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[RT]

Alamy have just announced a new license that will compete with microstock sites.

See the contributor blog for details.

This no doubt is going to cause high blood presure for some there!

[chellyar]

One would assume that they'll have an opt-out though, as many Alamy contributors are probably old-school anti-micro folks...

Interesting statement about the state of the industry though....

[sharpshot]

You have to opt in to the novel use scheme for this.  The prices look too low and I would have thought this would only be for RF images.

They will have novel use subscriptions next

[RT]

They will have novel use subscriptions next

Don't even think it

[leaf]

wow.. yeah that IS news.

very interesting turn to things though.  I think it is great news and is exactly what i was trying to say a few days ago in this post

But no doubt the old timers are going to be heatin up and angry.  I guess they can still opt out, but i think they will have a bit of a grudge against alamy after this.  but REALLY.. if johney school boy wants to post a 400x400 pixel image in his blog post how much is it REALLY worth... I think the micro prices will be a good thing for them.... if they can get enough buyers to make it result in a decent income.

If they only sell a few licenses a month people will just get annoyed.  if they sell 1000's of license for poplular photographers, i think people might feel it is more 'worth it'

[Eco]

Very interesting development. Just shows you that the difference between Micro- and Macrostock is decreasing all the time. Microstock prices are increasing (if we exclude the recent irrational move of FT) and Macrostock prices are declining.

Just wondering how this will influence my future upload strategy? Recently I have been working hard to create two seperate portfolios - one for RF Microstock and one for Alamy RM. Does this development imply that it will now be acceptable to upload my Microstock images to Alamy?

[leaf]

and how about all those sites that say you can't upload here if the images are sold for less elsewhere.  Alamy has high prices but they also have low prices too... so are they sold for more or less than site X

[jsnover]

I honestly don't see how they can include the RM files - some with restrictions - in this scheme. Obviously I don't have a problem with micro prices, but you need volume. For me (with admittedly a very small portfolio) Alamy would need to have some more volume to make the 60p for an XS seem interesting.

The responses to the blog are uniformly furious, particularly because the novel use was said to be nothing like micropayment when they signed up and now they're locked in...

[Karimala]

wow.. yeah that IS news.

very interesting turn to things though.  I think it is great news and is exactly what i was trying to say a few days ago in this post

Note to Leaf...the link doesn't work.   

[leaf]

wow.. yeah that IS news.

very interesting turn to things though.  I think it is great news and is exactly what i was trying to say a few days ago in this post

Note to Leaf...the link doesn't work.   

fixed

[sharpshot]

I honestly don't see how they can include the RM files - some with restrictions - in this scheme. Obviously I don't have a problem with micro prices, but you need volume. For me (with admittedly a very small portfolio) Alamy would need to have some more volume to make the 60p for an XS seem interesting.

The responses to the blog are uniformly furious, particularly because the novel use was said to be nothing like micropayment when they signed up and now they're locked in...

If you look when you sign up to novel use, RM photos with restrictions are not included.  I still wish it was all RM images though.

[pixelbrat]

I just signed up at Alamy so was pretty interested to see what this was about.  I'm quite surprised they are doing this without giving contributors the option to opt out until April.  Seems to me they are changing the terms of the original novel use scheme quite a bit.  Pretty sleazy of them, especially after specifically saying novel use "shouldn’t be confused with Micropayment" back in Sept when they announced it.

[Lee Torrens]

They will have novel use subscriptions next

"Alamy is willing to negotiate subscription arrangement for high volume users"

Alamy Novel Use Scheme Expands Customer Reach, Jim Pickerell

[pixelbrat]

Hi Lee, do you have a different link that doesn't require a paid subscription to read it? (or am I doing something wrong?)

[Lee Torrens]

Hi Lee, do you have a different link that doesn't require a paid subscription to read it? (or am I doing something wrong?)

No, without subscription you only get the intro, sorry.

The article reads more like a press release than one of Jim's usual heavily-analytical articles, but it has a lot of details (like that one) that I haven't seen anywhere else. Jim is very well connected!

[leaf]

i find it interesting how the alamy members response to the alamy microstock offerings sounds very very similer to the thread about fotolia subscriptions.... ie the world is coming to an end, i am removing my portfolio, this isn't fair etc. etc.

[Lee Torrens]

Agreed, though the drop in price is a lot less at Fotolia and this is a completely new type of license for Alamy.

But yes, I doubt many contributors will follow through on their threats to remove their portfolios. The options are very limited at that end of the market. PhotoShelter Collection is the only real comparative option, but they don't have any sales yet (using "any" in a relative context).

[sharpshot]

I prefer the way the Photoshelter are distancing themselves from microstock though.  Alamy should open their own microstock site if they want to compete in the low cost market.

[madelaide]

I think it is great news and is exactly what i was trying to say a few days ago in this post

I fail to see how this is "great news". 

Regards,
Adelaide

[PaulieWalnuts]

When I joined Alamy, I don't think I ever made an opt in/out choice. My novel use link is still showing "Yes please" and "No thanks". Does that mean I'm automatically opted in or out at the moment?

[RacePhoto]

When I joined Alamy, I don't think I ever made an opt in/out choice. My novel use link is still showing "Yes please" and "No thanks". Does that mean I'm automatically opted in or out at the moment?

I'm neither opted in nor have I declined. Just like you, we are neither until we answer. Nothing is automatic.

We are not locked in, until April of next year, but we haven't declined not to enroll in the program either.

What makes you think that the agency can add us to something, without permission?

[leaf]

I think it is great news and is exactly what i was trying to say a few days ago in this post

I fail to see how this is "great news". 

Regards,
Adelaide

because bloggers and teachers need and want to buy images.  Why not offer images to companies and people profiting from them for high prices, while the bloggers and teachers can buy them at cheaper prices.  Both customers have a price point which suites their needs and pocket book.

on the other hand however - just a thought that came to mind.
Will businesses REALLY want to license an image for an add (for several hundred $$)  that they know 1000+ bloggers and others have allready used that image elsewhere?

[sharpshot]

on the other hand however - just a thought that came to mind.
Will businesses REALLY want to license an image for an add (for several hundred $$)  that they know 1000+ bloggers and others have allready used that image elsewhere?

That is why I don't think this is a good idea.  They should just open a microstock site and keep the RM images separate.

[grp_photo]

The micro prices are only for very limited usage actually it is the direction i thought microstock always should had been. Including RM is problematic. Will there be enough volume?

[PaulieWalnuts]

What makes you think that the agency can add us to something, without permission?

If you choose not to decide on something companies will usually have wording in their agreement that gives you a certain amount of time to decide and afterwards they will automatically decide for you. The auto-decision is almost always in their favor. Was just curious if this was one of those types of arrangements.

And to answer "what makes me think...". The same thought process that's telling me I'm not overly comfortable with the way they handled this whole situation. Seems very shady.

[RT]

Alamy have now given contributors a two week window in which to opt out if they'd previously opted in.

I've emailed them to find out if there are any plans to allow just psuedonym opting in, for me I have a number RF images on other macro sites that I'd like to opt out, but I have a few thousand I'd like opting in, because of the arrangement with other macros I'm going to have to opt out the lot.

I'll let you know if I get a reply.

[lisafx]

Actually, I would love to be able to upload my micro portfolio to Alamy RF. 

I haven't had time to produce a separate portfolio for the higher end market, and as a result have never managed to submit anything to Alamy.

Now the only drawback is the requirement to upsize over 3500 pictures in order to submit to them.  If they would start taking images in native resolution then I could get busy uploading to them. 

[RacePhoto]

What makes you think that the agency can add us to something, without permission?

If you choose not to decide on something companies will usually have wording in their agreement that gives you a certain amount of time to decide and afterwards they will automatically decide for you. The auto-decision is almost always in their favor. Was just curious if this was one of those types of arrangements.

And to answer "what makes me think...". The same thought process that's telling me I'm not overly comfortable with the way they handled this whole situation. Seems very shady.

I think you have it wrong. (sorry to disagree) I can't send you a contract and say, if you don't sign, it's enforced. I can't mail you a product and say, if you don't return it, you bought it. I can't say you have take a new service on your account, say a credit card, if you Do Not answer. Alamy can't say, here's a new option, if you don't answer, you are IN. 

Maaybe in the UK the laws are different, but it doesn't make sense that someone could change and agreement and if you do not respond, they have just picked your pocket.

You and I have to accept or reject the offer. They could have the option, if you don't respond, you are not included, they can not Opt us in, without permission.

Does that explain it better?

I'm still deciding and the only reason I didn't snap the NO button, is I want to give it time for the dust to settle and see how it looks.

You have to read into it a few pages to see that some types of images are not included in the program.

...I don't think this is a good idea.  They should just open a microstock site and keep the RM images separate.

I agree, but I guess they already made their decision.

[sjlocke]

Actually, I would love to be able to upload my micro portfolio to Alamy RF. 

You want to sell the same images as macro and micro stock?

[PaulieWalnuts]

What makes you think that the agency can add us to something, without permission?

If you choose not to decide on something companies will usually have wording in their agreement that gives you a certain amount of time to decide and afterwards they will automatically decide for you. The auto-decision is almost always in their favor. Was just curious if this was one of those types of arrangements.

And to answer "what makes me think...". The same thought process that's telling me I'm not overly comfortable with the way they handled this whole situation. Seems very shady.

I think you have it wrong. (sorry to disagree) I can't send you a contract and say, if you don't sign, it's enforced. I can't mail you a product and say, if you don't return it, you bought it. I can't say you have take a new service on your account, say a credit card, if you Do Not answer. Alamy can't say, here's a new option, if you don't answer, you are IN. 

Maaybe in the UK the laws are different, but it doesn't make sense that someone could change and agreement and if you do not respond, they have just picked your pocket.

You and I have to accept or reject the offer. They could have the option, if you don't respond, you are not included, they can not Opt us in, without permission.

Does that explain it better?

I'm still deciding and the only reason I didn't snap the NO button, is I want to give it time for the dust to settle and see how it looks.

You have to read into it a few pages to see that some types of images are not included in the program.

...I don't think this is a good idea.  They should just open a microstock site and keep the RM images separate.

I agree, but I guess they already made their decision.

How about when you sign a master agreement (like a contributor agreement) that says somewhere in the dozens of pages of legal vomit that nobody bothers to read "you have X days to make a decision otherwise you are agreeing yo be automatically opted in"?

[leaf]

I can't mail you a product and say, if you don't return it, you bought it.

isn't that exactly how those book and cd clubs operate?  they send you the cd of the month and if you don't send it back - you bought it and you get a bill. - mind you in that contract you have agreed that they send you the goods... but still...

[lisafx]

Actually, I would love to be able to upload my micro portfolio to Alamy RF. 

You want to sell the same images as macro and micro stock?

Sorry, am I missing something?  The title of this thread is "Alamy now offer a micro license".  Sounds like it is Alamy that is planning to sell the same images Macro and Micro. 

So yeah, I would like to sell micro on Alamy. 

[RT]

You and I have to accept or reject the offer. They could have the option, if you don't respond, you are not included, they can not Opt us in, without permission.

Dreamstime, iStock and recently Fotolia all did exactly that with their subscription services, they announced it and told everyone that their images will be included, iStock at least have the decency to allow you to deselect subscriptions on individual images.

So I'm sorry Pete but yes they can do it, when Alamy introduced novel use everyone was told to make a decision to opt out by April if they did not want to have their images included, and now with the new change they've given another grace period of two weeks, after that if you haven't made a decision they're within their rights to opt you in.
You do of course have the rights to delete all your images there with a 45day hold on period.

Now I'm not saying that Alamy will do that for people that haven't made either choice, but they can should they so desire.

[grp_photo]

Actually, I would love to be able to upload my micro portfolio to Alamy RF. 

You want to sell the same images as macro and micro stock?

Sorry, am I missing something?  The title of this thread is "Alamy now offer a micro license".  Sounds like it is Alamy that is planning to sell the same images Macro and Micro. 

So yeah, I would like to sell micro on Alamy. 

No not really the use of these microstockpriced-licenses are extremely limited (i consider it a as non-commercial educational) normal sales are still about 50-100 times higher than microstock.
I like this move of Alamy but its not in any way comparable to the pricing scheme IS,SS,FT etc has. In my opinion it is still very wrong to have the same pictures at micro and as Alamy.

[madelaide]

because bloggers and teachers need and want to buy images.  Why not offer images to companies and people profiting from them for high prices, while the bloggers and teachers can buy them at cheaper prices.

They can buy at microstock. In fact this is what microstock makes sense for, in my opinion -  not TIME magazine, like in that other thread. Like a friend of mine who purchase images for his daughter's school works - if it wasn't for microstock, he would never do this.

If you are not making money out of this (like my friend's daughter, teachers and some bloggers), then microstock makes al the sense to me.  Unfortunately businesses, no matter how big or small, buy from micros too, because licenses allow them to.

I chose to keep a certain portfolio out of the microstock market. I haven't uploaded anything to Alamy yet and I have no idea of whether I accepted the "novel" license when I signed up (I have to check), but I would get really upset of being forced to sell my images in this new model, even more than I was upset with DT and FT forcing me to accept the subs.

Regards,
Adelaide

[sharpshot]