Author Topic: WE NEED A UNION! (Read 32008 times)

Albert Martin · « **Reply #100 on:** September 09, 2010, 09:03 »

Quote from: borg on September 09, 2010, 06:31

Quote from: sharpshot on September 09, 2010, 06:24
I like the idea of working with one or a few or the sites that pay us a fair commission. We could give them a contributors recommendation and only link to those sites and give them as much publicity as possible.

Then we could contact buyers and explain that we will no longer be able to supply some sites because they have cut our commissions and they will have to look at these other sites if they want to see our new work.

Yep! That could work!

It seems that 15% can ruin 85% in marketing very quickly...

So we need to find several agencies that MSG may issue a some kind of certificate " fair commision agency"or "photographers friendly "...
That would be a true example of the independence of this forum ...

Good Idea!

Start with: ALAMY, Shutterstock, The3DStudio, GL, FP, StockFresh and all others who are doing this with minimum 50% royalties for their contributors. Why shutterstock? Well... I like them ;-)

Microbius · « **Reply #101 on:** September 10, 2010, 05:40 »

How about a Microstockgroup commission seal of approval for all agencies giving 50%+ to contributors (not SS as they don't give a percentage) I wonder if they'd display a site badge if we made one

dirkr · « **Reply #102 on:** September 10, 2010, 06:45 »

Quote from: Microbius on September 10, 2010, 05:40

How about a Microstockgroup commission seal of approval for all agencies giving 50%+ to contributors (not SS as they don't give a percentage) I wonder if they'd display a site badge if we made one

Something like a "fair trade" seal.
It works for things like coffee, at least here in Germany.
People buying essentially the same product for a higher price when they can be sure that the production doesn't unfairly exploit the local producers in far away countries.
What you would need to do is establish an independent "approval process" as to who gets awarded with the seal (with clear and public available criteria) and then you have to do some marketing to make it well known in the world of image buyers.
Then it might have some impact...

Microbius · « **Reply #103 on:** September 10, 2010, 06:49 »

My suggestion was a bit tongue in cheek, but if some of the sites that already fit the criteria display it then that would help market it (there would be a link back from the seal to a page explaining what it was). There would have to be a page on here outlining the criteria with a list of approved sites of course.

helix7 · « **Reply #104 on:** September 10, 2010, 16:10 »

Quote from: Microbius on September 10, 2010, 05:40

How about a Microstockgroup commission seal of approval for all agencies giving 50%+ to contributors (not SS as they don't give a percentage) I wonder if they'd display a site badge if we made one

Looks like one site is way ahead of us: http://graphicleftovers.com/blog/graphic-leftovers-is-a-fair-trade-contributor-site/

Microbius · « **Reply #105 on:** September 10, 2010, 16:25 »

lol, well they do qualify!

Pixart · « **Reply #106 on:** September 10, 2010, 16:53 »

I like it, but didn't they lift that page right from Zymmetrical?

FD · « **Reply #107 on:** September 11, 2010, 11:12 »

Quote from: Pixart on September 10, 2010, 16:53

I like it, but didn't they lift that page right from Zymmetrical?

Yap. Keith was too good for this world.

gaja · « **Reply #108 on:** September 11, 2010, 12:26 »

I liked the "fair trade"-seal at GL, and I'm sure a lot of the other 50%+ sites would love to get one too. And it doesn't cost us anything.

Plus: certificates like those often cost money to get. So in order to get one that is supported my the microstockgroup, they have to make a (symbolic at first) contribution to the forum/kiva.

sofe · « **Reply #109 on:** September 11, 2010, 17:59 »

I just read through this thread. Its very interesting. I really think we need something of our own with fair prices and royalties, to get out of the hands of the micro companies. And I think it could be very successful as well since many contributors are also buyers or know buyers and the fair treatment of the contributors would be one good selling point. It seems the discussion has died down though. It would be interesting to keep it going...

Albert Martin · « **Reply #110 on:** September 11, 2010, 18:11 »

Well... Graphic Leftovers deserves that seal.

Any other agency like The3DStudio for example?

They pay over 50% too!

gaja · « **Reply #111 on:** September 11, 2010, 18:56 »

Quote from: Albert Martin on September 11, 2010, 18:11

Well... Graphic Leftovers deserves that seal.

Any other agency like The3DStudio for example?

They pay over 50% too!

Alamy: 60 %

These pay 50% or more on ordinary sales, but have subscriptions that might be difficult to calculate:
Yay: 50%
CanStockPhoto: 50%
123RF: 50%

arquiplay77 · « **Reply #112 on:** November 04, 2010, 05:39 »

Have you people known of this project.
I have just known of it trough SS forums in the famoous page 292.000 stolen images.
I have signed in and hope everybody does.

http://monsterprojeckt.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/stock-artist-union-information/

MarkFGD · « **Reply #113 on:** November 04, 2010, 06:16 »

It's my view that a union wouldn't work in the virtual world. I think the crowd sourcing model needs international regulation and legislation. How you go about making that happen is beyond me.

rinderart · « **Reply #114 on:** November 11, 2010, 20:45 »

http://monsterprojeckt.wordpress.com/stock-artists-union/

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Author Topic: WE NEED A UNION! (Read 32008 times)

Albert Martin

Microbius

dirkr

Microbius

helix7

Microbius

Pixart

FD

gaja

sofe

Albert Martin

gaja

arquiplay77

MarkFGD

rinderart

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