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Author Topic: Lets Discuss: Alamy Personal Usage Licenses Misuse  (Read 18985 times)

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Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« on: May 27, 2019, 17:49 »
+4
I've just published a controversial post highlighting that most of my 9 "Personal / Home usage" license sales on Alamy appear to be misuses by buyers (such as the attached image). I'm not alone and this issue has been highlighted at the Alamy forum for years.

Has it happened to you?

See details within:

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2019/05/27/lets-discuss-alamy-personal-usage-licenses-misuse/


ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2019, 18:07 »
+3
Like I said before, I've had very suspicious PU sales, but I've never been able to prove a misuse by finding the file online.

Without that evidence (or being in the unlikely, but possible, position of finding it in print), Alamy won't do anything.

Tangentially, I just had reply from Alamy about a proven misuse of mine, saying the mis-user won't reply to them and I'm now welcome to take it up myself. Last time that happened andI did that, I was well out of pocket (phoning & sending registered letters abroad) and in the end, only got a takedown, and I suspect that was only because I contacted his ISP and they did it.

« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2019, 02:45 »
+4
I've just published a controversial post highlighting that most of my 9 "Personal / Home usage" license sales on Alamy appear to be misuses by buyers (such as the attached image). I'm not alone and this issue has been highlighted at the Alamy forum for years.

Has it happened to you?

See details within:

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2019/05/27/lets-discuss-alamy-personal-usage-licenses-misuse/


Thank you for writing about this issue.

Alamy's pricing is far from being consistent.

Offering a full size image at vague terms and at a price that is clearly off is a problem.

I've seen a couple of my images bought at PU terms and posted onto forums and such. For images which I offer as RM non-exclusive via other agencies, I have ticked the box "Don't sell for personal use including single copy, non-retail wall art prints" on AIM to disable PU, because of the vast difference in pricing. BUT the problem persist, the images are still available for "Presentations and newsletters" at the cheap PU price. It is not fair to me, to the buyer, or the agency if buyers will get the image at 9.90 Euro on Alamy and from other agency at 25.90-29.90 Euro.

Surely some users will purchase the cheapest license and use the image the way they want to. I've seen this happen. Few bother to read the boring print "how to use".

So what is there to do? Alamy should make changes to pricing, it is insane to offer a full size image at vague terms and at such a low price that's not in line with other agencies.



 

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2019, 09:20 »
+4
Here's a reply from Alamy for the image below of the man holding a selfie stick licensed as PU:

Quote
Hi Alex Weve had a look and it seems the person who bought the image for personal use is the person depicted in the image so we wouldnt see this as suspicious.

Personal use licenses cover things like a personal print, a gift, a personal report, artist reference etc.

Now, that settles the issue, right? LOL. Im proud of my keywording since a buyer was able to find himself among the 100+ million images!

Now, Im looking to contact this buyer to see if he can track down my long-lost high school sweetheart, as well as investigate who murdered JFK and whether Tupac and Elvis are still alive!

I love you, Alamy but please don't treat me like I was born yesterday...
« Last Edit: May 28, 2019, 09:51 by Brasilnut »

« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2019, 13:27 »
+2
Here's a reply from Alamy for the image below of the man holding a selfie stick licensed as PU:

Quote
Hi Alex Weve had a look and it seems the person who bought the image for personal use is the person depicted in the image so we wouldnt see this as suspicious.

Personal use licenses cover things like a personal print, a gift, a personal report, artist reference etc.

Now, that settles the issue, right? LOL. Im proud of my keywording since a buyer was able to find himself among the 100+ million images!

Now, Im looking to contact this buyer to see if he can track down my long-lost high school sweetheart, as well as investigate who murdered JFK and whether Tupac and Elvis are still alive!

I love you, Alamy but please don't treat me like I was born yesterday...

Lol they could have literally given any other, more believable, excuse.

Guess I'll start taking photos of every single person on the street from now on, just in case they'd like to buy their own portrait...
« Last Edit: May 28, 2019, 13:36 by Not Today »

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2019, 19:36 »
+1
Maybe the mannequins recognised themselves?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2019, 13:28 »
0
There's also the strange licence: "Personal use, One of each of the following uses: Personal use, presentation, internal communication, student project, reference for artist, personal website, personal social media, personal print or card. Worldwide license. Not for commercial use.".
One of these I got for the same price as the PU sale with the terms: "Personal use, Personal prints, cards and gifts. Non-commercial use only, not for resale.", but one went for even less.

I have no idea how the 'personal users' find out about the first kind of licence, as it's the second one which shows if I click on the (?) info button next to Personal Use on a file page.

« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2019, 08:32 »
+5
Why can a "personal use" sale be refunded? The buyer downloaded it, used it and asked for a refund?

I just had one of these, not happy about it >:(

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2019, 21:28 »
0
Another suspicious one popped in!

Why would a buyer ever need to make a print of an easyjet airplane?

« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2019, 22:12 »
+1
Why would a buyer ever need to make a print of an easyjet airplane?
I can think of LOTs of reasons.  Maybe a travel agency? Maybe a tour operator? Maybe a local Chamber of Commerce pushing for people to come visit their island?  I'm sure I could come with half a dozen others if I wanted to spend the time to think about it...

I'm not sure why you are NOT able to come up with uses?

« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2019, 00:46 »
+2
Why would a buyer ever need to make a print of an easyjet airplane?
I can think of LOTs of reasons.  Maybe a travel agency? Maybe a tour operator? Maybe a local Chamber of Commerce pushing for people to come visit their island?  I'm sure I could come with half a dozen others if I wanted to spend the time to think about it...

I'm not sure why you are NOT able to come up with uses?

The examples you mentioned are NOT Personal Uses. That license category is meant for a singular person who wants to print an image to hang on the wall, for example, or make a Christmas card for the family. Things like that

Your examples refer to companies, not a person, making a commercial use of the image. Even if it's decoration of the store it's a commercial use.

georgep7

« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2019, 03:59 »
0
Not sure if this is a valid or logic explanation, but perhaps people use those images in their pereonal social media? E.g. "yay! taking the big white orange bird to fly to mama!" kind of explaining the "personal" use of the photo mentioned above?
I have seen many times in twitter used images with the stock agencies' watermark. Perhaps some people need to use "normal" images in their posts tweets etc

Just guessing.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2019, 05:16 »
0
Why would a buyer ever need to make a print of an easyjet airplane?
I can think of LOTs of reasons.  Maybe a travel agency? Maybe a tour operator? Maybe a local Chamber of Commerce pushing for people to come visit their island?  I'm sure I could come with half a dozen others if I wanted to spend the time to think about it...

I'm not sure why you are NOT able to come up with uses?

The examples you mentioned are NOT Personal Uses. That license category is meant for a singular person who wants to print an image to hang on the wall, for example, or make a Christmas card for the family. Things like that

Your examples refer to companies, not a person, making a commercial use of the image. Even if it's decoration of the store it's a commercial use.

You are totally correct, these examples are all commerical and not covered by personal use.

It's 'just about' possible that e.g. the arranger of a hen/stag weekend might use the picture on invitations, but why wouldn't they just use a pic from the EasyJet website? It's not as though EJ would complain!

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2019, 06:45 »
+2
Quote
It's 'just about' possible that e.g. the arranger of a hen/stag weekend might use the picture on invitations, but why wouldn't they just use a pic from the EasyJet website? It's not as though EJ would complain!

Seems like a lot of hassle for a layperson.

A 400px low resolution pic would suffice I would imagine!

This is a highly suspicious use and I'm afraid that I'll likely receive the same old response from Alamy along the lines of:

"We haven't had a response from the customer, and our team cannot find the image being used anywhere online outside the terms of the license.

Therefore we have to assume they have purchased the correct license and are closing the case down."

Which suggests that a small % of buyers are fraudulently taking advantage of this loop-hole. Unfortunately, there's no way to opt-out of PU licenses on RF (only on RM).   

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #14 on: November 05, 2019, 02:52 »
+3
Another PU sale popped in this morning. These buyers are taking the piss (as the British would say)!

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2019, 16:04 »
+4
I figure that I might as well help them out. Put together an excel sheet with what is pending and their (unsatisfactory) responses and sent it off to their CR. Let's see.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2019, 16:34 by Brasilnut »

« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2019, 11:11 »
+1
Just a thought, since the price is the same for PU and Presentation/Newsletters, the buyers might get the wrong license for these.

'Use in a presentation/talk (eg,Powerpoint and Keynote) or in an editorial newsletter.'

« Reply #17 on: November 28, 2019, 09:13 »
0
Or, someone who really wants "personal use" may purchase "Presentation/Newsletters".

At any rate, the original is too cheap at both, a smaller size should be offered.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #18 on: November 28, 2019, 11:38 »
+1
Just a thought, since the price is the same for PU and Presentation/Newsletters, the buyers might get the wrong license for these.

'Use in a presentation/talk (eg,Powerpoint and Keynote) or in an editorial newsletter.'

Lots of misclicks there to get the wrong license. Seems deliberate in my cases and Alamy playing stupid.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #19 on: November 16, 2020, 04:36 »
+1
Latest 6 Personal Usage licenses where it appears that buyers are "mistakingly" purchasing the wrong license for cheap ($8-12 gross).

Do these look like wall-hangers or something you'd put on a gift card?

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #20 on: November 16, 2020, 10:23 »
+1
Just in case anyone here hasn't read what Alamy says:  https://www.alamy.com/blog/personal-use-what-is-it?irclickid=yL7UN9U3CxyOR1V0UfQwQyYMUkEzuoQjEy6Tzw0&irgwc=1&utm_source=2003851&utm_campaign=Shop%20Royalty%20Free%20at%20Alamy&utm_medium=impact

In licensing: "Non-commercial, one-time, personal / home use."

So I'll assume the lady seated by the basket, wanted a print for her home? No one else is recognizable.


« Reply #21 on: November 21, 2020, 20:49 »
0
I had my first personal use sale recently on Alamy. I haven't bothered checking online for it. Hopefully, the buyer was honest.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #22 on: November 22, 2020, 12:18 »
+1
I had my first personal use sale recently on Alamy. I haven't bothered checking online for it. Hopefully, the buyer was honest.

That's all we can do apparently, trust. I had one recently, could have been personal use or something else, I'll never know. For the $6 and change, commission, not sale price, that's much more than most Microstock credits, so I can't complain too much. I mean it could have been for 10 on SS or $.35 on DT for example.

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #23 on: November 23, 2020, 10:52 »
+2
I've stopped offering all personal use licensing on Alamy and everywhere else. On my own business site I set up lower priced personal use RM licensing hoping this would increase sales. While it did add some new sales, it was occasional and only $20 each. I then would need to contact the person to verify valid usage because I would see customer email addresses like [email protected]. Some were legit. Some were people would didn't understand licensing. Some just bought the lowest price option not caring about the terms. Too much policing and other effort needed for too little money so I recently removed it. At least with RM you are able to track usage. With RF it's a lost cause.

« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2020, 05:18 »
0
But if you opt out RF, you will also missing the much higher sales for original size for merch use.
It would be indeed perfect, if Alamy would give an opt out for RF personal use.


 

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