This makes sad reading.

The most important earning season of the year.

I sincerly hope they get to you soon.

I don�t understand why Adobe cannot create a better process to handle this issue.

Terrible, I am so sorry.

Thanks, Jasmin.
I don�t even know whether I will ever get my not yet payed out earnings of 1,5 months (around 1800 DLs).

I'm sorry to see that another long standing contributor has been blocked. I have still had no correspondence so I don't know whether I'm permanently blocked - I sincerely hope you get a good outcome to this!

It is very simple:

If a member of the Adobe team makes a serious mistake - would Adobe stop paying the salary while somebody investigates the problem?

Are programmers, engineers, marketing staff ever treated like that? Cleaning staff? A computer goes missing... do all the cleaning staff stop getting their salaries while somebody investigates what happened?

Of course not.

Now, obviously we are NOT employed by Adobe.

But many producers have for years preferred Adobe and many families make a full time or mostly majority income from Adobe.

At the same time - the producers are customers. We use Adobe software, we buy Adobe stock content, we send useful images from the Adobe offering to clients and friends who are looking for content.

I sometimes wonder if companies that are so extremely big, forget that the little ants down there do actually matter. Our voice matters.

Portfolio closures are the worst nightmare for any producer. And are usually reserved for very extreme cases of real intentional fraud.

To just treat all producers as useless is absolutely not respectful.

And a sign our working relationship is not valued.

I do not understand what is going on behind the scenes, but if this is the "new Adobe" that is not good for us.

One week now - still waiting on a reaction by Adobe. Shoot first - ask muuuuch later�

I'm at 2 weeks now of my portfolio being blocked and still no correspondence from Adobe!

These bans are becoming alarmingly common now. The whole procedure seems arbitrary, especially considering some of these contributors have a long, spotless history with the agency. Myself I started finally working with AI after a long hesitation and now apparently I'm putting my whole portfolio at risk because having a proven track record means nothing and inadvertently tresspassing some deliberately vague guidelines could be the end of it. Click that checkbox, put your head on the chopping block and hope the axe won't come down

One week now - still waiting on a reaction by Adobe. Shoot first - ask muuuuch later�

My only wish would be that they did this with the image thieves, instead of over reacting to a change in policy, after the fact.

Good Luck.

My guess is Adobe Stock got sued for is AI generated images already and is panicking.  So as a precaution, they are just blocking accounts left and right.

If they got sued they would stop accepting content with visible copyright issues.

The normal photo queue does not allow this kind of crap to get in. It is only ai content that seems to let this stuff through.

Something is very seriously wrong if they treat longtime contributors this way.

It does nothing to stop the real problem: the reviewers who don�t seem to have legal training and do not even read titles that are worded with well known brands.

I am so sorry for all those who have their account abruptly blocked.

What a crazy situation.

OK here is the answer to my second urgent email to contrib support:
----
You have submitted files that refer to famous artists, people, characters from popular culture, and/or other existing subjects such as video games in the image, title or keywords. We take intellectual property rights very seriously and your uploads are a violation of these rights and thus violate the upload guidelines.

Your account will remain blocked until further notice.
----
As I have mentioned in my OP I went through my account before the block to remove images which might pose a problem. Perhaps I missed something or they refer to an earlier state of my portfolio.
I answered that I immediately went through my portfolio and deleted all images which might pose a problem according to the concretized AI requirements and apologize if I have missed anything. For a speedy unblock I proposed to delete all my (limited number of) AI related content.

And as far as taking IP rights seriously, their own moderation decisions speak more loudly than the words in their email.

This Apple logo is still there nearly two weeks after I posted it here. This week I've seen more Apple logos, Spiderman costumes, mentions of Barbie in image titles. Lots of new content breaking the rules. Lots of old logos still left online...

Yes, this is really a nonsense....

So the email restates the general prohibition, but does not specify which of your images violates this rule?

And they can't just rescind the approval of the images in question - assuming there are any?
.

Exactly. I think the email is just an intermediate information triggered by my urgent second email. I think (or better hope) that the process is still in the making - a positive interpretation of the phrase �Your account will remain blocked until further notice.�

Quote from: aprott on September 22, 2023, 15:42

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 22, 2023, 14:19

So the email restates the general prohibition, but does not specify which of your images violates this rule?

And they can't just rescind the approval of the images in question - assuming there are any?
.

Exactly. I think the email is just an intermediate information triggered by my urgent second email. I think (or better hope) that the process is still in the making - a positive interpretation of the phrase �Your account will remain blocked until further notice.�

Amazing. I've experienced EXACTLY the same sequence of events. On my second email marked "Urgent" I've got exactly the same response, signed by Diego Gomez. That was the only piece of communication I got throughout the whole time my account was blocked. The account was unblocked three weeks later without any "further notice". I am still waiting for the explanation...

Mine was also signed by Diego Gomez 
Did they remove any images when unblocking your account?

I think Adobe should immediately cease all AI intake

They have just launched Firefly for commercial use, so there is absolutely no way to do this.
What they have to do is to work on rules and reviewers, instead to involve contributors in consequence of their choice

I am wondering about it too. From the first glance I was unable to find any images missing.

So you don�t even know which images where in question?

Quote from: aprott on September 23, 2023, 13:29

Quote from: Konstantin Sutyagin on September 23, 2023, 12:54

I am wondering about it too. From the first glance I was unable to find any images missing.

So you don�t even know which images where in question?

No 

This is ridiculous, what's the purpose of the whole procedure if they didn't even make a point what was wrong or even if you were in the wrong at all. Just a random slap on the wrist and it will probably cost you thousands. For giggles...

I am so sorry. It is terrible that they treat their CUSTOMERS like this. We are not just producers and suppliers, we are customers.

Thank you for letting us know - and it�s outrageous you�ve been treated this way.

Adobe Stock has lost the plot on so many issues. Shameful.

Today it will be four weeks - the damage is adding up... I had bestsellers appearing as number one in certain searches, this will all be over once my port gets activated again because they will be displaced by other images which sold in the last four weeks.

A similar story... now I'll post my own.

I am so sorry. It is terrible that they treat their CUSTOMERS like this. We are not just producers and suppliers, we are customers.

�D�nde est� Diego? This is terrible and they are slow.

Five weeks now without a verdict. I think I will switch from weekly to monthly reports here. Have sent another email to Diego/contributor support.
<sarcasm>Perhaps it takes longer to check a portfolio where you find nothing wrong</sarcasm>

Here's a 👍 to both of those.

OK, perhaps biweekly is the right pace to keep this thread up - toady it is 7 weeks (!) since my portfolio was deactivated by Adobe because of alleged problems with "in the style of" in my small AI related part of my portfolio (around 5% of all assets).

I still don't know which image/s might have caused a red flag since I had proactively deleted images which might have caused problems with the amended rules of AI submissions.

The direct damage has passed the 2.000 USD mark for sure. Not to speak of indirect damages by a portfolio ranked down in the search algorithms when/if it gets activated ever again. And not to speak of the seasons related images waiting on my harddrive which now surely will not make it in time.

No reaction from Adobe contrib support whatsoever on my proposal to just delete the AI related part of my portfolio, which I made two times.

PS: I saw examples of people reporting images in Adobe Stocks Discord channel as not ok which can be generated with the term "in the style of pop art". This does not relate to any specific artist - nevertheless the results can be close to Warhol oder Lichtenstein or whomever did pop art. So what now?? Are art styles also fordbidden?

I don't wish this on anyone,you lose sleep over something like that,I know it.

However,I read that Adobe previously gave you an answer as to why your account was blocked:

"You have submitted files that refer to famous artists,people,characters from popular culture,and/or other existing subjects such as video games in the image,title or keywords.We take intellectual property rights very seriously and your uploads are a violation of these rights and thus violate the upload guidelines"

I'm just wondering one thing that I really can't understand:

"given your considerable experience in microstock,didn't you realize that you were uploading content that violated the upload guidelines?"yes,you knew but you did it anyway.

As far as I know, accounts that in any way break Adobe's rules are suspended for a short period of a couple of weeks,and then are reactivated,if the problem is nothing serious,as far as I know.

from what I understand here we are not just talking about problems related to AI,it's not that you forgot to check the box for AI content,here we are talking about that you uploaded content that clearly referenced famous characters,people,artists.

now I don't know if you're right or if you're wrong,it's not up to me to judge,also because I'm not aware of the full version of the facts,as are you and Adobe,I don't know for example whether these contents had already been sold or not,I already think this makes a difference,and I certainly don't know anything else,regarding this sad matter.

in any case you have violated the upload guidelines,and did it intentionally,because you are a highly experienced contributor,and tried to delete the contents because you knew it.

I hope your portfolio will be restored as soon as possible,because we are all human and we all make mistakes,if this was your first and only mistake I think there is hope,Adobe usually takes this into consideration too.

Quote from: Injustice for all on November 01, 2023, 13:19

I'm just wondering one thing that I really can't understand:

"given your considerable experience in microstock,didn't you realize that you were uploading content that violated the upload guidelines?"yes,you knew but you did it anyway.

As I wrote I am not aware of any images in my current portfolio which would violate the upload guidelines for AI.

I don't know this,but what I see is that your problem doesn't seem to me to be related solely to AI.

I say this because in the response that you received and that you reported here,it does not seem to me that there is reference to the fact that you have violated the guidelines regarding AI,but that you have violated intellectual property rights.

Quote from: Injustice for all on November 01, 2023, 19:22

Quote from: aprott on November 01, 2023, 14:10

Quote from: Injustice for all on November 01, 2023, 13:19

I'm just wondering one thing that I really can't understand:

"given your considerable experience in microstock,didn't you realize that you were uploading content that violated the upload guidelines?"yes,you knew but you did it anyway.

As I wrote I am not aware of any images in my current portfolio which would violate the upload guidelines for AI.

I don't know this,but what I see is that your problem doesn't seem to me to be related solely to AI.

I say this because in the response that you received and that you reported here,it does not seem to me that there is reference to the fact that you have violated the guidelines regarding AI,but that you have violated intellectual property rights.

I had another look at the message from contrib support and it definitely says AI content:
-----
Your account was blocked after we noticed that you have submitted Generative Ai content that is not within our guidelines.

You have submitted files that refer to famous artists, people, characters from popular culture, and/or other existing subjects such as video games in the image, title or keywords. We take intellectual property rights very seriously and your uploads are a violation of these rights and thus violate the upload guidelines.

Your account will remain blocked until further notice.
----
Edit: Sorry for the confusion: I had omitted the first line in my earlier post because I had already talked about it being triggered by AI related images.

I meant exactly this when I wrote: "your problem doesn't seem to me to be related solely to AI".

the real problem is that you submitted content that infringes intellectual property rights,whether they are AI content or not.

did you reference other artists in the prompt?Have you created AI content that featured famous people or characters?Have you included names of well-known characters,people or artists in the description or keywords?

I don't even want to know,I'm just telling you that you were blocked for one of these reasons.

However,in my opinion,if it was an isolated mistake,you will probably be unblocked.

if there is anything else,I don't know,only you can know.

Quote from: aprott on November 02, 2023, 07:27

Quote from: Injustice for all on November 01, 2023, 19:22

Quote from: aprott on November 01, 2023, 14:10

Quote from: Injustice for all on November 01, 2023, 13:19

I'm just wondering one thing that I really can't understand:

"given your considerable experience in microstock,didn't you realize that you were uploading content that violated the upload guidelines?"yes,you knew but you did it anyway.

As I wrote I am not aware of any images in my current portfolio which would violate the upload guidelines for AI.

I don't know this,but what I see is that your problem doesn't seem to me to be related solely to AI.

I say this because in the response that you received and that you reported here,it does not seem to me that there is reference to the fact that you have violated the guidelines regarding AI,but that you have violated intellectual property rights.

I had another look at the message from contrib support and it definitely says AI content:
-----
Your account was blocked after we noticed that you have submitted Generative Ai content that is not within our guidelines.

You have submitted files that refer to famous artists, people, characters from popular culture, and/or other existing subjects such as video games in the image, title or keywords. We take intellectual property rights very seriously and your uploads are a violation of these rights and thus violate the upload guidelines.

Your account will remain blocked until further notice.
----
Edit: Sorry for the confusion: I had omitted the first line in my earlier post because I had already talked about it being triggered by AI related images.

I meant exactly this when I wrote: "your problem doesn't seem to me to be related solely to AI".

the real problem is that you submitted content that infringes intellectual property rights,whether they are AI content or not.

did you reference other artists in the prompt?Have you created AI content that featured famous people or characters?Have you included names of well-known characters,people or artists in the description or keywords?

I don't even want to know,I'm just telling you that you were blocked for one of these reasons.

However,in my opinion,if it was an isolated mistake,you will probably be unblocked.

if there is anything else,I don't know,only you can know.

To resume your statement:

You don't know but maybe, probably, not entirely sure something something but then you don't even want to know and finally you don't know because only the OP can know.

Why did you even bother with this drivel?

aprott, I really feel a bit sorry about the useless comments here for you.

Therefore my appeal (I hope others will follow, we are somehow a community here in the forum):

Mat, aprott seems to be a loyal, likeable contributor of many years who has expressed his cooperation and at least has not maliciously made some silly mistake.

Can you please ensure that the examination is accelerated ?

aprott, I really feel a bit sorry about the useless comments here for you.

Therefore my appeal (I hope others will follow, we are somehow a community here in the forum):

Mat, aprott seems to be a loyal, likeable contributor of many years who has expressed his cooperation and at least has not maliciously made some silly mistake.

Can you please ensure that the examination is accelerated ?

Thank you for your support, Ralf. I will report here when I am contacted by Adobe.

Again, I am so very, very sorry.

I don't understand why reliable producers are not treated better.

I am enjoying good sales at Adobe at the moment. Cannot imagine how I would feel if I was suddenly cut off from my income.

Also even if it will be back some of the images will never perform as before, because it is out of the scope and trends for a few months now. Adobe should dedicate a team or department for these account blocking cases, because contributors everyday living can depend on this (if he/she takes it seriously and it's not just a pocket money). I would be happy to even decrease the % we get by 1-2% just to know it won't happen randomly. People put into the production 100s and 1000s of hours and it might happen that it will be lost forever. This is an underrated issue, I really hope someone from Adobe will take care of this situation and figure out some sort of solution.

You are so right. That's why I differentiated direct and indirect damages in the past postings. I had several images which where number one in search for certain keywords so the effect of several months of blackout will be devastating.

My account thankfully was unblocked after nearly 4 months today by Mat after I finally sent him a message. He told me my account was blocked because of referencing artists in metadata and because of not ticking the AI checkbox for AI generated content. He asked me to go through my portfolio within one week to delete AI content not flagged as AI.

I immediately went through all my 4423 images and noticed that all AI generated content was flagged as AI. But I found 37 additional images which were somehow flagged by Adobe (inspection?) as AI but in fact are not generated by AI. I do a lot of 3d rendering and it seems like inspectors or (AI?) machines sometimes mistakenly flag 3d rendered content as AI content. I found one AI image with a reference to "Disney" in the keywords. So that was the only issue I found.

I sent my assessment to Mat and am looking forward to the reply.

@aprott:
First of all, I'm really glad to hear that your account has been unblocked by Mat - great!

As I have had a blocked account myself (the reason was a reference to "Giger") I know what it's like... I then went through my account and deleted everything that could even remotely be a reference problem from my portfolio, e.g. cars without logos (because of the shape), clown dolls (possibly alluding to a movie), etc.

I hope your account will recover quite quickly from the block - it started slowly for me and after 10-12 weeks I was back to about the download level per week from before.

All fingers are crossed :-)

I have been thinking of you a lot, so glad you got your port back.

But what you are reporting is a really depressing procedure. Giving you the real information directly would have been so much easier.

We all make mistakes, we are human.

This kind of extreme process that cuts you off from your vital income for months is simply not right.

Thank you Mat for looking into it.