Try asking them. They don't bite.

It would be great if you could post their answer back here. about similars ?

Yes, that would be great.

I have a related question (I hope you do not mind me adding it to this thread): am I right in believing, from reading the agreement, that Istock do not have any rules about similars ?

They have no rule, but twice when I've asked about getting a spuriously-rejected image freed to go on Alamy they (i.e. iS CE) have said I have to remove any others 'from the same shoot' which were accepted. Even if that were in the agreement, which it isn't, 'from the same shoot' has no meaning whatsover. So if I shoot 'people shopping in Glasgow' then walk 5 mins into Glasgow Green and shoot an event there, is that 'from the same shoot'.

Also note that someone from CE told cotributor anchev last week that a buyer couldn't post an iS image on FB - I can't find that anywhere obvious on the site.
http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/do-cr-reps-just-make-up-stuff-as-they-go-along

Quote from: 1Stockman on February 12, 2013, 15:30

I will deactivate at least a part of my portfolio at iStock and would like to sell part of it as RM on Alamy.

Does Alamy accept images that have been RF somewhere else and that have sold as such before?

Well.... the way you asked this question, I'd say you know the answer already!!
If Alamy ever sells an exclusive license of such an image, you better have a good insurance that has you covered, in case Alamy's client finds out.

That would only be relevant if the client wanted exclusivity. [1]
IME very few of Alamy's RM clients want any degree of exclusivity, they just buy a specific RM licence.

I used to worry in case some piddling wee RM use that earned me $10 would prevent me every getting a later big exclusive for that, but I don't even think of that aspect now.

[1] Alamy can of course set their own rules, and it's Alamy's rule on this which is awaited.

Quote from: 1Stockman on February 12, 2013, 15:30

I will deactivate at least a part of my portfolio at iStock and would like to sell part of it as RM on Alamy.

Does Alamy accept images that have been RF somewhere else and that have sold as such before?

Yes, you can do this but you are ultimately responsible for managing your license history. EG, if you want to sell the images as RM, you need to make sure they are not for sale as RF anywhere else. Also, any RF images that have previously sold would not be available for an exclusive RM sale. These are however rare and in cases where an exclusive may be in the works our sales team would be contacting you to ask about the previous history on the image - if there were no conflicts we could proceed with the sale.

James Allsworth
Content Executive
Alamy

Great to have an official answer to this. Thanks.

Thank you very much for coming in and giving us an official answer.
Very helpful.

That would only be relevant if the client wanted exclusivity. [1]
IME very few of Alamy's RM clients want any degree of exclusivity, they just buy a specific RM licence.

I did say "exclusive" sale in my answer. Yes, very few clients want exclusivity � but chances are higher, the more images you've got on there. Last month, I had a buyout of one of my images (through another agency, not Alamy). Bagged me a decent amount of money. The image was a 3d illustration, and very "microstock" in style, I was surprised someone wanted to do a buyout of that particular image.
In other words: exclusive licenses DO happen, and it's hard to tell when and where.

Imagine a scenario where you place images with Alamy, and over the years forget about things and THEN you get that exclusive sale.

I used to worry in case some piddling wee RM use that earned me $10 would prevent me every getting a later big exclusive for that, but I don't even think of that aspect now.

One RM sale doesn't cancel out a later exclusive RM sale, if there's no conflict of territory and usage period. (And at $10 I would expect a very limited usage period anyway).

Imagine a scenario where you place images with Alamy, and over the years forget about things and THEN you get that exclusive sale.

Even with my frozen pea brain, I think if I just put some 'code' in the title, even I won't forget. NX would do it, and would interfere with almost no searches.