Quote from: jamirae on February 11, 2013, 20:24
As crappy as this was handled, I believe it will end up a true "blessing in disguise" for you, Sean.  You will definitely be back up and running with other agencies in no time!

It is a shame they stooped to such lows but Getty seems to think they are "too big to fail."  I believe they will find they are sorely mistaken.

You are absolutely right! However, istock is not too big to fail.

Sean, thanks for all your help at IS and good luck. I truly hope you engineer something spectacular!

Quote from: Poncke on February 11, 2013, 20:31

Quote from: JohnItalia on February 11, 2013, 20:26
Maybe it is time to crush the istock empire! Literally put them out of business and end their madness. Stop contributing and pull your photos off their site, see how fast they do a 180!

If you know of a remedy to cure the Stockholm Syndrome it might work. Otherwise, it will be an impossible project.

Difficult, yes! Impossible, No. I don't have remedy unfortunately

I've admired Sean's courage in standing up for the truth instead of being a "yes man" for a long time, I'm really not surprised to see this but I'm still shocked by it.

I'm sure that we all understand the message: that Getty/istock is the boss and we had all better shut up if we don't want to be booted.

I wait with bated breath for the annnouncement promised by Lobo. If it is anything other than "I, Lobo, resign" it will not be of much moral standing.

Quote from: gostwyck on February 11, 2013, 19:48
I note from your blog that the original email, threatening such action, appears to have been dated 5th Feb which was actually 2 days before the Stocksy site announcement. Therefore they can't be directly related.

The Feb 7th "announcement" was more of a "the public discovered it" thing, as I saw it.  From what I've heard, Getty knew about it far before I ever did.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on February 11, 2013, 20:43
I've admired Sean's courage in standing up for the truth instead of being a "yes man" for a long time, I'm really not surprised to see this but I'm still shocked by it.

I'm sure that we all understand the message: that Getty/istock is the boss and we had all better shut up if we don't want to be booted.

Yes, it was probably my fault - obviously too vocal on the issues.  I don't think there's anything secret that can be brought up - it's all out there, afaik.

It may well be the "easy deletion" script that really got up their noses.

Wow, what a terrible couple months for microstock in general. You can tell it's all going under pretty quickly.
iStock has always been the rudest and most difficult agency for me to deal with, this just confirms their true colors for me.
Look at how they treat their exclusive artists, I don't even want to know what they think about non-exclusives.

Out of human decency I'm pulling my port from IS when I reach my payout. I won't earn a cent more for them.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on February 11, 2013, 20:50
It may well be the "easy deletion" script that really got up their noses.

Very possible. There probably was a reason why IS made it such a pain to deactivate files.

Now Sean is coming a long with a nice handy script so they feel like losing control over their territory.

I know a lot of people are wondering what direction you'll go in now?  Your own site, a Beta testing co-op, Shutterstock, something else entirely?  I would not be surprised to see more than a few people follow your lead.

I am absolutely stunned.  This news is more surprising to me than the abdication of the Pope! 

I shouldn't be surprised that Getty are this short-sighted, but I still am.  They are losing so much more by losing Sean's talent, integrity, and portfolio than he is losing by being free to pursue his independence. 

They must be scared sh*tless to make such a foolish move. 

Quote from: crashoran on February 11, 2013, 20:50
Out of human decency I'm pulling my port from IS when I reach my payout. I won't earn a cent more for them.

Yep, me too.  I trashed my port on D-Day, but I will get the rest out once the PP pays out in a week or so.

What a bunch of nutters!  If it wasn't horribly serious in the short-term for Sean, Rob and their families it would be laughable.  I know I would rather get canned than be a 'yes man' though.

I suspect they probably thought they would make an example of Sean to keep everyone else in line, but to me this just makes it more likely that people will give up on them and go elsewhere.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on February 11, 2013, 20:50
It may well be the "easy deletion" script that really got up their noses.

It seems so, but you would think that script would have been "handled" = deleted and Sean reprimanded as soon as it was released into the forums.  Who knows, IS might have saved a lot of deactivations right then and there. They are very good at removing posts, that displease the management.  There is much more to this!

Sean, thanks for helping show us Getty's true colors. Apparently you revealed a WHOLE LOT MORE than they wanted anyone to see. I sincerely say "Congratulations!" You will be much better off without the chains of GI. And they're worse off for their stupid decision (waah).

Quote from: dhanford on February 11, 2013, 21:08

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on February 11, 2013, 20:50
It may well be the "easy deletion" script that really got up their noses.

It seems so, but you would think that script would have been "handled" = deleted and Sean reprimanded as soon as it was released into the forums.  Who knows, IS might have saved a lot of deactivations right then and there. They are very good at removing posts, that displease the management.  There is much more to this!

Corporate intertia? The real big boys hadn't heard of what happened until today? That's my best reading of it.

Sean,

I haven't had the pleasure yet of meeting you but for sure you are a great guy and you were one of the big assets iStock had. The fact that they kicked you out was the proverbial last straw and I will leave iStock asap. Maybe the new agency will be the place to go for me as well. It would be great to meet there again.

Cheers

Sean, I salute your courage and your principles. I wish you a soft landing and I hope the success you see in the future is in inverse proportion to that of Getty and iStock.

Changed my mind - realised there was no point waiting.  My port has now gone.  What a relief!

Quote from: EmberMike on February 11, 2013, 20:12
Was Sean's name on the previously public facebook list of Stocksy members?

There is no Stocksy member list. There is a Facebook group of people interested in Stocksy. There were more than 100 people on that list but almost none of them have actually been involved in Stocksy in any ways. It can't be a reason for someone to be in a Facebook list to terminate his account.

I am truly shocked by this. Good luck to Sean, I'm sure you'll do very well whatever your next steps may be. This makes no sense to me. Not even a forum ban first if iStock felt he was saying things they didn't want to hear in the forums? Again, shocked and dismayed be this move.

Quote from: MichaelJayFoto on February 11, 2013, 21:32

Quote from: EmberMike on February 11, 2013, 20:12
Was Sean's name on the previously public facebook list of Stocksy members?

There is no Stocksy member list. There is a Facebook group of people interested in Stocksy. There were more than 100 people on that list but almost none of them have actually been involved in Stocksy in any ways. It can't be a reason for someone to be in a Facebook list to terminate his account.

Yes, I saw Sean's name on the facebook list before it went secret, but I agree that I don't believe this to be the (only) reason for kicking him out. 
I think the deactivation script might be a more important reason, and I must say I feel a bit guilty.  I have, like many others, praised Sean (well deserved!) for making the script.  All the praise may have given Istock the impression that Sean was the Leader of the 2nd February "movement".  2nd Feb. was not his idea, nor did he lead us, but we did praise him A LOT for making the script.

I'm shocked speechless. They've lynched the voice of reason, the elder of the tribe. An astounding decision.

My thoughts and best wishes go out to you and your family, Sean. I hope your comeback will be swift and sure.

Whoever finalized that decision should be demoted to scrubbing toilets! Good luck Sean.

Quote from: RapidEye on February 11, 2013, 21:42
I'm shocked speechless. They've lynched the voice of reason, the elder of the tribe. An astounding decision.

My thoughts and best wishes go out to you and your family, Sean. I hope your comeback will be swift and sure.

I think your avatar now needs to be an animated gif Don, circling a bit Gallows humor I know...

Just when they were hoping that their lack of action might settle the discontent, they go and do this, reigniting the fire! What an odd move. I'm only a small part-time contributor but I have always been in awe of Sean (the Other Stock God). It's a risky move on IS' part. (Has anyone started a thread on iS about it?)