I don't think there are earning in microstock for editorial, so I upload only in L at Alamy

Quote from: scoutingstock on September 02, 2010, 21:53

I upload my commercial RF microstock files to Alamy as RF.  However, Alamy does not have a RF category for editorial.  Do you guys upload your editorial photos to  microstock companies and Alamy (as non exclusive RM "L") or do you pick between the two?

Thanks

I don't have one "editorial" shot that could be licensed as RF. How do you get a release for a news shot with people, property or multiple unreleased and protected elements involved?

This is another misconception. The reason agencies have sold editorial shots only as TL or RM is that when the use is specified there is no risk of a accidental, inappropriate use and they know what the intended use is and would presumably refuse to sell the license if they thought it was going to infringe someone's copyright. With RF, all the onus for tracking the image and ensuring it is not used inappropriately lies with the client, who may hoard an editorial picture for years and forget there is a license restriction. That does not make it illegal to sell an editorial-type image under any license you like but it means that the client has to be extra careful.

Given how excessively paranoid the agencies are over trademarks/copyright in their non-editorial images in order to protect the clients, presumably on the assumption that the user doesn't know the ins and outs of copyright etc.. it is a little surprising that they create potential pitfalls for these same clients by selling RF editorial licenses that are not time limited.

I don't think you can sell an image one place as RF and another as RM. That's the issue. If Micro is RF then selling the same images on Alamy as RM would be a licensing problem.

The buyer has the responsibility for the final use and other legal issues. Micro is somehow neurotic about controlling before the fact. Maybe they assume that buyers don't have a clue? 

   Re the question:   "Back to the first question. Is your RF Editorial really news, and why do you want to sell that as RF?"


I have editorial photos at SS, DT, BS and 123.  Some are newsworthy but most are travel (with people and signage).  I consider these agencies to be selling them as RF-editorial because of the pricing structure.  I prefer Alamy's pricing structure but sales there are rare.  

There does not seem to be a prohibition against selling editorial at both Alamy (RM-L) and the micros.  Guess I'm trying to figure out what the rules are.

95% of my port is RF-commercial.  I'm new to editorial and enjoy the creative freedom it brings.  It provides an outlet for photos that would otherwise end up in the dust bin.  

Thanks