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Author Topic: Fotolia changes to Exclusivity and other News  (Read 45494 times)

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« on: February 18, 2009, 09:30 »
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Just got an e-mail from Fotolia Germany. They announced some changes:
One was I believed mentioned here before. The option to give your images away for free which have not sold int 24 month

Others are:

- Medium size price will go up to 4 credits
- our commission goes down by 3%
- new exclusivity model (photographers exclusivity like istock)
- commission from exclusive images will in future be the same as nonexclusive images, if the whole portfolio is not exclusive.


« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2009, 09:45 »
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- commission from exclusive images will in future be the same as nonexclusive images, if the whole portfolio is not exclusive.

Well, commisions will be the same, but you can set higher maximum prices, if you have image exclusivity.

« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2009, 09:53 »
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One important point I have seen: You can't change the price for ELs any more until emerald status for non-exclusive files.
Hope this is just an error, I've asked on the FT forum and am waiting for a response...

« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2009, 10:03 »
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One important point I have seen: You can't change the price for ELs any more until emerald status for non-exclusive files.
Hope this is just an error, I've asked on the FT forum and am waiting for a response...

You can bet that it is NOT an error...

« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2009, 10:09 »
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You can bet that it is NOT an error...

Let's wait. There is no benefit for FT in doing so. Whoever buys an EL intends to make money with it. I would assume that the price is secondary, so offering ELs at low prices will not lead to a significant increase in volume.
On the other hand higher prices - obviously - means more money for FT too, so why change that?

For the "regular" licences it makes some sense, as the commission here might be a way to push people to exclusivity...

« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2009, 10:17 »
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Wow I did not noticed that with the EL. I will opted out my images from the Extended License if that really is the case.

RT


« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2009, 10:21 »
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For the "regular" licences it makes some sense, as the commission here might be a way to push people to exclusivity...

Who in their right mind would even consider going exclusive on Fotolia?

« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2009, 10:31 »
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For the "regular" licences it makes some sense, as the commission here might be a way to push people to exclusivity...

Who in their right mind would even consider going exclusive on Fotolia?

Not me. But in the German FT forum you can read the first posts where people have deleted their non-exclusive files from FT...

« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2009, 10:36 »
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For the "regular" licences it makes some sense, as the commission here might be a way to push people to exclusivity...

Who in their right mind would even consider going exclusive on Fotolia?

I would think that Fotolia does not talk about real artist exclusivitiy here. Instead, they say 'no non-exclusive pictures on Fotolia'. Strange...

« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2009, 10:40 »
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For the "regular" licences it makes some sense, as the commission here might be a way to push people to exclusivity...

Who in their right mind would even consider going exclusive on Fotolia?

I would think that Fotolia does not talk about real artist exclusivitiy here. Instead, they say 'no non-exclusive pictures on Fotolia'. Strange...

That's what the Newsletter said, but that was obviously just bad communication. On the German FT forum it was just stated (from a FT employee) that they mean photographer exclusivity just like at istock.

lisafx

« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2009, 11:00 »
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Can anyone explain what "our commissions go down 3% means"?  We all get 3% less than we are getting now?  So if you are at 34% it will now be 31% , etc.?

« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2009, 11:02 »
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Yes Lisa, thats what I meant and how I understood the e-mail.

« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2009, 11:10 »
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Just received the email __ here it is in English;



# FEB 2009

UNSOLD FILES AND EXCLUSIVITY: WHAT WILL CHANGE?
 
Dear members,

Fotolia has recently reached the amazing number of 5 million images online, and soon, there will be more than 1 million members using the Fotolia website worldwide. This success is due to the wonderful talent of our contributors, who have placed their trust in us for over 4 years now.

In order for us to prepare for the future and continue offering our contributors more revenue, we plan to make two major changes, first plans to help monetize unsold files and second changes in exclusivity conditions.

The following information will outline all of these changes. 
 
UNSOLD FILES MANAGEMENT
 
Many of you have within your portfolio files that have not sold in the last 24 months. Fotolia now offers you the ability to generate revenue with those unsold files, by adding them to the Free Images API.

If you have files that have not sold during the last 24 months, you can decide to offer them to the Free Images API and receive 0.5 credits for each file submitted. Of course, your files will remain on the Fotolia website and may be sold at any time, but they will also be offered for free via the Free Images API.

Offer Conditions
  For each unsold file added to the Free Images API, the contributor receives 0.5 credits to their Fotolia account.
A file added to this Free Images API will still remain on the Fotolia website and may be sold at any time.
When an unsold file is added to this Free Images API, the contributor can not remove the file from this section for at least 18 months.
Files from the Fotolia Free files API will be distributed through partners sites using the Fotolia free site API as well as the Fotolia free files section
After 18 months, the contributor will have the ability to remove this file from the Free Images API if they so choose.
 

Procedure

Files which may be added to this Free Images API will be displayed in the Member home > My files > Unsold files section.
You just have to decide which files you wish to add to the Free Images API. Upon submission to the Free Images API your credits will be immediately added to your Fotolia account.

 
 
PRICES, EXCLUSIVITY AND COMMISSIONS
 
In March, we plan to increase the prices for the M license to 4 credits. According to our estimations, this price increase should allow our contributors to generate 20% more revenue.

However, in order to grow in terms of marketing, human resources and technology, Fotolia is reducing commissions by 3%.

Nevertheless, Fotolia will remain the best paying microstock site with commissions between 30% and 61% depending on the level of exclusivity. (see charts below).

It is also planned to modify the exclusivity and commission conditions for photos and illustrations. This modification is necessary to allow Fotolia to remain competitive and equitable towards our most faithful members.

Thus there are now three types of exclusivity within Fotolia, Non exclusive, Partially exclusive, and Totally exclusive.

Type of exclusivity Contributor's files Exclusive files benefits
Non exclusivity Only non exclusive files in portfolio -
Partial exclusivity Partly Exclusive and Partly non exclusive files in portfolio Ability to raise prices for exclusive files
Non exclusive commissions 
Total exclusivity Photographer is 100% exclusive with Fotolia Ability to raise prices
Exclusive commissions 

Maximum Price for files with total exclusivity

 Commission (%)                 
White    47 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 20
Bronze   49 2 4 8 10 12 14 16 50
Silver   51 3 6 12  15 18 21 24 100
Gold    53 4 8 16 20 24 28 32 150
Emerald   55 5 10 20 25 30 35 40 200
Sapphire   57 6 12 24 30 36 42 48 200
Rubis   59 7 14 28 35 42 49 56 200
Diamond   61 10 20 40 50 60 70 80 200

Maximum Price for exclusive files with partial exclusivity

 Commission (%)                 
White   30 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 20
Bronze   32 2 4 8 10 12 14 16 50
Silver   34 3 6 12 15 18 21 24 100
Gold   36 4 8 16 20 24 28 32 150
Emerald   38 5 10 20 25 30 35 40 200
Sapphire   40 6 12 24 30 36 42 48 200
Rubis   42 7 14 28 35 42 49 56 200
Diamond   44 10 20 40 50 60 70 80 200

Maximum Price for non exclusive files

 Commission (%)                 
White    30 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 20
Bronze   32 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 20
Silver   34 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 20
Gold   36 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 20
Emerald   38 2 4 8 10 12 14 16 200
Sapphire   40 3 6 12 15 18 21 24 200
Rubis   42 4 8 16 20 24 28 32 200
Diamond   44 5 10 20 25 30 35 40 200
 

« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2009, 11:23 »
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Increasing prices then decreases percentages is another Fotolia kick in the ass. They are schmucks. I can find other words to describe this move but am not allowed to print them here. I guess there is no stop to this.

RT


« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2009, 11:24 »
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Can anyone explain what "our commissions go down 3% means"? 

Along with the rest of the crap that was written in the email it means that Fotolia have screwed us again.

« Reply #15 on: February 18, 2009, 11:25 »
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OMG. This means that we will be forced to give away EL for 20$ with no ability to change it ever.... unless some unachievable level (saphire or so...)

« Reply #16 on: February 18, 2009, 11:30 »
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3% does not sound much, but consider that 3% down from 33% commission is actually 10% less money, that means you monthly payout will be 10% lower.

« Reply #17 on: February 18, 2009, 11:32 »
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This is going to far.  

The 3% decrease is actually close to 10% !!.  3% of 37% in my case ...  

Along with the non-communication about this - - $ thing, I've had it.  We should really do something about these ...  well ...  'guys'.  But what ?  


« Reply #18 on: February 18, 2009, 11:32 »
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This is one more push towards me focusing more on macro agencies and less on micro.. We seem to just keep getting shafted more and more.. It's unfortunate..

lisafx

« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2009, 11:39 »
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I just got the e-mail too.  It does lay things out pretty clearly.  

Thanks for posting the explanation about the % changes.

I am really sorry to see a push for artist exclusivity on another site.  Conditions on istock for independents have gotten increasingly worse over the past couple of years and it would be sad to see Fotolia going the same direction.  


« Reply #20 on: February 18, 2009, 11:51 »
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I noticed that the images they want us to DONATE unsold images for the amount of 0.5 cent per image to the free section. This allows them to distribute the images via thair partneres s as well... Not "just"  offer them for free on fotolia....

Just what is the point in doing that?

All those FREE images will ultimately be an unfair competition to all the images that are generating profil / sales.....

Would'nt be much more beneficial to the industry if the large agencies took a stand and denied to participate in this stupid thing called FREE IMAGES?

I for one, would prefer to DELETE all images that are unsaleable... Rather than giving them away to attract unnessesary attention from mine and your saleable images...

rgds
Flemming

« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2009, 11:54 »
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All those FREE images will ultimately be an unfair competition to all the images that are generating profil / sales.....

Would'nt be much more beneficial to the industry if the large agencies took a stand and denied to participate in this stupid thing called FREE IMAGES?

I for one, would prefer to DELETE all images that are unsaleable... Rather than giving them away to attract unnessesary attention from mine and your saleable images...

rgds
Flemming

Flemming,

so true, so true. Images that don't sell are only marginally different from the ones that do.

Peter

« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2009, 12:03 »
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Well I was just starting to see an increase in sales from FT - I think this is due to finally making it to Silver.

So if they estimate that increasing their prices will increase our revenue by 20%, surely they themselves will also have more $$ to spend on marketing?

With a track record like this of moving the goalposts, whats to stop the incremental erosion of our commission to something like what IS is paying now?

« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2009, 12:06 »
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EL = 20 credits

payout = 30%

earned credits = 6

1 credit = 0.60

earned = 3.6

converted to $ = $5.2 !!!

are they NUTS ???  If they get away with this, they can do everything !  Sorry, this is way over the limit for me.

« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2009, 12:18 »
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3% pay cut, just what we need during a recession. Thanks, Fotolia  >:(


 

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