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Author Topic: Found a site that sells our footage for dirt cheap and practically free  (Read 14577 times)

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« on: December 22, 2020, 11:22 »
+9
Hello fellow stockers,

I found a website called Promo.com that is selling footage from ShutterStock and iStock at extremely low prices and is so badly watermarking the content that you can practically download the videos in full quality without paying anything. I searched it and found most of my content there, I believe this concerns all of you and probably your footage is there as well.

Recently I was able to find a lot of my content in various online ads, even TV commercials, that were missing from the sales reports. Luckily I was able to get in contact with one marketing agency and gather more info about where they got my content from and that;s how I found out about this website. All of the clips they purchased from this site were never reported in any sales reports on SS or iStock.

Another big issue is how they are watermarking the content, as you can see in the attachment below you only have 1 stripe in the upper left corner of the video which makes our videos usable in full resolution for most of Instagram ads and similar content in 4:5 aspect ratio for free.

Reading the About section of the website I found info that they are partners with ShutterStock and Getty Images.

Can someone please tell me is there something we can do about this?

Thanks in advance


« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2020, 23:21 »
+1
The preview is 1280x720, but it's really usable!

« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2020, 23:37 »
+1
They have a monthly subscription with an unlimited video download! 99$ paid monthly or 69$ paid annually, from the FAQ:

Will videos have a watermark or Promo.com mention?
Videos you download are yours and do not have a watermark or Promo.com mention.

Can I use the video after my subscription is over?
Yes. The videos you download are yours forever.

Where can I use the videos I create?
You can post, publish, upload, and share your videos on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn or any other social networks, websites or blogs, as much as you want.

« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2020, 23:42 »
0
From the FAQ:

What is the resolution and file type of the videos I can create with Promo.com?
Basic and Special Holiday Plans can download videos in HD quality (720p).
Standard and Pro Plan subscribers can download Full HD (1080p) videos.
All videos can be downlaoded in MP4 format.

Can I sell videos I make?
Yes, Pro and Agency Plan customers can resell or reassign videos to a different owner.
Please note that when you do this, your own rights (including the lifetime license) to use the video expires and passes along to the recipient.

« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2020, 10:07 »
0
does it means that this agency has a partnership  with istock and ss??

« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2020, 10:47 »
0
I found some of my clips there too   >:(

And the only copyright is "Shutterstock"; they don't even indicate my name. Is this legal ?

« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2020, 11:31 »
+1
And they offer "free photo" too.
The FAQ it say "We provide over 1.4 Million photos in our FREE image library. There are no limits to how often you can use these images."
I found some of my bestselling there :'(. They come from iStock. I wonder if I get paid by iStock when  they are used by promo.com costumers.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2020, 12:59 »
+1
From the FAQ:

Can I sell videos I make?
Yes, Pro and Agency Plan customers can resell or reassign videos to a different owner.
Please note that when you do this, your own rights (including the lifetime license) to use the video expires and passes along to the recipient.

While that seems poorly worded, it means that someone who creates something for someone else, can reassign the rights they purchased. Not that someone can resell your video. It's just terribly worded though and people will misunderstand and try to resell videos as their own.

Partner site, now you know where those really lowball subs come from.

« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2020, 13:37 »
+2
This just couldn't be legal on so many different levels.

One of the biggest problems is that these sales through Promo.com don't get reported in your sales report and to make things even worse this site is extremely popular with marketing agencies for obvious reasons.

And even worse I believe this is just one out of many sites who operate like this.

Currently I have a proof that a marketing agency bought couple of my videos through Promo.com and used them for a commercial, none of which I can find in my reports, meaning I got 0% royalty from SS and iStock. I am trying to file a lawsuit at the moment, does anyone know any good lawyers who are familiar with copyright lawsuits? I would greatly appreciate any info

« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2020, 21:54 »
+1
@ liquidsnake:

I would wait with the lawsuit and find more contributor whos work also sold for free on that site and then build a group lawsuit - cheaper and has more weight = better chance to win.

« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2020, 22:09 »
+2
Hello fellow stockers,

I found a website called Promo.com that is selling footage from ShutterStock and iStock at extremely low prices and is so badly watermarking the content that you can practically download the videos in full quality without paying anything. I searched it and found most of my content there, I believe this concerns all of you and probably your footage is there as well.

Recently I was able to find a lot of my content in various online ads, even TV commercials, that were missing from the sales reports. Luckily I was able to get in contact with one marketing agency and gather more info about where they got my content from and that;s how I found out about this website. All of the clips they purchased from this site were never reported in any sales reports on SS or iStock.

Another big issue is how they are watermarking the content, as you can see in the attachment below you only have 1 stripe in the upper left corner of the video which makes our videos usable in full resolution for most of Instagram ads and similar content in 4:5 aspect ratio for free.

Reading the About section of the website I found info that they are partners with ShutterStock and Getty Images.

Can someone please tell me is there something we can do about this?

Thanks in advance


Well, another robbery from scam companies. I also saw some of my images there and I see why they are no longer sold almost in other places. All this is very frustrating. >:( :(

« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2020, 22:28 »
+1
Thanks for the heads up on this Liquidsnake.

I have asked both SS and iStock to remove my clips from Promo. No reply yet, will be interesting to see what they say. I sure they will claim its all in their T&C's.

Pls post this on the SS contributor forum as I'm sure no one over there has any idea about this.
 

« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2020, 23:39 »
0
#I also saw some of my images there#

How were you able to see / search for them?
Any link?

« Reply #13 on: December 24, 2020, 00:29 »
+1
I just chatted with someone from the support team of Promo and found out following:

Free photos / videos / templates / and so on:

Only from Shutterstock and Getty

And only from their premium section.*

SS & G decide which they want to give for free.

# we get all of them from Shutterstock and Getty Images and have more than 23'000'000 clips in our library. #

* # Most of the videos are premium, but we have more than 150'000 non-premium videos as well. #

# We have now integrated with Unsplash to offer 1 500 000+ high-quality photos right inside your video. All photos are free for you!! #

If we want to search for our photos and videos, if they are offered for free, we have to sign in and purchase a monthly package, use a tool and then we can see / view / search for our photos and videos.
# I'm afraid there's no (other) way to check, #

# Reselling of the videos you create is Promo is only possible with our Pro plans. The rest of plans is designed for ads creating for 1 business only. #

« Reply #14 on: December 24, 2020, 00:31 »
0
Getty! NOT iStock !!!!!
I asked explicit for it and he clarify: only Getty -  not iStock.

« Reply #15 on: December 24, 2020, 00:48 »
0
As we all could guess:

Because Getty also offers images from iStock to their customer, why not also to Promo?!

I just found nearly all of my Getty premium photos (via eyeEm) are offered

AND

many (all?) photos from iStock, offered from Getty!
That means: We can say, it is the same like iStock offers all our photos and videos also for free!

Interesting: The first images I found from my iStock portfolio were third selection (my own selection)  from my photos and that shot!
With other words: I guess Promo at least get all images from iStock for free.
Hey that bad photos from me: There were 6 sister shots - all to bad in my mind to upload to Adobe or other better agencies!


« Reply #16 on: December 24, 2020, 00:56 »
+1
I am an iStock not a getty contributor and both my photos and videos are available


« Reply #17 on: December 24, 2020, 01:05 »
+2
Hey that bad photos from me: There were 6 sister shots - all to bad in my mind to upload to Adobe or other better agencies!
I found some of my photos that are not "bad photos"; they sold over 100 time in the last 6 months.

It is unbelievable that Getty/iStock & SS can give my photos for free without a financial compensation. Adobe created a free library too but they claim they had pay the contributor for this.

I send a request to iStock to remove my photos from Promo.com.

« Reply #18 on: December 24, 2020, 01:19 »
+1
someone contacted getty and SS? Are they allowed to share them for free. What iam missing here? Photos too? can not see a search form for photos, videos only.
If it`s true, wow! what !
« Last Edit: December 24, 2020, 01:25 by hellou »

« Reply #19 on: December 24, 2020, 01:28 »
0
contacted both, as yet no reply

Tenebroso

« Reply #20 on: December 24, 2020, 01:44 »
0
There is a possibility that the other thread below that talks about possible images sold in the agency and that the commission is not reported to the artist or their sale is notified, has something to do with this issue.

Agencies pay us less and less and do more and more business, more and more aggressive, to keep making money with our products. This is not going well. Nothing good.

« Reply #21 on: December 24, 2020, 01:47 »
+2
Now you all know where all those under 1$ 4k video sales come from in the Getty and Shutter reports. As Getty & Shutterstock sales commissions are not transparent by any means they could be earning 99% of the deal with this people. So much unethical actions going on with this two agencies that it is really amazing nobody has already filed an request for an official audit on their numbers. I would not be surprised at the scandal that will follow.
Everybody talks about the chinese scam stock companies making up their numbers and doing "creative accounting". Those two companies do the same thing.....

« Reply #22 on: December 24, 2020, 02:02 »
+2
I send an email request to PROMO.com to have some more information's:

I write you because I am a contributor to both iStock and Shutterstock. I saw some of my photos from iStock and some of videos from Shutterstock on your website.
My question is about the commissions for these videos and photos:
   Will I receive a commission each time my videos are used by your costumers?
   What about the free photos library; will I receive a commission each time one of my photos is used by your costumers?


Here is their response: "If you don't mind I will post a note to our Team regarding your request, and we will follow up with you on that via email."

« Reply #23 on: December 24, 2020, 02:03 »
0
# I send a request to iStock to remove my photos from Promo.com. #

They will do?
I dont think so!

The only way we have: Closing the portfolio totally!
But how can we prove the photos and videos will then also disappear on Promo?

I just signed in on Promo and there are free trails tools. So I will be able to check if they will disappear or not.

« Reply #24 on: December 24, 2020, 02:12 »
+2
The only way we have: Closing the portfolio totally!
I am not sure ours photos will disappear from PROMO.com if we close our iStock portfolio. This depend on the terms of the contract between iStock and PROMO.com. Maybe iStock received a one time payment for an unlimited use of ours photos.


 

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