MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Dreamstime.com => Topic started by: DrC on January 25, 2011, 10:03

Title: Sell the rights request.
Post by: DrC on January 25, 2011, 10:03
Hello all!,
I was asked to sell the rights for a particular image in my DT portfolio and I hit the link in the e-mail I received from DT to enable that possibility. By default, the recommended price is $1000 but I can lower the price. I confess I find it exaggerated, but wouldn't mind at all if the buyer could pay that amount for this image.
Have anyone of you been asked to sell the rights? what would you do? Should I ask for a couple of hundrends or what?! This is the image: http://www.dreamstime.com/3d-background-image4572233 (http://www.dreamstime.com/3d-background-image4572233)

Thanks!

*edit* I have corrected the link for you to be able to see the image
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: jbarber873 on January 25, 2011, 10:27
  I never sell the rights to an image on dreamstime, because the sales price is usually suggested to be about $300, which is not enough to justify a buyout for me. $1000 is a fair price, however, and it's been my experience that sometimes a client has been presented with an image that has multiple usages planned, and the client has fallen in love with that particular image. If you consider that a client would have to hire an illustrator to come up with something that doesn't violate copyright infringement laws, and if it;s a big enough company, that would be a real concern, buying it out from you is the easiest way to make everyone happy. I would try for the $1000, if it were me. Good luck!
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: PeterChigmaroff on January 25, 2011, 10:53
Really, even on micro a buyout should command much more than a $1000 but someone will always argue that you can just reshoot or would you really make that much over the life of the image and other such nonsense and convince the seller to take the money and go. But in the end it's your call.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: cthoman on January 25, 2011, 10:55
I hate this feature of their site. I'd much rather have potential clients contact me and try to turn it into freelance work. Instead, the only option is to check (not for sale).
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: Pixart on January 25, 2011, 11:12
I too have the no box checked.  But you can still set your own price on everything can't you?  Why not set everything at $5000!  What is DT's cut on these sales by the way?
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: Anita Potter on January 25, 2011, 11:25
From what I understand from something I read last year is that their cut is half of the total buy out price.  Unless that's changed I'm not for sure.  I do remember what I read being that someone was selling the rights to one of their images for like $10,000 and they got $5,000 for it.  Course if I'm wrong on that please someone correct me.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: DrC on January 25, 2011, 11:29
hmmm..., I should set it for $2000 then! ;)

I now have realized that the default price for selling the rights is related to the popularity of the image.
This image is a 3D render background illustration that I've uploaded some 4 years ago and sold 50 times 'till today. To tell the truth, I wouldn't mind to make a definitive sell for this image for $1000, being it a 3D render that, to begin with, it's not my "forte" in image making...
So I'll just set it with the recommended price and see what happens... :)
I'll post here if the deal is done.

Thanks for your feedback.
Title: ann
Post by: ann on January 25, 2011, 14:04
You sound quite comfortable with, and pragmatic about, your decision, so best of luck with sale going through at price you chose!  Smiles - Ann

hmmm..., I should set it for $2000 then! ;)

I now have realized that the default price for selling the rights is related to the popularity of the image.
This image is a 3D render background illustration that I've uploaded some 4 years ago and sold 50 times 'till today. To tell the truth, I wouldn't mind to make a definitive sell for this image for $1000, being it a 3D render that, to begin with, it's not my "forte" in image making...
So I'll just set it with the recommended price and see what happens... :)
I'll post here if the deal is done.

Thanks for your feedback.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: mlwinphoto on January 25, 2011, 15:30
The last (and unfortunately the only) time I sold all rights to an image was several years ago for $25,000.  That was through one of my rights managed agencies so I was not involved in the negotiations but I would hope that even in today's marketplace $1,000 is way too low.  Ask them what their budget allows and if you are comfortable with what they offer then go ahead.  Just realize that complete buyouts command big bucks.....they wouldn't be asking for such an option if the image wasn't very important to them.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: Elenathewise on January 25, 2011, 17:07
From my experience, most DT customers are looking to buy the rights for cheap - I get these requests all the time and now stopped even responding to them. You enable the "sell the rights" option and set a fair price (I tried between 2000 and 4000), and then they never get back to you.  You'd be lucky if you get your $1000 (keep in mind that DT keeps half of it). Mind you there were some big rights sales in DTs history (more than 10,000), but those are extremely rare.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: cathyslife on January 25, 2011, 18:00
From my experience, most DT customers are looking to buy the rights for cheap - I get these requests all the time and now stopped even responding to them. You enable the "sell the rights" option and set a fair price (I tried between 2000 and 4000), and then they never get back to you.  You'd be lucky if you get your $1000 (keep in mind that DT keeps half of it). Mind you there were some big rights sales in DTs history (more than 10,000), but those are extremely rare.

I've had a request also and set the price at $2000. It was way too much money for the client.
Title: Re: ann
Post by: DrC on January 25, 2011, 18:33
You sound quite comfortable with, and pragmatic about, your decision, so best of luck with sale going through at price you chose!  Smiles - Ann

hmmm..., I should set it for $2000 then! ;)

I now have realized that the default price for selling the rights is related to the popularity of the image.
This image is a 3D render background illustration that I've uploaded some 4 years ago and sold 50 times 'till today. To tell the truth, I wouldn't mind to make a definitive sell for this image for $1000, being it a 3D render that, to begin with, it's not my "forte" in image making...
So I'll just set it with the recommended price and see what happens... :)
I'll post here if the deal is done.

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks!
And you sound that you'd never do it! ;)
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: DrC on January 25, 2011, 19:23
I can understand now that $1000 may be kinda short for a relatively low earner image, particularly if the agency keeps half of the deal, but I wouldn't think twice before the possibility of gaining in a second the amount that the image probably wouldn't earn me in five years in all sites. Would you?!  Besides, doing 3D backgrounds and textures is not where I set my goals. I did this images in an instant and for fun. I wouldn't mind to deactivate such an image in all sites if I would sell the rights to it. I could easily replace it with a similar if I wanted.
Now, with thoughtful photo productions, with images I have high hopes for, or with the ones that earned me thousands in all sites together, I must make a totally different price or don't sell the right at all.

Anyway, in this particular case, the buyer thought this was a vector illustration and asked me for the .ai file, too... So I guess that's a no deal...
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: Perry on March 10, 2014, 10:03
(sorry for digging up an old thread, but I didn't want to create a new one...)

I have been asked if I want to sell the rights of one image. I would like to set a high price (for example $3000) to see if I'm lucky.

What troubles me: I would have 72 hours to remove the image from all sites. What if I'm not able to do that? There are some sites, that doesn't allow user to remove files by themselves, for example Veer.

Also removing images from all reseller networks could take time, and almost impossible to verify if the images are deleted or not...

Have anyone succeeded in this?
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: fritz on March 10, 2014, 10:14
From my experience, most DT customers are looking to buy the rights for cheap - I get these requests all the time and now stopped even responding to them. You enable the "sell the rights" option and set a fair price (I tried between 2000 and 4000), and then they never get back to you.  You'd be lucky if you get your $1000 (keep in mind that DT keeps half of it). Mind you there were some big rights sales in DTs history (more than 10,000), but those are extremely rare.
Exactly! I asked for 800$ and never get back. On 123RF even 300$ were too much.(not the same file)
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: jarih on March 10, 2014, 10:24
What troubles me: I would have 72 hours to remove the image from all sites.
It's mission impossible, for me. I got the same request some time ago and I replied with the "no thank you" -button :)
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: pancaketom on March 10, 2014, 10:46
DT might keep a lot more than half of it now. I think you would only get 1/2 of the sale if it is level 5 or so. If it is level 0 you might only get 20 or 25%, I can't remember how low they have stooped by now.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: dingles on March 10, 2014, 11:01
I'm curious if you sell the rights to an image that was previously RF...are the buyers aware that others may already have access to the file...or is the sale of rights only availble if the item is exclusive and has 0 downloads?
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: ferdinand on March 10, 2014, 11:18
 I had a sale of  copyright 6 month ago on DT for 1000 $ - they took 50%
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: calcaneus10 on March 10, 2014, 12:20
I got a sell-the-rights request a couple months ago for a particular model.  I figured I could shoot the image again if I wanted to so I made the sales price $200.  Needless to say, they didn't buy.  Instead they purchased the maximum size image using credits.  So I think, ya, they probably want to buy things super cheap. 
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: sweetgirll on March 10, 2014, 12:36
I had requests for cartoon illustration before, but didn't sell.
Removing the image from other sites, in some sites it shouldn't be difficult, they allow you to just delete...I think Istock and shutter are like that, but I don't know about the other sites.

The copyright sale...I also wondered if the clients know that the images where sold before, and may be out there, but I guess dreamstime has this covered in the agreement. But is it a sale of copyrights, or a sale of all rights with future exclusivity?


(sorry for digging up an old thread, but I didn't want to create a new one...)

I have been asked if I want to sell the rights of one image. I would like to set a high price (for example $3000) to see if I'm lucky.

What troubles me: I would have 72 hours to remove the image from all sites. What if I'm not able to do that? There are some sites, that doesn't allow user to remove files by themselves, for example Veer.

Also removing images from all reseller networks could take time, and almost impossible to verify if the images are deleted or not...

Have anyone succeeded in this?
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: loop on March 10, 2014, 13:01
(sorry for digging up an old thread, but I didn't want to create a new one...)

I have been asked if I want to sell the rights of one image. I would like to set a high price (for example $3000) to see if I'm lucky.

What troubles me: I would have 72 hours to remove the image from all sites. What if I'm not able to do that? There are some sites, that doesn't allow user to remove files by themselves, for example Veer.

Also removing images from all reseller networks could take time, and almost impossible to verify if the images are deleted or not...

Have anyone succeeded in this?

If some site is slower removing, you can always --in the meanwhile--  try deleting all the significant keywords of the file, to avoid it being found.
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: Goofy on March 10, 2014, 13:07
add another zero on that 1,000 to make it $10,000  :)


Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: jarih on March 11, 2014, 00:39
If some site is slower removing, you can always --in the meanwhile--  try deleting all the significant keywords of the file, to avoid it being found.
Good point, this can work!
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: nicku on March 11, 2014, 00:48
I had a couple of requests to sell the rights on DT.... but the buyer never returned. the prices were between $1200 to $2000.  :(
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: ShadySue on March 11, 2014, 08:01
If some site is slower removing, you can always --in the meanwhile--  try deleting all the significant keywords of the file, to avoid it being found.
Good point, this can work!
Depending on where you have your work, you might have to seek out partners, associates, affiliates and resellers. (etc)
Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: jarih on March 11, 2014, 13:24

If some site is slower removing, you can always --in the meanwhile--  try deleting all the significant keywords of the file, to avoid it being found.
Good point, this can work!
Depending on where you have your work, you might have to seek out partners, associates, affiliates and resellers. (etc)
You are right.. Not so good idea :)


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Title: Re: Sell the rights request.
Post by: Noedelhap on March 12, 2014, 06:31
In my opinion, $1000 is way too cheap. Consider the fact you'll never be able to sell that file again. How much money will it make in a lifetime? Then at least double or triple that amount.

Also consider why the client would like the rights. They'll probably use it for a marketing campaign or several media publications for a long time. That's worth something.

I once sold an image (through another agency) for more than $5000. I wasn't involved in the negotiations but somehow the client (a big company) agreed to it. So my advice is, never go too low out of fear. You might be missing out on big bucks.