MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Found a site that sells our footage for dirt cheap and practically free  (Read 14574 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« Reply #25 on: December 24, 2020, 03:25 »
+1
only laws can change this mess.

EU, US anyone... agencies will take multi million dollars deals, demand is still huge, but when copyright holder is last to find out what is happening with his copyrighted work this may not be legal anymore.



« Reply #26 on: December 24, 2020, 03:40 »
0
I just wrote in a chat with the support team of Promo as follows - Maybe to offence from me, but maybe also it could help to bring them thinking about what they do and which whom they are making business.

# Sorry for more questions: I plan to close my portfolios on Shutterstock, Getty and iStock ( I found nearly all my photos from iStock in your library, because Getty offers them to you!).. After closing my accounts there, my photos will be removed from your Promo website, too? Or did these agencies get one instant payment from Promo, so that Promo now owns my photos? On Forums it is discussed very much just now and many contributor will come together to make a lawsuit against that agencies - eventuelly also against Promo. Just to inform you how sensitive the theme is and what will go on soon. #

« Reply #27 on: December 24, 2020, 03:43 »
+1
Here is the final response of PROMO.com to my request for more information's: "Thanks for reaching out! To follow up on your questions I would suggest you reach out directly to Shutterstock / Istock . All content provided to our customers by Promo is licensed for use so best step would be to reach out to them on that content's use."

I tried to know if they reported images/videos uses to IS/SS so that we can get commissions. They refused to answer and send me back to SS and IS.

« Reply #28 on: December 24, 2020, 03:47 »
0
Promo:
# We would suggest you reach out directly to Shutterstock / Istock . All content provided to our customers by Promo is licensed for use so best step would be to reach out to them on that content's use. #
Me:
Of course, thats my second plan. But you might already be able to clarify, if the photos now owned forever by Promo or not. for a contract are two sides needed and both should know the answer to my question.


Looks like a copy of your text above. LOL
No wonder

« Reply #29 on: December 24, 2020, 03:58 »
0
I was trying to check but when i enter site i got a warning from firefox saying that more than 10 million accounts were compromised in 2020 from Promo site. And to check firefox monitor.  you guys receive that too?

« Reply #30 on: December 24, 2020, 04:04 »
0
Just for background info:

Promo also said:

# From our side, we are not offering exclusive license for any footage, our customers can include the footage into the video, add their text, logo and music and download it. Download as stock footage with us is regarded as violation of terms of service #

So our photos/videos are for free on Promo, but used photos/videos are not allowed to sell as stock.

« Reply #31 on: December 24, 2020, 04:45 »
+1
This is so toxic platform for artists.
If i get it right... Basically: its a video editor online for marketing products for a low cost.
You don t need a camera, an editor, a motion graphics to marketing your products anymore. Promo made a platform so it can reduce post production costs and camouflage the license costs for Business or Commercial licenses for companies.

For me its a huge red flag to microstock companies that are associated with this stuff.

« Reply #32 on: December 24, 2020, 09:32 »
0
#I also saw some of my images there#

How were you able to see / search for them?
Any link?
I sing up using my Google account, so i go to the search and select image, all my image from Getty are there! >:( :( >:(
« Last Edit: December 24, 2020, 11:11 by alexandersr »

Mrl

« Reply #33 on: December 24, 2020, 10:30 »
0
I also found this site selling artist artworks (mine images as example) without permission
https://www.thezoombackgrounds.com/collections/background-videos-for-zoom

Please take a look and maybe your videos/images are there

« Reply #34 on: December 24, 2020, 10:37 »
0
I also found this site selling artist artworks (mine images as example) without permission
https://www.thezoombackgrounds.com/collections/background-videos-for-zoom

Please take a look and maybe your videos/images are there
Oh my god! >:( :( >:(
« Last Edit: December 24, 2020, 11:11 by alexandersr »

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #35 on: December 24, 2020, 13:52 »
+1
I also found this site selling artist artworks (mine images as example) without permission
https://www.thezoombackgrounds.com/collections/background-videos-for-zoom

Please take a look and maybe your videos/images are there
Oh my god! >:( :( >:(

I don't think they are selling them?  https://www.thezoombackgrounds.com/pages/terms-of-service

This website contains pictures and videos that are owned by or licensed to us. Any copying is forbidden other than in line with the copyright notice.

Anyone who wants more could ask? I'm busy with my own business right now:  [email protected]

I'm not sure that they should be allowed to re-license our images and video, but who knows with the contracts and changes. Good luck anyone who wants to find the clear answer.

« Reply #36 on: December 24, 2020, 16:46 »
0
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

Class action suit.

« Reply #37 on: December 24, 2020, 19:00 »
+2
My Shutterstock account has been closed since June. I have no jobs at Getty. I only have jobs in istock.

But I see my work on promo. This is a very bad situation.

« Reply #38 on: December 25, 2020, 07:10 »
+1
On PROMO.com you can find some of your images by entering your iStock contributor name as a keywork in the search field.
If you only enter your contributor name you will only have a subset of the your images on PROMO.com. You need to had another keywork (for exemple "canada" or "paris") to see all your images on a subject.

With this method I saw PROMO.com got ALL my images on iStock  >:( >:(

« Reply #39 on: December 25, 2020, 07:37 »
0
ALL either >:(

But I couldnt find any of my Shitterstock portfolio.
Can I do it the same way: portfolio name+keyword like Bali?

« Reply #40 on: December 25, 2020, 07:40 »
0
We contacted Promo.com already, but does anybody already contact Getty/iStock/Shitterstock about this? And what were their answers - also in case of a law suit? Any terms again that allows them to do it and we didnt read or didnt understand about the consequences for us?

« Reply #41 on: December 25, 2020, 07:55 »
+1
ALL either >:(

But I couldnt find any of my Shitterstock portfolio.
Can I do it the same way: portfolio name+keyword like Bali?
This work for images only (not for footages). For me, all images from PROMO.com are coming frim iStock and all footages from Shutterstock.

We contacted Promo.com already, but does anybody already contact Getty/iStock/Shitterstock about this? And what were their answers - also in case of a law suit? Any terms again that allows them to do it and we didnt read or didnt understand about the consequences for us?

I sent a request to iStock to remove my images from PROMO.com. I guess it will take some time to get an answer; and I am not sure to get a positive response. We would have more strength if every contributor send such a request to iStock.
I also posted a message on iStock forum.

About SS, I only saw my footages on PROMO.com (all images come from iStock). And I understand we get some (very) small commissions from SS, for sales on PROMO.com. This is probably an explanation to the $1 commissions I receive from time to time on SS. So I guess all this is legal for footages. This is why I stopped publishing footages on SS (I am now Pond5 exclusive for my new footages). I will probably remove my footage from SS in the future to avoid this.


« Reply #42 on: December 25, 2020, 10:33 »
0
ALL either >:(

But I couldnt find any of my Shitterstock portfolio.
Can I do it the same way: portfolio name+keyword like Bali?
This work for images only (not for footages). For me, all images from PROMO.com are coming frim iStock and all footages from Shutterstock.

We contacted Promo.com already, but does anybody already contact Getty/iStock/Shitterstock about this? And what were their answers - also in case of a law suit? Any terms again that allows them to do it and we didnt read or didnt understand about the consequences for us?

I sent a request to iStock to remove my images from PROMO.com. I guess it will take some time to get an answer; and I am not sure to get a positive response. We would have more strength if every contributor send such a request to iStock.
I also posted a message on iStock forum.

About SS, I only saw my footages on PROMO.com (all images come from iStock). And I understand we get some (very) small commissions from SS, for sales on PROMO.com. This is probably an explanation to the $1 commissions I receive from time to time on SS. So I guess all this is legal for footages. This is why I stopped publishing footages on SS (I am now Pond5 exclusive for my new footages). I will probably remove my footage from SS in the future to avoid this.

If i close my account on Getty/Istock the images on Promo.com will be remove?

« Reply #43 on: December 25, 2020, 12:51 »
+1
# If i close my account on Getty/Istock the images on Promo.com will be remove? #

Thats the point!
Before I close my account on iStock, I have to know it!
If not - what to do? Luckily I didnt submit my best work to iStock.
But 32 images as Partner (Getty) photos via eyeEm are for free on Promo.com, too. I asked eyeEm already to take them from Getty & eyeEm market.
But also in that case, I do not know, if these 32 photos will get delete on Promo.com too.

First I did not think it has something to do with this, but now:
I just found out that i had 10 sales on iStock - ALL for 0,02. (With filename and dates and thumbs. They were sold in October.
And ONE SALE for 0,000000000 and 0% Even no filename.

But I did not get any information from iStock about that. Not on the app not in ESP, but I found them on Deepmeta.

Strange!
Might be these images got sold on Promo.com and at least paid??? Could be also just sub-sales as described on Deepmeta.

Shutterstock footage: I just two weeks ago deleted my only one footage on Shitterstock. I cannot find it on Promo.com. Seems like they deleted it on Promo.com too or it was never selected for Promo.com.

« Reply #44 on: December 25, 2020, 13:14 »
0
# If i close my account on Getty/Istock the images on Promo.com will be remove? #

Thats the point!
Before I close my account on iStock, I have to know it!
If not - what to do? Luckily I didnt submit my best work to iStock.
But 32 images as Partner (Getty) photos via eyeEm are for free on Promo.com, too. I asked eyeEm already to take them from Getty & eyeEm market.
But also in that case, I do not know, if these 32 photos will get delete on Promo.com too.

First I did not think it has something to do with this, but now:
I just found out that i had 10 sales on iStock - ALL for 0,02. (With filename and dates and thumbs. They were sold in October.
And ONE SALE for 0,000000000 and 0% Even no filename.

But I did not get any information from iStock about that. Not on the app not in ESP, but I found them on Deepmeta.

Strange!
Might be these images got sold on Promo.com and at least paid??? Could be also just sub-sales as described on Deepmeta.

Shutterstock footage: I just two weeks ago deleted my only one footage on Shitterstock. I cannot find it on Promo.com. Seems like they deleted it on Promo.com too or it was never selected for Promo.com.
But in Getty/Istock you can't delete photos. They have all control on material.

« Reply #45 on: December 27, 2020, 11:39 »
+1
Is it true that Shutterstock's Terms of Service give them the rights to do this?

« Reply #46 on: January 08, 2021, 06:33 »
0
Any updates?

I wrote to iStock, but did not get any answer to this,. But they answered another request already. That alone is already interesting.

Very interesting: iStock seems react on my request about promo.com! I wrote them that many contributors proving now a law suit against them, if that is not legal offer all images for free on promo.com.
Yesterday I checked again my images there and it seems like all my iStock images disappeared now. That is for me a sign that it was illegal.

I know many other contributors here alos wrote a request to iStock and Getty. Any answeres yet or same experiences like me: images disappeared oon promo.com?

« Reply #47 on: January 08, 2021, 06:48 »
0
Any updates?

I wrote to iStock, but did not get any answer to this,. But they answered another request already. That alone is already interesting.

Very interesting: iStock seems react on my request about promo.com! I wrote them that many contributors proving now a law suit against them, if that is not legal offer all images for free on promo.com.
Yesterday I checked again my images there and it seems like all my iStock images disappeared now. That is for me a sign that it was illegal.

I know many other contributors here alos wrote a request to iStock and Getty. Any answeres yet or same experiences like me: images disappeared oon promo.com?

I made a request to iStock the 23th of December to remove my images from PROMO.com. No response from iStock now till now and my images are still available on PROM.com.

I also posted a message on iStock forum. Here is the response of an iStock employee:
   Question: ... do you have the official 'spin' on this site? How does it benefit us, the content producers?
   Response: Not a site I was aware of but will ask

But no update from iStock on this site till now.



« Reply #48 on: January 08, 2021, 07:11 »
0
I tricked out myself LOL

On iStock I have a different name thatn on eyeem or getty ofcourse!
I checked again and indeed ALL my iStock photos still appear on promo.com

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #49 on: January 08, 2021, 10:21 »
0
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


Has anyone downloaded an image to see if we get credit or how much?


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
21 Replies
7387 Views
Last post August 31, 2010, 01:17
by RacePhoto
4 Replies
4641 Views
Last post August 01, 2009, 09:34
by paule
0 Replies
3489 Views
Last post October 24, 2009, 15:18
by Adeptris
0 Replies
2606 Views
Last post June 17, 2011, 16:01
by cathyslife
0 Replies
1595 Views
Last post February 19, 2019, 16:41
by negmardesign

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors