now that Getty and IS have taken an interest in Flickr.
ok, i already hear a lot of noises (no pun intended),
so what's your "honest" opinion.

Shoot! no punches pulled.  this is WWW no holds barred 

i don't get it

and isn't there another thread already?

maybe so, but so are other topics revamped here.
unfortunately for you, not all of us were here when those threads were introduced.
so from those who care to comment or re-instate their insight,
i am asking for their input.

It is a two pronged attack, firstly I.M.H.O. Getty are not interested in the images, they would not licence an image that has been on flickr and might be blogged or downloaded via the flickr API, which does not filter images with the photographers "Licence" preferences.

So what is it about, Firstly the deal excludes contributors from linking to other stock agencies, there has always been a non commercial clause, but photographers have worked around this, now things may get harder, lets see what happens to some of the groups that link back to stocksites.

Second they may cream a few of the photographers from Flickr, any professionals that use Flickr as a showcase will already have sites and may not be interested, and many others will not have equipment that Getty accept, so that may leave very few photographers at a standard for Getty to pick up.

So it is likely more about restricting Flickr from marketing or making links with other stock sites that compete with Getty or Istock, or creating thier own ecommerece, if you read the details what Flickr get from the deal remains "undisclosed", so is it a smoke screen about finding new images or restricting the use of Flickr for non getty photographers and other stock sites?

David

This is a sneaky way to gain control, isn't it?
I think Getty is taking advantage of the fact that most flickr subscribers are not informed about rights of usage and exclusiveness, or not interested.
So once they get a stranglehold, it's too late for flickr people to get their photos selling with other sites.
It's a carrot to a hungry donkey, as they say in my country.