I wrote to my CN or whatever they call it now - friends? - on IS and most of them didn't know about this.  Some that aren't active anymore but still get a pay out sometimes were interested in deleting files to show support.  They don't need the extra couple hundred bucks a year and want to protect their pictures from abuse.  If anybody didn't write their CN yet, might be a good idea.

I'm joining this cheerful crowd for justice sake.
Can't remove my Photo+ collection images right away, but spread the news and do what I can on Feb 2, 2013.

Hi everyone!

This is insane.
I am joining you guys who already start deleting images
Today I deleted 85 images.

Kone

Quote from: sharpshot on January 17, 2013, 18:08

Quote from: Elenathewise on January 17, 2013, 15:49

Quote from: lisafx on January 16, 2013, 21:19

Quote from: Elenathewise on January 16, 2013, 17:04

Re main topic - I am working on getting most my stuff off Thinkstock right now (through one of my distributors). I've stopped all uploads to iStock, Getty and all my distributors that deal with Getty and Getty owned companies. I am NOT trying to show Getty anything, I am just making a choice not to deal with them anymore.

Elena, how can you get your images off TS if they are still on Istock?  Or did you already delete your entire portfolio from Istock?

I have stuff on TS through Ingram Publishing - they already courteously agreed to remove my images. They have way more of my images than Istock does.
Sent a request to Getty to remove all my PC RF files.
Tetra is a different story, needs different approach... working on it.

I forgot about Ingram, just sent them a request.  I wish all the sites had a nice list of all the 3rd party sites they use with an opt-out option.  Some do, like YayMicro and Zoonar, it's so nice to be able to have some control over my portfolio.  I was going to stop uploading new images to alamy this year but after recent events, I'll be working on my non-microstock portfolio there again.

Zoonar have a straight getty option that puts them on. Zoonar also had a partner program with photolibrary. Photolibrary got bought out by Getty and images that were in the partner program are on thinkstock. As zoonar arent adding anything to photolibrary anymore the partner management options have been removed. To get them off, you have email Zoonar with the image numbers so that they can remove them.  (Thomas from zoonar was very friendly about it, explained how my images were there, how we were told about it and how they are happy to remove them if desired).

I'll drop about 500. I'll be hoisting a German brew, so the number could go up or down.

Quote from: Maui on January 16, 2013, 17:38

Quote from: cobalt on January 16, 2013, 00:40
A member form the German community who has just quit hois exclusivity has started a new facebook group that is highly active.

Can you give us a link to that group?

It is a closed group in German language only. I think he wants to keep it for his friends and colleagues. If you are fluent in German, send me a sitemail, then I can send you a link and you can ask him to join.

It consists mostly from people on the German istock forum and many have met each other at events or dinners.

But basically they discuss the same things we say here, quote the same articles, share information  for those who have already quit their exclusivity.

There isn´t any really new information, it is just all in German which benefits those who find it really hard to follow the English boards.

On the deleting cause: I haven´t deleted anything yet, but I am going over my portfolio to see what I MUST save or where I would be ashamed as hell if those files every ended up for free re-distribution.

I haven´t uploaded much in the last two years and now I am grateful.

I´ll give you a number as soon as I have one.

Quote from: PixelBytes on January 17, 2013, 20:29
I wrote to my CN or whatever they call it now - friends? - on IS and most of them didn't know about this.  Some that aren't active anymore but still get a pay out sometimes were interested in deleting files to show support.  They don't need the extra couple hundred bucks a year and want to protect their pictures from abuse.  If anybody didn't write their CN yet, might be a good idea.

Good idea!  Just did the same thing :  a short message to the members of my creative network with a link to Sean's initial post on the Istock forum, asking them to join us on D-Day, even if they are not active on Istock anymore, but still have images there.

All of this - and still no response from Getty/IS.  Unbelievable. 

No doubt they have a meeting scheduled for sometime next week, at which this "issue" will be on the agenda, and it will be discussed by several important execs who don't really understand it and can't actually do anything about it, resulting in 3 more paragraphs of weasel-words for the contributor relations people to release through some weird back-channel like a forum post by 'mr_erin'. 

Quote from: maigi on January 17, 2013, 21:00
...Can't remove my Photo+ collection images right away, ...

If you meant that you can't afford to remove them, that's obviously understandable. If you meant that you thought iStock would prevent you from removing them, that's not the case.

You can disable Photo+ images at any time. The 6 month lock is only to prevent movement back to the main collection. It's not like DT's 6 month hold which really means you can't delete them for that time.

Quote from: stockastic on January 17, 2013, 22:12
All of this - and still no response from Getty/IS.  Unbelievable. 

I'm so disgusted I'm not even checking. A few months ago I started a backup plan (Niche RM not RF) and that has already started to bring in a tidy sum. This week, so far, its more than I've earned at IS. On Feb 2nd I might just delete my whole portfolio so I don't have to waste my time with them.

Feb 2nd projected total 12032+

Quote from: cobalt on January 17, 2013, 21:42

Quote from: Maui on January 16, 2013, 17:38

Quote from: cobalt on January 16, 2013, 00:40
A member form the German community who has just quit hois exclusivity has started a new facebook group that is highly active.

Can you give us a link to that group?

It is a closed group in German language only. I think he wants to keep it for his friends and colleagues. If you are fluent in German, send me a sitemail, then I can send you a link and you can ask him to join.

I am fluent in german, but since I have no images on istock and in the Getty deal it is not really so important for me. I was just curious
Thanks for the info, though.

Deactivated few files and learnt how the system works, in preparation for 2nd Feb.  Got an email promptly saying.. we regret to inform you that image has been deactivated from database..etc So it appears to work fine.

Painful but necessary..

Have also stopped uploading new content since almost a week.

Just wondering, if in few months things get reversed to normal in a good way - do all deactivated files need to go thru usual upload process once again?  Or do they lie in the depths of some server and can be brought back to life by contributors?

Quote from: sdeva on January 18, 2013, 10:57
Deactivated few files and learnt how the system works, in preparation for 2nd Feb.  Got an email promptly saying.. we regret to inform you that image has been deactivated from database..etc So it appears to work fine.

Painful but necessary..

Have also stopped uploading new content since almost a week.

Just wondering, if in few months things get reversed to normal in a good way - do all deactivated files need to go thru usual upload process once again?  Or do they lie in the depths of some server and can be brought back to life by contributors?

To be reactivated, AFAIK, you have to ask CR, I don't think there's a way to do it yourself.
I've read a few times that files older than 18 months must be reinspected; perhaps someone can confirm?

hi all,

when you mean deactivate it, do you mean you will activate back the next day?

Quote from: mtkang on January 18, 2013, 11:57
hi all,

when you mean deactivate it, do you mean you will activate back the next day?

Whats the use of that?  No, keep deactivated until you get a result from iStock or Getty

Quote from: mtkang on January 18, 2013, 11:57
hi all,

when you mean deactivate it, do you mean you will activate back the next day?

No that would be pointless I think.  Its only IF something will meaningfully change sometime in future... at least that's my intention..

Quote from: mtkang on January 18, 2013, 11:57
hi all,

when you mean deactivate it, do you mean you will activate back the next day?

For me, deactivated = deleted.  I can't see how they can turn back time and make the site like it was 5 years ago when I was reasonably content.  They can't sell istock because it's too integrated with Getty now.  So we're stuck with things getting worse each year and I've finally had enough.

If we really want that this action will bring any success, we must inform media !
Maybe then will buyers start to ask themselves, if is worth to do business with such a company..
Not all, but honest fair thinking customers...

20.000, 30.000 deleted pics among 20, 30 millions are smal stone in mosaick, but this mosaick will be from day to day bigger!!!

Just my 5 c

Why is Istock so slow today?  To preventing us from deleting or are there so many of us deleting is bogging them down.... or maybe clients using up their credits before Feb 2 that the site keeps timing out?

Quote from: enstoker on January 18, 2013, 13:05
If we really want that this action will bring any success, we must inform media !
Maybe then will buyers start to ask themselves, if is worth to do business with such a company..
Not all, but honest fair thinking customers...

20.000, 30.000 deleted pics among 20, 30 millions are smal stone in mosaick, but this mosaick will be from day to day bigger!!!

Just my 5 c

define media

haven´t you seen the tons of blog posts done by contributors, not to mention the tweets/RTs and FB

if that's still nothing for you, please enlighten us

Quote from: jsnover on January 17, 2013, 22:29

Quote from: maigi on January 17, 2013, 21:00
...Can't remove my Photo+ collection images right away, ...

You can disable Photo+ images at any time. The 6 month lock is only to prevent movement back to the main collection. It's not like DT's 6 month hold which really means you can't delete them for that time.

Thank you! I guess I misunderstood it. that's great. Let's see what will happen on Feb 2.
Good luck everybody!

EDIT: I did it today - disabled 100 images from my portfolio. I will keep 29 images for promotional purposes.

Quote from: cybernesco on January 18, 2013, 03:02


Feb 2nd projected total 12032+

can i add 921 to the total for 2nd feb even though my files have already gone?

Quote from: allyclark on January 19, 2013, 13:16

Quote from: cybernesco on January 18, 2013, 03:02


Feb 2nd projected total 12032+

can i add 921 to the total for 2nd feb even though my files have already gone?

If you deactivated or deleted images because of the latest Getty Google Deal, than yes it should be part of the Feb 2nd projected total.  Therefore:

Feb 2nd projected total 12,953+

For me, I would be willing to remove my entire portfolio of 6646 images as a group initiative if there were a large enough number willing to do the same.

I'm just not certain that deleting a percentage of images on Feb. 2nd sends a strong enough message. It's kind of like a parent that threatens to discipline their children like this: "I'm going to count to three. 1.......2........2 1/2........2 3/4.........". The child continues to disobey because the parent has not committed to the discipline and the child knows it.

I will delete 500, to support the group, but I'm afraid that won't even sting Getty. If there are others willing to delete their entire portfolio, as I am, please speak up.

eta: if enough sizable, good selling, portfolios are deleted, I believe the message that we will not tolerate abuse to our IP will be heard loud and clear in the industry. And that is a good goal.