak of an iceberg.
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Uncle Pete +1
All images deactivated except this one:
http://goo.gl/hF2RTY (http://goo.gl/hF2RTY)
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And the other four or five sites? We don't even know all of them. DP has allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images. They did this for a contract or payment or both.
This was done under the table until we discovered it. And now people are happy because they could opt out?
What is wrong with you people. DP just cheated everyone of us, did a back door deal and sold the rights to your images illegally. And now you're happy because you found out and they stopped?
Wait until the next scheme they come up with to screw us and then people will be "happy" to discover and end that one?
This is dishonest business and proves what people have said since the day DP opened. They can't be trusted. But some people are so desperate for some quarters, that they will continue to support agencies that steal and cheat us?
Just absurd and ridiculous. Wake up!
I wish I could give more than one + ......
I think you said everything that should be in latest situation. Some people can't see what is really going on or will accept this absurd. I can't understand why...
@ jarih,
I believe we are professionalists and middle finger is not good or funny now. Why don't you delete your images (account) if you feel bad and write few words (your opinion) about partners sites and re-sellers on your blog? Trust me, this way you'll get to more people. More people will understand your situation and maybe they can use your value informations... more and better than middle finger. I guess...
I think DP doesn't care what you think showing this image. You won't change much this way. Be more creative.
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And the other four or five sites? We don't even know all of them. DP has allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images. They did this for a contract or payment or both.
This was done under the table until we discovered it. And now people are happy because they could opt out?
What is wrong with you people. DP just cheated everyone of us, did a back door deal and sold the rights to your images illegally. And now you're happy because you found out and they stopped?
Wait until the next scheme they come up with to screw us and then people will be "happy" to discover and end that one?
This is dishonest business and proves what people have said since the day DP opened. They can't be trusted. But some people are so desperate for some quarters, that they will continue to support agencies that steal and cheat us?
Just absurd and ridiculous. Wake up!
DP pays the photographer a subscription. Nobody knows how much DP gets from Shotshop.
I am not happy with DP, not at all. They are dishonest!
But it´s DP (not Shotshot or any other partner or reseller) that pays the photographer the pitiful subscription price!
We simply do not know who much DP gets from their partners. The probably get a normal 50/50 deal.
I think it´s you who is naive here if you really believe that DP "allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images"
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And the other four or five sites? We don't even know all of them. DP has allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images. They did this for a contract or payment or both.
This was done under the table until we discovered it. And now people are happy because they could opt out?
What is wrong with you people. DP just cheated everyone of us, did a back door deal and sold the rights to your images illegally. And now you're happy because you found out and they stopped?
Wait until the next scheme they come up with to screw us and then people will be "happy" to discover and end that one?
This is dishonest business and proves what people have said since the day DP opened. They can't be trusted. But some people are so desperate for some quarters, that they will continue to support agencies that steal and cheat us?
Just absurd and ridiculous. Wake up!
DP pays the photographer a subscription. Nobody knows how much DP gets from Shotshop.
I am not happy with DP, not at all. They are dishonest!
But it´s DP (not Shotshot or any other partner or reseller) that pays the photographer the pitiful subscription price!
We simply do not know who much DP gets from their partners. The probably get a normal 50/50 deal.
I think it´s you who is naive here if you really believe that DP "allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images"
But this is not the real point. To me the real point is that honestly we, as photographer have what we deserve. Now DP is not the only agency that act unfairly, but is a small earner de facto. A lot of people are scared by Getty because in the end, there they get a lot of money. Their answer is that principle don't feed family and don't pay bills. What I think it's not important and I can get this point, but why DP is so important for a lot of people? Am I missing something? They assure you a lot of money? Really are you so desperate that need this absurd agency? If DP can do this and artists remain with them, then for sure agencies can do whatever they want because they understood that people don't care what happen to their files.
If you find that your accountant has stolen your money, are you happy if he returns a third of the amount? And you'll continue to hold him as your accountant?
What I'm missing why DP is so special?
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But this is not the real point. To me the real point is that honestly we, as photographer have what we deserve. Now DP is not the only agency that act unfairly, but is a small earner de facto. A lot of people are scared by Getty because in the end, there they get a lot of money. Their answer is that principle don't feed family and don't pay bills. What I think it's not important and I can get this point, but why DP is so important for a lot of people? Am I missing something? They assure you a lot of money? Really are you so desperate that need this absurd agency? If DP can do this and artists remain with them, then for sure agencies can do whatever they want because they understood that people don't care what happen to their files.
If you find that your accountant has stolen your money, are you happy if he returns a third of the amount? And you'll continue to hold him as your accountant?
What I'm missing why DP is so special?
Absolutely agree!
Every single stock agency is built on Contributor support - we form the backbone of their business, and without our work there is nothing to sell.
We should stop contributing to any agency that acts in unfair or unethical manner or in a way that is against contributor interest.
Its a powerful message and can change the dynamics of the business.
We should instead focus on agencies who firmly keep their contributors in mind, and who believe in fair trade and fair play - the future belongs to them and we should be part of that success!
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We should instead focus on agencies who firmly keep their contributors in mind, and who believe in fair trade and fair play - the future belongs to them and we should be part of that success!
Which agencies do you suggest who meet these criteria and wich can also attract customers and stand up to the demands of big buyers for huge discounts?
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We should instead focus on agencies who firmly keep their contributors in mind, and who believe in fair trade and fair play - the future belongs to them and we should be part of that success!
Which agencies do you suggest who meet these criteria and wich can also attract customers and stand up to the demands of big buyers for huge discounts?
Good point. If we assume all agencies do this then we should get out of micro stock. I am not saying they don't act dishonestly or at least try to hide shady deals that while probably defendable in court, would create a sh&t storm of pissed off contributors. Istock/Getty google deal, DP scam, FT, etc. I am sure that the list goes on. Even though DP "fixed" this particular cheater button, I am still on the fence about disabling my port. The ONLY thing that keeps me from doing that is my financial situation, where I am the sole supporter to two households. That takes priority over closing accounts that provide me income. I usually classify a keeper site as roughly $100 a month and DP fits that bill. If it were Stockfresh I would have just closed my account as I only make $6 a month there. HOWEVER, my dual household is coming to an end soon and when it does won't be so forgiving (probably not the right words because I don't forgive jack sh*t what DP did and DP as a whole).
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We should instead focus on agencies who firmly keep their contributors in mind, and who believe in fair trade and fair play - the future belongs to them and we should be part of that success!
Which agencies do you suggest who meet these criteria and wich can also attract customers and stand up to the demands of big buyers for huge discounts?
Should this be a hard one? :) But some examples from my perspective.
For me, Shutterstock works. They have a sub based model and they have the volume to justify that rate. And if I look at the mix there are pretty good OD and occasional SOD etc sales that pump up revenue - the RPD is certainly not the worst I get. I find DT pretty good too. Not quite at par to SS but as images climb in ranking I can see pretty good value creation - although wish they hadn't the sub because its not enough volume to justifies that rate. Then there's a few smaller agencies, like GL - I dont have so much content there but understand that many contributors are happy - although they dont deliver much in sales for me yet. And I think about Symbiostock more and more .. in the longer run it may be a very good way to go.
Finally .. although I may not agree with EVERYTHING the above agencies do in terms of their business tactics, however I have not had issues with ethical or questionable behaviors - that says a lot to me.
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We should instead focus on agencies who firmly keep their contributors in mind, and who believe in fair trade and fair play - the future belongs to them and we should be part of that success!
Which agencies do you suggest who meet these criteria and which can also attract customers and stand up to the demands of big buyers for huge discounts?
... And I think about Symbiostock more and more ..
Is Symbio an 'agency'?
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[/quote]
Is Symbio an 'agency'?
[/quote]
Yes, the content creators own agency.
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Is Symbio an 'agency'?
[/quote]
Yes, the content creators own agency.
[/quote]
Fair enough.
Thanks for your answers.
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Why don't you delete your images (account) if you feel bad and write few words (your opinion) about partners sites and re-sellers on your blog? Trust me, this way you'll get to more people. More people will understand your situation and maybe they can use your value informations... more and better than middle finger. I guess…
I agree. I wrote already to editor of local photo magazine if they like to make a story about this view of point of microstocking and of course about the DP. I also wrote the warning for local finnish stock photographers.
You know, in Finland often one word (image) meaning very, very very much.
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Question from a new person to micro/mid stock photography.
I was approved to submit to DepositPhotos Friday, and as such have no photos online with them yet.
If I Opt out of re-seller and affiliate sales, does that protect me in the future, or is the general consensus that DP is going to find another way to act unethically?
Thanks
Jon
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Question from a new person to micro/mid stock photography.
I was approved to submit to DepositPhotos Friday, and as such have no photos online with them yet.
If I Opt out of re-seller and affiliate sales, does that protect me in the future, or is the general consensus that DP is going to find another way to act unethically?
Thanks
Jon
This one time we have discovered the fraud. Be sure that other tricks will follow.
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I am not happy with DP, not at all. They are dishonest!
But it´s DP (not Shotshot or any other partner or reseller) that pays the photographer the pitiful subscription price!
We simply do not know who much DP gets from their partners. The probably get a normal 50/50 deal.
I think it´s you who is naive here if you really believe that DP "allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images"
If you read earlier in this thread, you'll see a contributor posted the text of a reply Shotshop sent him when he applied - that they don't work with microstock photographers. There were other contributors who submit to Shotshop directly who earlier in this thread reported having work rejected as "not suitable" only to find that same work on Shotshop's site but via the DP reseller API
I realize that is circumstantial evidence, but to me it says very clearly that Shotshop does not have clean hands in this deal. And I would point out that many deals with distributors are not 50/50, so I don't think there is a normal. Those of us who have been on the receiving end of these "deals" for a while are not being naive, but circumspect.
And as you point out, we don't know what DP is paid - and you don't know either - but contributors should know about the split between agency and distributor.
Alamy, for example, (a) lets you opt out, albeit only once a year and (b) is up front about the split - 40% for the distributor, 30% for Alamy and 30% for the schmuck who created what's being licensed. I applaud their transparency, but I opted out of distributor deals as it just seemed wrong for the company that did virtually nothing to walk away with the lion's share of the payment.
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I am not happy with DP, not at all. They are dishonest!
But it´s DP (not Shotshot or any other partner or reseller) that pays the photographer the pitiful subscription price!
We simply do not know who much DP gets from their partners. The probably get a normal 50/50 deal.
I think it´s you who is naive here if you really believe that DP "allowed second parties to pay subscription prices (to us) and those people have re-licensed our images"
If you read earlier in this thread, you'll see a contributor posted the text of a reply Shotshop sent him when he applied - that they don't work with microstock photographers. There were other contributors who submit to Shotshop directly who earlier in this thread reported having work rejected as "not suitable" only to find that same work on Shotshop's site but via the DP reseller API
I realize that is circumstantial evidence, but to me it says very clearly that Shotshop does not have clean hands in this deal. And I would point out that many deals with distributors are not 50/50, so I don't think there is a normal. Those of us who have been on the receiving end of these "deals" for a while are not being naive, but circumspect.
And as you point out, we don't know what DP is paid - and you don't know either - but contributors should know about the split between agency and distributor.
Alamy, for example, (a) lets you opt out, albeit only once a year and (b) is up front about the split - 40% for the distributor, 30% for Alamy and 30% for the schmuck who created what's being licensed. I applaud their transparency, but I opted out of distributor deals as it just seemed wrong for the company that did virtually nothing to walk away with the lion's share of the payment.
I do not have to read that earlier in this thread, I know that from 1st hand experience because I am a Shotshop contributor. Unlike many others in this thread who keep posting things as "facts" that are obviously only specualtion. Some people in this forum sure like their conspiracy theories... I would rather stick to the known facts. But I guess I´m the only one...
And just for the record (as I keep getting quoted and misinterpreted):
I´m not defending any of the actions of either DP or Shotshop.
I have actually stopped uploading to DP and I´m only waiting for my next payout.
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[………]
Just absurd and ridiculous. Wake up!
Completely agree with you.
Wake up, yes, okay.
But then what to do except whining on forums?
Concretely.
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... These are the sites if you want to check for your photos: Samphotostock, Viewphotos.ru, stock.chroma.pl, dekorowalnia.pl, fototapetygdansk.pl, microfotos.com
I asked DP if this is partner site and here's the reply:
"I have checked the links you sent. Popscreen website (http://www.popscreen.com/... (http://www.popscreen.com) my image) uses your image illegally. We contacted with the website management and warn them regarding a copyright infringement. As for the second link (http://fototapetygdansk.pl (http://fototapetygdansk.pl)... my image) the image is used with Stock Image watermark. The image was stolen from the istockphoto website (www.istockphoto.com (http://www.istockphoto.com)) and the image is used illegally as well.
These wesites are not our partners."
You better check this sites out!
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... These are the sites if you want to check for your photos: Samphotostock, Viewphotos.ru, stock.chroma.pl, dekorowalnia.pl, fototapetygdansk.pl, microfotos.com
I asked DP if this is partner site and here's the reply:
"I have checked the links you sent. Popscreen website ([url]http://www.popscreen.com/...[/url] ([url]http://www.popscreen.com[/url]) my image) uses your image illegally. We contacted with the website management and warn them regarding a copyright infringement. As for the second link ([url]http://fototapetygdansk.pl[/url] ([url]http://fototapetygdansk.pl[/url])... my image) the image is used with Stock Image watermark. The image was stolen from the istockphoto website ([url=http://www.istockphoto.com]www.istockphoto.com[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com[/url])) and the image is used illegally as well.
These wesites are not our partners."
You better check this sites out!
The Polish site link you gave mapped to their home page, so I couldn't see your image there.
However, having clicked on a few, they all have the white diagonal cross and 'Stock Image' as a watermark, so I don't know how they know for sure they were stolen specifically from iStockphoto - the old iS watermark was iStockphoto with the camera icon, IIRC it certainly wasn't 'Stock Photo'.
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The Polish site link you gave mapped to their home page, so I couldn't see your image there.
Because I put link to home page not to my image ;)
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The Polish site link you gave mapped to their home page, so I couldn't see your image there.
Because I put link to home page not to my image ;)
Fair enough, but on your own image, was it an iS watermark?
Of course, watermarked images can be stolen from iS; but I wondered why your DP contact said iS.
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That Polish site has to be a partner. Do a specific search and you get the exact same results on there as you get from Photogenica. Same images, even in the exact same order. Even with identical image numbers.
No way they're not getting those images from DP.
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I wonder if they are a partner of a partner perhaps?
DP sends to Shotshop. Shotshop sends to _______________.
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And... if you click on thumbnail you are moved to DP site and you can buy that image... upsss, something is not clear here,... someone is dishonest here...
Btw. Tomorrow I'll reach my $50 and I'm away, far, far away from them! :-\ >:(
I wonder if they are a partner of a partner perhaps?
DP sends to Shotshop. Shotshop sends to _______________.
You mean... some kind of ... inception? ;D
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So it's either complete ignorance on the part of DP, not even knowing who their partners are, or they're blatantly lying to us.
Wonderful.
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Well, my images have been removed from Shotshop but they are still on photogenica. Others see the same?
I tested the deactivate and it is simple. Might take me 2 hours and 12 beers....but.......
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I can find my images on photogenica as well, but they are coming from Veer (they have a Veer watermark on them and the detail page says © dirkr / Veer / Photogenica).
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I can find my images on photogenica as well, but they are coming from Veer (they have a Veer watermark on them and the detail page says © dirkr / Veer / Photogenica).
Yea I am not on veer.....that I know of anyway.
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So they source from different agencies...
My images from Deposit are not there.
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So they source from different agencies...
My images from Deposit are not there.
hahahahaha so its possible i just sent a very nasty email to vicky at dp again. oh how so sorry i am for that....NOT..
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I can find my images on photogenica as well, but they are coming from Veer (they have a Veer watermark on them and the detail page says © dirkr / Veer / Photogenica).
Yea I am not on veer.....that I know of anyway.
Don't worry, Sh*tshop has sent them to Veer for you, but you have to go to DP to collect your 30 cent royalties. (Yes, I'm just kidding around... . (Hopefully.)
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... These are the sites if you want to check for your photos: Samphotostock, Viewphotos.ru, stock.chroma.pl, dekorowalnia.pl, fototapetygdansk.pl, microfotos.com
I asked DP if this is partner site and here's the reply:
"I have checked the links you sent. Popscreen website ([url]http://www.popscreen.com/...[/url] ([url]http://www.popscreen.com[/url]) my image) uses your image illegally. We contacted with the website management and warn them regarding a copyright infringement. As for the second link ([url]http://fototapetygdansk.pl[/url] ([url]http://fototapetygdansk.pl[/url])... my image) the image is used with Stock Image watermark. The image was stolen from the istockphoto website ([url=http://www.istockphoto.com]www.istockphoto.com[/url] ([url]http://www.istockphoto.com[/url])) and the image is used illegally as well.
These wesites are not our partners."
You better check this sites out!
That site dekorowalnia.pl has my images with an author name I only use at DP. I also checked the image numbers. They are the exact same numbers as DP. It has to be some sort of partner.
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It's getting more interesting...
Reply from Dekorowalnia:
"we use API Depositphotos.com, as well from Fotolia.pl if clients order. "
(I got reply in my Polish language and translated for you to english).
I don't know, laugh or cry... ;D ??? >:( ;D
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That site dekorowalnia.pl has my images with an author name I only use at DP. I also checked the image numbers. They are the exact same numbers as DP. It has to be some sort of partner.
It is undoubtedly a partner or API user. DP is either lying about it or just clueless as to who is using their program. Either way, it's a major issue.
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If you deactivate a file does it disappear from dekorawalnia (maybe after 48 hours)?
At least then you have direct proof they are using the deposit API link.
It is just crazy that we have to hunt after our images across the globe to see if they have an api link with deposit.
Very frustrating,especially because they are not sending admins to msg to clear things up.
I thought they would offer us a simple opt out button, the way dreamstime has one. Simple and professional.
I am sure they would still have enough content to spread around, not everybody will opt out.
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That specific site seems to be a very professional outlet... ;)
I wanted to check whether my images are there, got following message:
Bandwidth Limit Exceeded
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to the site owner reaching his/her bandwidth limit. Please try again later.
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^^ Yup.
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But FB site is alive... and many images from DP... Oh boy ::)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dekorowalniapl/425039087532467 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dekorowalniapl/425039087532467)
Edit.
I just got newsletter email with info, that they (DP) started new afiliate program, and if I (re-seller) want to earn more money this way, I have to open new account... So... more of your images will be in the world... New ways, new accounts, new sites... Yupi? Lucky you?
DP what are you doing?!! :o
I just got telephone from owner of dekorowalnia... He's asking me what to do, beacause he has problems with DP. He is their API seller, they forget that, they want some codes to prove it! :o DP API seller has to prove it to DP?! :o He's honest man that want's to work clear and fair. He can't understand what's going on just like we can't...
Amazing! Congrats DP! Who has the control over images? :-\
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I've just read this topic with complete shock and I'm shocked. I will immediately tell them to opt me out from partner sites and api resellers, and very possibly delete my account from these frauds.
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One more time...
DP:
"The websites you mentioned are not our re-sellers. They use our images along with images from another photostock illegally since the images are used with the watermarks. We will contact the website that use your images illegally and warn them regarding copyright infringement."
PopScreen Team:
"Yes, we are an affiliate/partner of most major stock agencies including Getty, iStock, Depositphotos, Shutterstock, etc. We help these agencies promote the photos they license to potential customers that visit our web site."
And it's after over 30 days when DP promised:
17 Feb.:
"I cannot tell you the exact time, it make take up to one month. Your portfolio will be removed from our partner programs and API re-seller sites as soon as possible. "
20 March:
"Your portfolio was removed from all partner programs."
I asked them to send me list of all partners and resellers... Waiting.
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Snip..
I asked them to send me list of all partners and resellers... Waiting.
Hope you share with us if you ever get DP to provide you with list of their partners/ resellers/ etc.
I for one am very interested where they have spread my content - and at what rates. Also I want to be sure that all the files which I have deactivated from DP recently have been correctly taken down from all their partner sites ..
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Suppose an Extended License gets sold through Shotshop, would we be getting $0,30 as well?
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Snip..
I asked them to send me list of all partners and resellers... Waiting.
Hope you share with us if you ever get DP to provide you with list of their partners/ resellers/ etc.
I for one am very interested where they have spread my content - and at what rates. Also I want to be sure that all the files which I have deactivated from DP recently have been correctly taken down from all their partner sites ..
I asked already..
DP: "We don't disclose any information about our API re-sellers or partner sites."
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Found another selling DP images: http://www.blog.artivia.pl/ (http://www.blog.artivia.pl/)
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Suppose an Extended License gets sold through Shotshop, would we be getting $0,30 as well?
You're right, just as it is >:(
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Found another selling DP images: [url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl/[/url] ([url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl/[/url])
this site shows number of downloads, a thing that DP doesn't, great stuff!
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Found another selling DP images: [url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl/[/url] ([url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl/[/url])
this site shows number of downloads, a thing that DP doesn't, great stuff!
Nice....none of my images there. Thank Neptune.
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I see my whole portfolio is on http://dekorowalnia.pl (http://dekorowalnia.pl) and http://www.blog.artivia.pl (http://www.blog.artivia.pl). (same ID numbers) As a test, I deactivated one of my files on DP and now when I click on the same file at dekorowalnia and artivia, I get an error message. I sent DP another email about these two sites but no response yet.
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I see my whole portfolio is on [url]http://dekorowalnia.pl[/url] ([url]http://dekorowalnia.pl[/url]) and [url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl[/url] ([url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl[/url]). (same ID numbers) As a test, I deactivated one of my files on DP and now when I click on the same file at dekorowalnia and artivia, I get an error message. I sent DP another email about these two sites but no response yet.
I checked both sites and my images aren't there. My portfolio was on ShotShop, but they removed it (around March 8, had to wait) after I sent DP a message insisting that my images be taken down.
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I see my whole portfolio is on [url]http://dekorowalnia.pl[/url] ([url]http://dekorowalnia.pl[/url]) and [url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl[/url] ([url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl[/url]). (same ID numbers) As a test, I deactivated one of my files on DP and now when I click on the same file at dekorowalnia and artivia, I get an error message. I sent DP another email about these two sites but no response yet.
I checked both sites and my images aren't there. My portfolio was on ShotShop, but they removed it (around March 8, had to wait) after I sent DP a message insisting that my images be taken down.
Same here. I haven't checked the full list of (known) partners/resellers, though. If DP doesn't sneak my images back into their partner/reseller program again (I'll check that regularly!) I'll keep my images on their site active. But I am still too p!ssed over this to continue uploading >:(.
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I see my whole portfolio is on [url]http://dekorowalnia.pl[/url] ([url]http://dekorowalnia.pl[/url]) and [url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl[/url] ([url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl[/url]). (same ID numbers) As a test, I deactivated one of my files on DP and now when I click on the same file at dekorowalnia and artivia, I get an error message. I sent DP another email about these two sites but no response yet.
Let me know if they changed their mind lately :)
DP what are you doing?!! :o
I just got telephone from owner of dekorowalnia... He's asking me what to do, beacause he has problems with DP. He is their API seller, they forget that, they want some codes to prove it! :o DP API seller has to prove it to DP?! :o He's honest man that want's to work clear and fair. He can't understand what's going on just like we can't...
Amazing! Congrats DP! Who has the control over images? :-\
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NEWEST INFO about this agency:
Check if Your deactivated files are online again on well known API, PP, sites...
My files are online again. ALL !
I am waiting reply from DP support dpt.
After I receive their reply, I will contact all DP api, PP...agencies !
Maybe is time for some law business.
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Thank you enstoker for the ifo:
I got all my images removed from their API re-sellers and pattern sites about a couple of weeks ago and right now have just discovered that they are back again on those sites!!!!
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so far mine are off the partners, the ones listed here anyway.
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From the email sent from DP:
"Your files are no longer available for sale at dekorowalnia.pl. If you click "Buy", you will be redirected to their home page. As soon as they clear cache, your files will not be shown on their website."
Still investigating artivia.pl.
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enstoker, did you deactivate images from DP?
I did and I don't see my images anywhere now. What a blissfully feeling!
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Not that I care but I have seen a drastic reduction in my DP sub sales. I wonder how much money this is costing them? If my images are bringing in $30-$99 each sales and I am getting 30 cents, and I went from 125 subs a month to 25 subs a month, that is a loss of somewhere between $3600 to $9900 a month. This of course assuming that the sales prices are what I stated but even if some sales were less you're still talking significant losses. Over a year, just taking the low end of $3600, you're talking $43,200 a year for one stinking portfolio. Multiply that by, say, 10 other similar portfolios and your are talking some serious losses. My guess is that its still more beneficial for them to screw other photographers who remain in partner sites that to simply play all of us a fair commission.
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enstoker, did you deactivate images from DP?
I did and I don't see my images anywhere now. What a blissfully feeling!
Hi, Ariene,
I asked DP to deactivate only API and PP site.
As Mantis wrote, I have seen a reduction (not drastic) in my DP sub sales as well.
For me is DP low earner, so no problem at all.
But for DP is problem (Mantis calculation is maybe too drastic, but is close to reality).
Is this a reason, that this fraud agency reactivated our files?
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I don't know what is their reason and I'm not sure if they know that... ;)
I had problem with reaching last $3 for few weeks after this all situation... So I quite believe Mantis calculations to be correct :(
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Found another selling DP images: [url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl/[/url] ([url]http://www.blog.artivia.pl/[/url])
this site shows number of downloads, a thing that DP doesn't, great stuff!
Nice....none of my images there. Thank Neptune.
Me to. Next time I get payment I close account from these Croocks.
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Checked Shotshop and couple other DP partner/ reseller sites at random and did not find my DP content back on these sites. Have already deactivated a good part of my DP port. But will need to continue random checking in future also. I understand that they even keep full res copies of deactivated files - why!!
Finding that my trust with this agency is at an all time ZERO.
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Checked Shotshop and couple other DP partner/ reseller sites at random and did not find my DP content back on these sites. Have already deactivated a good part of my DP port. But will need to continue random checking in future also. I understand that they even keep full res copies of deactivated files - why!!
Finding that my trust with this agency is at an all time ZERO.
Probably because you have the option to reactivate your deactivated images. Now, if you actually close your account, then I see absolutely no reason why they would keep your images. If they do, it wreaks of forthcoming abuse.
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In my email to DP I said:
"However, despite you having the legal right to do so, doesn't mean it can be considered ethical if a re-seller sells an image for EUR 29,90 and I get to keep a meager USD 0,30 (< 1% royalty). This is a very bad deal for me as a contributor, no matter how many sales I'd get.
Therefore, I would like to be opted out out of all partnership programs and API resellers immediately."
Their answer:
"I think that it is a great idea to have now and then some additional sales. "
Yeah, that's because you aren't missing out on 99% of the sale money! Unbelievable.
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In my email to DP I said:
"However, despite you having the legal right to do so, doesn't mean it can be considered ethical if a re-seller sells an image for EUR 29,90 and I get to keep a meager USD 0,30 (< 1% royalty). This is a very bad deal for me as a contributor, no matter how many sales I'd get.
Therefore, I would like to be opted out out of all partnership programs and API resellers immediately."
Their answer:
"I think that it is a great idea to have now and then some additional sales. "
Yeah, that's because you aren't missing out on 99% of the sale money! Unbelievable.
LOL - Ignorant b@stards >:( >:( >:(
On sites like http://www.ibudgetphoto.com (http://www.ibudgetphoto.com) where my images from DP would compete against same images from DT or YAY, a sale through DP would actually cost me money because the same file bought through the PP of one of the other agents would get me much more than $0.30 in royalty.
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Probably the next "new great Deal" will be something like, a big agency Buy some of these small then mirror the content and pay only micro-price.
From these nice guys I do not expect anything different.
Inviato dal mio C6903 utilizzando Tapatalk
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You just have another proof that you're wasting time on writing to DP... They just don't care what you think. How many more poeple need how many more proofs?
I think there are better ways to spend time, like making new images for normal agencies or own marketing for your work...
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Maybe we have rattled some cages. It seems that dekorowalnia.pl has moved. I can't translate, but the link now brings up:
(http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz187/rimglow/dekorowalniapl_zps7ec28f57.jpg) (http://s826.photobucket.com/user/rimglow/media/dekorowalniapl_zps7ec28f57.jpg.html)
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They are changing system but if client wants some image from FT, he can contact them by phone.
Owner told me he won't use DP anymore because of last issue. They make products like prints, wallpapers, stickers etc.
Something like FAA but images come from microstock sites on demand. Similar site to this one: http://www.bajeczneobrazy.pl/pl/media/46931199,garbage-in-water (http://www.bajeczneobrazy.pl/pl/media/46931199,garbage-in-water)
http://redro.pl/fototapeta-smieci-w-wodzie,1298587 (http://redro.pl/fototapeta-smieci-w-wodzie,1298587)
We call it API, right?
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They are changing system but if client wants some image from FT, he can contact them by phone.
Owner told me he won't use DP anymore because of last issue. They make products like prints, wallpapers, stickers etc.
Something like FAA but images come from microstock sites on demand. Similar site to this one: [url]http://www.bajeczneobrazy.pl/pl/media/46931199,garbage-in-water[/url] ([url]http://www.bajeczneobrazy.pl/pl/media/46931199,garbage-in-water[/url])
[url]http://redro.pl/fototapeta-smieci-w-wodzie,1298587[/url] ([url]http://redro.pl/fototapeta-smieci-w-wodzie,1298587[/url])
We call it API, right?
EXCELLENT!!
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Checked Shotshop and couple other DP partner/ reseller sites at random and did not find my DP content back on these sites. Have already deactivated a good part of my DP port. But will need to continue random checking in future also. I understand that they even keep full res copies of deactivated files - why!!
Finding that my trust with this agency is at an all time ZERO.
No more DP they can't be trusted.
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>:( >:( >:( Unbelievable!!!! >:( >:( >:(
My DP portfolio had been deactivated from Shotshop and others about 3 weeks after I asked for deactivation. Today I check and here they are again, my whole DP portfolio on Shotshop!!! :o :o :o What do they think? (if at all) :o :o :o
Guess that leaves me only one option: deactivating all my images and cashing out for good (bad).
Gangsters! >:( >:( >:(
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Ugggg. They removed my portfolio from Shotshop (and all partner sites) twice and yet... there is is again. Wrote DP support to have it removed a third time.
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Wrote DP support to have it removed a third time.
Lol ;D Are you (guys) going to write to them every month, month by month, asking the same overe and over again? ;D
I can't believe how patient (...) you all are... ::)
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That's right, my only one online image is back on line!
DEPOSITPHOTOS = LIES LIES LIES LIES
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Wrote DP support to have it removed a third time.
Lol ;D Are you (guys) going to write to them every month, month by month, asking the same overe and over again? ;D
I can't believe how patient (...) you all are... ::)
I wrote them and my port disappeared within minutes. Amazing, considering they needed 3 weeks+ to do it the first time because of the technical difficulties ::)
My patience with them is exhausted. I am going to deactivate my images as soon as my click finger feels strong enough ;D
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I just checked and my images have not reappeared in Shotshop, but they are on photogenica.pl.
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I just checked and my images have not reappeared in Shotshop, but they are on photogenica.pl.
I thought they had removed port but I was wrong - the first time I used search words in English (this is how I found my images on ShotShop the first time) and it appeared my images had been removed from the site since they no longer turned up on any of my searches. But, then I read here about people finding their images by image number, so I decided to give that a try just to be sure and guess what -- my images are still there, but now they don't turn up in searches using keywords in English!! I haven't tested other languages (I don't speak any others) but each and every image that I searched for using DP image numbers was there!!!
For example I have an image in my portfolio of a robot holding an infant. If you search for 'robot baby' or 'robot childcare' on DP, the image shows up in both searches. It does not appear on Shotshop using the same search words - BUT if I search using on DP's image number, there it is! And I tried this same test using several other images, and each and every time the result was the same. To my mind this is irrefutable proof that they were deliberately trying to deceive me and they would have gotten away with it, too, had I not read about it on this forum. Thanks to all who brought this problem to light.
Now the question is do I close my account now with $9.21 remaining there and let them keep the money or wait till it reaches $50 so I can get evey penny they owe me?
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Yes, it seems all my images are still on shotshop but accessible only by number not keyword search. Once in my cart I get to the final paypal checkout without any problem.
When I deactivate an image on DP it disappears from shotshop instantly.
Conclusion: Deactivating my images on DP is the only way to be sure they are not available for sale all over the internet at an effective royalty as low as 1%. - I am gone deactivating...
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Exactly the same in my case !!! My images were not showing/ selling on Shotshop (or so I thought). But entered the DP image number and voila there they are on sale at Shotshop. >:(
I deactivated a pretty good part of my portfolio from DP already and this motivates me to deactivate more… Also am sending DP yet another email on the issue.
This is outright and blatant misuse that cannot be legally correct. Its even surprising that a group of contributors have not brought a lawsuit yet.
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Exactly the same in my case !!! My images were not showing/ selling on Shotshop (or so I thought). But entered the DP image number and voila there they are on sale at Shotshop. >:(
I deactivated a pretty good part of my portfolio from DP already and this motivates me to deactivate more… Also am sending DP yet another email on the issue.
This is outright and blatant misuse that cannot be legally correct. Its even surprising that a group of contributors have not brought a lawsuit yet.
I also sent another email and it is being ignored. They are playing the "if you don't like it then pull your port, otherwise we will keep acting illegally and you can go fk yourselves.
game.
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Here is an answer, you might see the thumbnails, but the images cant be bought. Shocking answer from DP as this means Shotshop takes your money but you wont get the image.
Shotshop can accept your payment, but you will not receive the image.
Your images were removed from all our API websites and I sent you a confirmation by email. You could only see the previews since we were working on our search filters. However, it was not possible to purchase your files there since your files uploaded directly to our website are available for sale only on our website.
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Here is an answer, you might see the thumbnails, but the images cant be bought. Shocking answer from DP as this means Shotshop takes your money but you wont get the image.
Shotshop can accept your payment, but you will not receive the image.
Your images were removed from all our API websites and I sent you a confirmation by email. You could only see the previews since we were working on our search filters. However, it was not possible to purchase your files there since your files uploaded directly to our website are available for sale only on our website.
I am tempted to try actually buy one of my files on Shotshop to see if that's true.
I am also pretty sure that Shotshop buyers still see our images in their lightboxes. So if DP's statement is correct that should create quite a mess for Shotshop. What a pile of cr@p!
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Here is an answer, you might see the thumbnails, but the images cant be bought. Shocking answer from DP as this means Shotshop takes your money but you wont get the image.
Shotshop can accept your payment, but you will not receive the image.
Your images were removed from all our API websites and I sent you a confirmation by email. You could only see the previews since we were working on our search filters. However, it was not possible to purchase your files there since your files uploaded directly to our website are available for sale only on our website.
Her response is a fucki*g lie. Why, then, were all my images GONE on shotshop for two weeks and now all of a sudden back? If her response were true I would have seen my images all along, only to have a response that while they are there they cannot be purchased. She is flat out lying.
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Here is an answer, you might see the thumbnails, but the images cant be bought. Shocking answer from DP as this means Shotshop takes your money but you wont get the image.
Shotshop can accept your payment, but you will not receive the image.
Your images were removed from all our API websites and I sent you a confirmation by email. You could only see the previews since we were working on our search filters. However, it was not possible to purchase your files there since your files uploaded directly to our website are available for sale only on our website.
I am tempted to try actually buy one of my files on Shotshop to see if that's true.
I am also pretty sure that Shotshop buyers still see our images in their lightboxes. So if DP's statement is correct that should create quite a mess for Shotshop. What a pile of cr@p!
Ok, I just went throught the check out flow,and I cant buy my image nor will they take my money. I guess DP was right, but it sure it effing confusing and very bad experience for buyers. But lets hope it all causes them to leave the site in droves and purchase elsewhere.
Still think they are thugs
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Here is an answer, you might see the thumbnails, but the images cant be bought. Shocking answer from DP as this means Shotshop takes your money but you wont get the image.
Shotshop can accept your payment, but you will not receive the image.
Your images were removed from all our API websites and I sent you a confirmation by email. You could only see the previews since we were working on our search filters. However, it was not possible to purchase your files there since your files uploaded directly to our website are available for sale only on our website.
I am tempted to try actually buy one of my files on Shotshop to see if that's true.
I am also pretty sure that Shotshop buyers still see our images in their lightboxes. So if DP's statement is correct that should create quite a mess for Shotshop. What a pile of cr@p!
Ok, I just went throught the check out flow,and I cant buy my image nor will they take my money. I guess DP was right, but it sure it effing confusing and very bad experience for buyers. But lets hope it all causes them to leave the site in droves and purchase elsewhere.
Still think they are thugs
Thanks for checking.
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Some people are far too forgiving or desperate for paltry downloads and subs from DP. They just play us and lie, thinking some people will take this treatment and abuse. It's an downright insult.
Exactly the same in my case !!! My images were not showing/ selling on Shotshop (or so I thought). But entered the DP image number and voila there they are on sale at Shotshop. >:(
I deactivated a pretty good part of my portfolio from DP already and this motivates me to deactivate more… Also am sending DP yet another email on the issue.
This is outright and blatant misuse that cannot be legally correct. Its even surprising that a group of contributors have not brought a lawsuit yet.
I also sent another email and it is being ignored. They are playing the "if you don't like it then pull your port, otherwise we will keep acting illegally and you can go fk yourselves.
game.
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It's official. I hit payout this am and cashed out. I've pulled all of my files but I will leave the account open for the simple reason that I don't trust them and I want to be able to check periodically that my files are not made live again somehow.
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I didnt recieved any answer as my images was visible again at shotshop..
Thats now for a few months.. dont understand what deposit is doing.. what a shame
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... dont understand what deposit is doing.. what a shame
... And I don't understand what contributors are (not) doing...
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... dont understand what deposit is doing.. what a shame
... And I don't understand what contributors are (not) doing...
.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
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I can only guess from past experience: They will stay "illegal"...
At least I can't see any effort from their side to solve our issues with them. They seem to think they can just sit it out. Sadly, this tactic is probably working for them.
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.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
One more time: it's impossible to delete the pictures. You can only disable the images. DP will keep the pics forever-for "statistical purposes". It is simply an impertinence! >:(
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.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
One more time: it's impossible to delete the pictures. You can only disable the images. DP will keep the pics forever-for "statistical purposes". It is simply an impertinence! >:(
Is that legal? Can I, with a letter from a solicitor, demand they delete my images? It cant be they have control over my IP. Can it?
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.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
One more time: it's impossible to delete the pictures. You can only disable the images. DP will keep the pics forever-for "statistical purposes". It is simply an impertinence! >:(
Is that legal? Can I, with a letter from a solicitor, demand they delete my images? It cant be they have control over my IP. Can it?
As we say in German - Where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge.
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Well, it's the first of many agencies I'm in the process of kicking to the curb. Since I do this as a secondary income, I can afford to pick which one or maybe two agencies will get my images to market on my behalf. Plus I am heavily getting back into my own website(s) since I've horribly neglected them for a while. I may stick with one or two small, indy shops as well. I'm thinking of it as liberating my images. :)
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.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
One more time: it's impossible to delete the pictures. You can only disable the images. DP will keep the pics forever-for "statistical purposes". It is simply an impertinence! >:(
Is that legal? Can I, with a letter from a solicitor, demand they delete my images? It cant be they have control over my IP. Can it?
As we say in German - Where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge.
What does that mean? Honest question.
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.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
One more time: it's impossible to delete the pictures. You can only disable the images. DP will keep the pics forever-for "statistical purposes". It is simply an impertinence! >:(
Is that legal? Can I, with a letter from a solicitor, demand they delete my images? It cant be they have control over my IP. Can it?
As we say in German - Where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge.
What does that mean? Honest question.
It means that it doesn't matter if it's legal or not, until someone sues them.
Or, bluntly speaking, if you want to know if it's legal, find a lawyer who takes them to court. The judge will tell you if it was legal.
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.. you mean delete all images? i just started with them 3 months ago.
i dont know what to do. will they solve it or stay "illegal" ..?
One more time: it's impossible to delete the pictures. You can only disable the images. DP will keep the pics forever-for "statistical purposes". It is simply an impertinence! >:(
Is that legal? Can I, with a letter from a solicitor, demand they delete my images? It cant be they have control over my IP. Can it?
As we say in German - Where there is no plaintiff, there is no judge.
What does that mean? Honest question.
It means that it doesn't matter if it's legal or not, until someone sues them.
Or, bluntly speaking, if you want to know if it's legal, find a lawyer who takes them to court. The judge will tell you if it was legal.
i will stop uploading depo for sure. And start uploading german agencys. They cant do something like this. German law would kick them :)
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@dirkr: Thank you :)
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I found my images on Shotshop also. What is I just upload my work there also? In that case they should pay you from Shotshop directly and you should get the normal commission? Has anyone tried that?
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I found my images on Shotshop also. What is I just upload my work there also? In that case they should pay you from Shotshop directly and you should get the normal commission? Has anyone tried that?
The upload to Shotshop is painful and Shotshop is very restrektiv in accepting pictures, especially since the deal with Deposit. Anyway, still I have a small portfolio there but sales are rare.
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Lets collect money for a lawyer
Robert Kneschke had an idea.
He said:
If we find 300 contributors and everyone spends 100$ he would put 1.000€ on top.
I am in too.
If we find 300 contributors and everyone spends 100$ i put 2.000€ on top.
That should be enough for a competent american lawyer.
is someone able to manage that in a way that everyone is safe to get his / her money back if it does not come to a suit?
regards axel
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Lets collect money for a lawyer
Robert Kneschke had an idea.
He said:
If we find 300 contributors and everyone spends 100$ he would put 1.000€ on top.
I am in too.
If we find 300 contributors and everyone spends 100$ i put 2.000€ on top.
That should be enough for a competent american lawyer.
is someone able to manage that in a way that everyone is safe to get his / her money back if it does not come to a suit?
regards axel
I would give my 100 bucks, as I wrote already in the "stockfotografie-forum".
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300 contributors isn't easy, would it be enough? I would contribute
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Are you all talking about a class action lawsuit? I am asking because I believe attorneys in class action suits are reimbursed only if they win or settle, and it comes out of that money as decided by the court.
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I would be in for a 100$ too. I think its a small cost for the unethical nature of this deal.
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me too
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In two hours i have a phonecall with our lawyer who is a specialist in copyright-issues.
i know that the actual case is not about copyright-issue but i will ask him about the possible measurements.
I myself think about to start with a suit against shotshop at first and would really like to be a part of a suit against DP.
But to be honest - i am quite confident with german law but not with american.
In some hours i know more and let you know.
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Great! I think it is a good idea to suit against ShotShop.com because they maybe sell our Images via DP without a licence.
I have rejected the reseller/api program at DP.
And DP has confirmed that I do not participate on the reseller program.
So which license has ShotShop.com to sell the Images from DP of the rejectes reseller contributors?
100$ from me to.
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@ Axel Lauer: Any news?
OT:
My images now seem to have been removed from all reseller sites, including the previews. I will check back regularly, but for now it seems okay.
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The news are:
1:There is no need for a class action lawsuit if its against DP. Its possible to sue multiple times - for every single photographer a separate case.
Our attorney is looking for a competent american lawyer (cause you better have a lawyer in the country the company you want to sue resides)
2: We took measurements against Shotshop - but since its a actual case i do not want to tell too much.
When the whole case is a bit more advanced we gonna tell you more
axel
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Interesting news, Axel. Please keep us up to date!
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The news are:
1:There is no need for a class action lawsuit if its against DP. Its possible to sue multiple times - for every single photographer a separate case.
Our attorney is looking for a competent american lawyer (cause you better have a lawyer in the country the company you want to sue resides)
2: We took measurements against Shotshop - but since its a actual case i do not want to tell too much.
When the whole case is a bit more advanced we gonna tell you more
axel
What is the basis for a lawsuit against ShotShop?
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@roede-orm
da du ja Deutsch sprichst:
http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/ (http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2014/02/17/weniger-als-1-fotografenhonorar-depositphotos-macht-es-moeglich/) (Kommentare)
@Mantis
Like said before...i cant tell more right now.
When some things got cleared i keep you informed.
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Alongwith the other issues is the question of Why DP holds on to full res copies of files that have been deactivated by contributors? This is a concern to me especially after the kind of behavior exposed with the Shotshop deal. I've been wondering if they even have a right to do that…
Logically speaking the content belongs to contributor /copyright holder. At the time a contributor decides not to sell a file thru a particular agency and deletes/ deactivates it, the file should no longer be held by agency - not in a size and resolution that is useable anyway. So I can't understand the reason behind this keeping in mind future security of contributor files.
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Alongwith the other issues is the question of Why DP holds on to full res copies of files that have been deactivated by contributors? This is a concern to me especially after the kind of behavior exposed with the Shotshop deal. I've been wondering if they even have a right to do that…
Logically speaking the content belongs to contributor /copyright holder. At the time a contributor decides not to sell a file thru a particular agency and deletes/ deactivates it, the file should no longer be held by agency - not in a size and resolution that is useable anyway. So I can't understand the reason behind this keeping in mind future security of contributor files.
DT does that as well. When I asked them to reactivate my account, my earnings and full res files were still there, after 18 months. No agency needs full res files, they can do whatever admin they need to do, or any archive they need to keep, with thumbnails.
I am sure if this goes to a court, or lawyer, they will have to delete our files. Its our property, whatever right they think they have, they cant keep what is not theirs. I am hoping Axel gets a result. I dont have deep pockets, but if need be, I will talk to a solicitor to see if they think I have a case.
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Alongwith the other issues is the question of Why DP holds on to full res copies of files that have been deactivated by contributors? This is a concern to me especially after the kind of behavior exposed with the Shotshop deal. I've been wondering if they even have a right to do that…
Logically speaking the content belongs to contributor /copyright holder. At the time a contributor decides not to sell a file thru a particular agency and deletes/ deactivates it, the file should no longer be held by agency - not in a size and resolution that is useable anyway. So I can't understand the reason behind this keeping in mind future security of contributor files.
DT does that as well. When I asked them to reactivate my account, my earnings and full res files were still there, after 18 months. No agency needs full res files, they can do whatever admin they need to do, or any archive they need to keep, with thumbnails.
I am sure if this goes to a court, or lawyer, they will have to delete our files. Its our property, whatever right they think they have, they cant keep what is not theirs. I am hoping Axel gets a result. I dont have deep pockets, but if need be, I will talk to a solicitor to see if they think I have a case.
Depositphotos, Istock do that too.
This store of disabled images is a very strange thing.
In my view according to the German law is also not allowed there must be a way to completely delete images from they servers.
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Check Your files on Shotshop, API and program sites, my photos are there again.
And, of course, no replies on three mails.
How is with complete portfolio deactivation?
I think, that this fraud agency will keep sell despite deleting files.
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Check Your files on Shotshop, API and program sites, my photos are there again.
And, of course, no replies on three mails.
How is with complete portfolio deactivation?
I think, that this fraud agency will keep sell despite deleting files.
I checked in shotshop. The thumbnails of some of my images do appear. But when I click on them, the text "Image temporarily not available. Please try later" appears instead of the image in a new window.
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This is something new on Shotshop.
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Check Your files on Shotshop, API and program sites, my photos are there again.
And, of course, no replies on three mails.
How is with complete portfolio deactivation?
I think, that this fraud agency will keep sell despite deleting files.
I checked in shotshop. The thumbnails of some of my images do appear. But when I click on them, the text "Image temporarily not available. Please try later" appears instead of the image in a new window.
My thumbs are also showing up again. I also got the "image temporarily not available message - try again later" message when opening the preview. However I was able to put an image into the shopping cart.... My thumbs have also returned at ibudgetphoto and clashot. Opting out should not be a game we have to play and replay.
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This is new on Shotshop.
Try this: [url]http://www.ibudgetphoto.com/index.php[/url] ([url]http://www.ibudgetphoto.com/index.php[/url])
Mine do show up on Ibudget and are from Dreamstime. I wonder if they have the same sleazy deal going on? Ironically my thumbnails are back on Shitshop too. I'm keeping a close eye on this.
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I just found a check box in my DP profile, reading "disable partner sales" (go to your profile and scroll all the way down).
Is that new or did I just not see it before?
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We are talking about this from very first day of this thread.
Check this thread.
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We are talking about this from very first day of this thread.
Check this thread.
I know this thread. I've been in there from page 1.
But I have never before seen the option to opt out from partner sales on their website. I sent them an e-mail to get out of those deals, I am sure at that time that check box in my profile did not exist yet - at least I can't remember ever seeing it. That's why I am asking.
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We are talking about this from very first day of this thread.
Check this thread.
I know this thread. I've been in there from page 1.
But I have never before seen the option to opt out from partner sales on their website. I sent them an e-mail to get out of those deals, I am sure at that time that check box in my profile did not exist yet - at least I can't remember ever seeing it. That's why I am asking.
Dirkr - You are correct. I dont remember seeing this earlier. I had asked (via DP support) to get me off of all partner sites. I see this new check box today and it is already checked for me (Disable partner sales)
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Mine is checked too (I asked to be removed from API_resellers and partner sites) and don't remember having seen this check box before...
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We are talking about this from very first day of this thread.
Check this thread.
I know this thread. I've been in there from page 1.
But I have never before seen the option to opt out from partner sales on their website. I sent them an e-mail to get out of those deals, I am sure at that time that check box in my profile did not exist yet - at least I can't remember ever seeing it. That's why I am asking.
Must be new. The option was not there, when we started the thread. I see this as a small success! But you can't say precisely, this switch is an eyecatcher 8)
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Must be new. The option was not there, when we started the thread. I see this as a small success! But you can't say precisely, this switch is an eyecatcher 8)
Success?! ;D Lol, somehow this word doesn't fit in here for me, don't know why... ;) ;D
Sorry, couldn't help myself...
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Dirkr - You are correct. I dont remember seeing this earlier. I had asked (via DP support) to get me off of all partner sites. I see this new check box today and it is already checked for me (Disable partner sales)
Would be interesting to hear from someone who has not opted out of DP partner sales to know what they see in the check box (Checked or Un-Checked).
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Dirkr - You are correct. I dont remember seeing this earlier. I had asked (via DP support) to get me off of all partner sites. I see this new check box today and it is already checked for me (Disable partner sales)
Would be interesting to hear from someone who has not opted out of DP partner sales to know what they see in the check box (Checked or Un-Checked).
Default is unchecked. I just opted out.
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Nice, now I wait official email about this new opt-out feature. I assume that contributors get email. After that, maybe I restore my images back online.
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My stuff is back up on Photogenica.
I'm so ******* sick of these companies. I knew years ago that I shouldn't trust DP, they were shady as heck right from the start. But I went along with the crowd and decided to give them a chance. I don't blame anyone but myself for my decisions, but man am I kicking myself right now for buying into the hype.
Edited to add: The attitude I just got from the chat rep isn't helping. what is going on with these companies? They're annoyed that I'm complaining about their non-compliance with multiple requests to keep my work out of the partner program?
Then don't have an opt-out. Don't be a crap company halfway. Just go all the way and stop pretending to give a ****.
Sorry for the rant. Just losing my mind this week between these jokers and Fotolia.
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Must be new. The option was not there, when we started the thread. I see this as a small success! But you can't say precisely, this switch is an eyecatcher 8)
Success?! ;D Lol, somehow this word doesn't fit in here for me, don't know why... ;) ;D
Sorry, couldn't help myself...
Tell me, what would you call it? Defeat? 8)
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Checked my DP Profile and found a pre-checked box captioned 'Disable partner sites'. This is probably done by them following my many emails to remove my content from all partner sites. Maybe I should be jumping with joy … while constantly checking Shotshop etc to make sure my content does not appear there, by mistake!!
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Could it be that they all realise now (or maybe already knew but held off as long as possible) that having no opt out is against EU legislation?
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Dear Most Microstock Co.s
If these outside deals were fair as in little more equally lucrative for both parties we'd be clambering to be apart of them.... But instead you make deals that are the next step up "pirating" our intellectual property.... What I'm trying to say with quit strong language is let's get out of the "back room" and get back to all of us making money together !
WE CAN ALL MAKE $$$
My Very Best :)
KimsCreativeHub.com
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My stuff is back up on Photogenica.
I'm so ******* sick of these companies. I knew years ago that I shouldn't trust DP, they were shady as heck right from the start. But I went along with the crowd and decided to give them a chance. I don't blame anyone but myself for my decisions, but man am I kicking myself right now for buying into the hype.
Edited to add: The attitude I just got from the chat rep isn't helping. what is going on with these companies? They're annoyed that I'm complaining about their non-compliance with multiple requests to keep my work out of the partner program?
Then don't have an opt-out. Don't be a crap company halfway. Just go all the way and stop pretending to give a ****.
Sorry for the rant. Just losing my mind this week between these jokers and Fotolia.
Mine are there too but the file number is from rf123, so it's 123 doing the f-use dance.
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Must be new. The option was not there, when we started the thread. I see this as a small success! But you can't say precisely, this switch is an eyecatcher 8)
Success?! ;D Lol, somehow this word doesn't fit in here for me, don't know why... ;) ;D
Sorry, couldn't help myself...
Tell me, what would you call it? Defeat? 8)
How about the first step on a long road that has no foreseeable end?
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Could it be that they all realise now (or maybe already knew but held off as long as possible) that having no opt out is against EU legislation?
If that's true I hope someone explains it to Veer, Fotolia (has a DPC opt out button still no opt out for other partners) and other agencies with forced third party partner programs.
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My stuff is back up on Photogenica.
I'm so ******* sick of these companies. I knew years ago that I shouldn't trust DP, they were shady as heck right from the start. But I went along with the crowd and decided to give them a chance. I don't blame anyone but myself for my decisions, but man am I kicking myself right now for buying into the hype.
Edited to add: The attitude I just got from the chat rep isn't helping. what is going on with these companies? They're annoyed that I'm complaining about their non-compliance with multiple requests to keep my work out of the partner program?
Then don't have an opt-out. Don't be a crap company halfway. Just go all the way and stop pretending to give a ****.
Sorry for the rant. Just losing my mind this week between these jokers and Fotolia.
Mine are there as well, with Deposit's file numbers, but only the thumbnails, if I click on them I don't get a file detail page (as I get it for other files) but get redirected to the home page.
Seems to be they are at least not available to buy...
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hi all
deposit has responded to my request for clarification about the sales of shotshop:
"Your royalty rate is fixed and depends whether Shotshop purchase your files by credits or by subscriptions directly on depositphotos.com. Once your file is sold by credits, you will get your commissions that you usually receive when your files are sold by credits, depending on your contributor's level."
shotshop then buy credits or subscriptions on deposit in accordance with the demands of its customers? I do not understand ...
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I do NOT believe DP a single word!
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I do NOT believe DP a single word!
Agreed. My guess is that they wait for things to calm down then sneak our work back on to those low ball partner sites. My sales since sending so many nasty emails to them have all but dried up. Should have listened to the peeps here at msg who said all along to watch out for these fks.
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I do NOT believe DP a single word!
Agreed. My guess is that they wait for things to calm down then sneak our work back on to those low ball partner sites. My sales since sending so many nasty emails to them have all but dried up. Should have listened to the peeps here at msg who said all along to watch out for these fks.
mantis
I do not know you, you do not know me. English is not my native language, I'm sorry, you have no right to label me as a fake just because I'm interested in this post of deposit that I'm concerned.
I follow and agree on the battles of this forum (boycott fotolia etc.) and I think this forum has a fundamental merit to the professionals who work in ms, someone here said that this forum is inhospitable, I can confirm, it is.
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I do NOT believe DP a single word!
Agreed. My guess is that they wait for things to calm down then sneak our work back on to those low ball partner sites. My sales since sending so many nasty emails to them have all but dried up. Should have listened to the peeps here at msg who said all along to watch out for these fks.
mantis
I do not know you, you do not know me. English is not my native language, I'm sorry, you have no right to label me as a fake just because I'm interested in this post of deposit that I'm concerned.
I follow and agree on the battles of this forum (boycott fotolia etc.) and I think this forum has a fundamental merit to the professionals who work in ms, someone here said that this forum is inhospitable, I can confirm, it is.
If you quote the proper "quote" I can respond accordingly. Nothing I ever say in this forum relates to English as a second language or me generally misinterpreting someone. So if I said something that rattled your cages you have every right to call me out on it, but just quote the right post. If this is the right post than I don't see one iota of verbiage that even relates to what you said. I was quoting enstoker not you.
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This is a terrible agency to both contributor and buyer.
It's the only website where I never sold anything, which I find very hard to believe.
Even on Canstock I sell once in a while.
Today I deactivated all my images in this dodgy company and it felt great.
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I stopped uploading to this site ages ago - just too iffy for my liking! But I left some photos there in the hope of a final payout (probably in about 2017!).
I hadn't opted out of partner sites being barely aware of them. In any case, I was no longer very interested in DP, and I rarely read this thread for the same reason.
But for info: the check box appeared UNCHECKED re partner sites.
I have promptly checked it!
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??? This is unbelievable:
"...we would be glad to re-start our cooperation..."
After all I saw and went through? No, thanks ::)
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??? This is unbelievable:
"...we would be glad to re-start our cooperation..."
After all I saw and went through? No, thanks ::)
Did they ask you to rejoin?
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1 or 2 months ago I removed all images and left account empty to see if something happens after sh*tshop acction. In next days I was going to close account definitely. Today they asked me for reason why I deleted images. In respond I asked if they can close my account.
I can't tell how many emails we have exchanged last months because of Partner programs etc. How hard it was to get any info, long story. Many bad things happened here, to many to come back ever.
I just can't imagine ... Why so big agencies treat us as we are fools?! ??? ::)
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1 or 2 months ago I removed all images and left account empty to see if something happens after sh*tshop acction. In next days I was going to close account definitely. Today they asked me for reason why I deleted images. In respond I asked if they can close my account.
I can't tell how many emails we have exchanged last months because of Partner programs etc. How hard it was to get any info, long story. Many bad things happened here, to many to come back ever.
I just can't imagine ... Why so big agencies treat us as we are fools?! ??? ::)
Wow. Well at least we know they are responding to open, yet empty accounts. I will likely be next. I don't intend to tell them to close my account before I disable each image and verify they are off their stupid partner sites. After that it's bye bye.
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You cant delete images from DP, only deactivate. Same with DT. I closed my account about 1.5 years ago on DT and they still had my images when I asked them to reactivate my account.
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You cant delete images from DP, only deactivate. Same with DT. I closed my account about 1.5 years ago on DT and they still had my images when I asked them to reactivate my account.
Yes, deactivate, not delete. Why they hold us hostage this way is criminal.
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You cant delete images from DP, only deactivate. Same with DT. I closed my account about 1.5 years ago on DT and they still had my images when I asked them to reactivate my account.
Sounds like you saved a lot of time not having to reupload your port. Is that such a bad thing?
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You cant delete images from DP, only deactivate. Same with DT. I closed my account about 1.5 years ago on DT and they still had my images when I asked them to reactivate my account.
Sounds like you saved a lot of time not having to reupload your port. Is that such a bad thing?
The images were no longer there when I returned to DT after 3 years as an iStock exclusive. You can't assume they will still be there (I don't know if it's time or other circumstances that determine that)
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You cant delete images from DP, only deactivate. Same with DT. I closed my account about 1.5 years ago on DT and they still had my images when I asked them to reactivate my account.
Sounds like you saved a lot of time not having to reupload your port. Is that such a bad thing?
The images were no longer there when I returned to DT after 3 years as an iStock exclusive. You can't assume they will still be there (I don't know if it's time or other circumstances that determine that)
Strange. Seems like everything in this business is turning out to be a cr@pshoot.
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...aaaaaand I just had a "sub" sale on an image that was deactivated months ago (with the rest of my port). Great.
I am beginning to feel that uploading my port to Depositphotos was the biggest mistake I made in this business.
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...aaaaaand I just had a "sub" sale on an image that was deactivated months ago (with the rest of my port). Great.
I am beginning to feel that uploading my port to Depositphotos was the biggest mistake I made in this business.
Man I would lawyer up and seek copyright restitution.
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...aaaaaand I just had a "sub" sale on an image that was deactivated months ago (with the rest of my port). Great.
I am beginning to feel that uploading my port to Depositphotos was the biggest mistake I made in this business.
Man I would lawyer up and seek copyright restitution.
If I knew who bought it I might. They are the ones using it without a proper license, and it is them one would have to go after to really screw Depositphotos.
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...aaaaaand I just had a "sub" sale on an image that was deactivated months ago (with the rest of my port). Great.
I am beginning to feel that uploading my port to Depositphotos was the biggest mistake I made in this business.
Man I would lawyer up and seek copyright restitution.
If I knew who bought it I might. They are the ones using it without a proper license, and it is them one would have to go after to really screw Depositphotos.
But aren't they selling your work without your permission? That's illegal.
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...aaaaaand I just had a "sub" sale on an image that was deactivated months ago (with the rest of my port). Great.
I am beginning to feel that uploading my port to Depositphotos was the biggest mistake I made in this business.
Man I would lawyer up and seek copyright restitution.
If I knew who bought it I might. They are the ones using it without a proper license, and it is them one would have to go after to really screw Depositphotos.
But aren't they selling your work without your permission? That's illegal.
Sure, but what damages could I really ask for? If it would look even the slightest bit like I might win they would pay up the few hundred bucks and be rid of me.
Sue the buyer and you have news. "Buyer of major stock site Depositphotos sued because Depositphotos sells photos that they have no right to sell." And Depositphotos with no direct way to stop the case, as they aren't even a party to it.
Ah well, one can dream. In all honesty I am not even sure I would win. I am sure they have weasel words somewhere in their terms, and I am sure they have more expensive lawyers. Let's not even speak of the quality of judges, juries and the legal system in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. :)
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Can anyone tell me where exactly to find this opt out checkbox that has appeared on Deposit? I have logged in and looked on my profile page but I can't see it at the bottom - I just have three check boxes for email notifications there.
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Can anyone tell me where exactly to find this opt out checkbox that has appeared on Deposit? I have logged in and looked on my profile page but I can't see it at the bottom - I just have three check boxes for email notifications there.
When I opted out some month ago, there was no checkbox at all. It was necessary to write an email to DP. I had to do this 3 times before I've got an answer.
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Yes, I emailed them back in February, but when I was reading through and catching up on this thread I saw a bunch of posts from people saying that they subsequently added a checkbox to allow you to opt out on your profile page and I can't find one on mine....
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Yes. There was an 'Opt Out' checkbox under 'Profile' and I had seen it. I checked it up yesterday and it seems to have been removed. I did check in a few other places, but could not find it.
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Excellent - they are backtracking again as soon as they figure people have turned their backs. >:(
Thanks for looking for me.
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I continue to check the DP partner sites looking for my work. I suspect they will try to sneak our work back into them and call it a bug. Either way, everyone should keep at least spot checking Deposit Photos partner sites and report any shenanigans here.
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I asked that's going on, Vicky´s answer:
We have removed this option from photographers' profile since we are completely updating our API functionality. Our API partners will be able to re-sell our files purchased by credits only and photographers' commissions will be higher than they receive from direct sales.
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If they are not transparent with PP sales, we don't know if a sale is from DP or from API ... so it is a door open for lies.
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Here's a new one: I recently uploaded to DP, after a month with 0 sales I deactivated all images.
Today I decided to log in just to see how things were and I got several 0.30 sales.
0.30 is the regular subscription price? I wonder if any of my files are in some shady PP there.
Well, one thing is for sure - sales are not real time (delayed at least 1 month).
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Here's a new one: I recently uploaded to DP, after a month with 0 sales I deactivated all images.
Today I decided to log in just to see how things were and I got several 0.30 sales.
0.30 is the regular subscription price? I wonder if any of my files are in some shady PP there.
Well, one thing is for sure - sales are not real time (delayed at least 1 month).
That's assuming your images are NOT on their partner sites. Technically, if API, they should die the moment you deactivate them. But I personally believe that there is a SOLID REASON why they only let you deactivate images and not delete them. You can fill in the blanks.