After all the 'connector' problems in moving E+ images to Getty,  it seems that this will not now happen ... it is now subject to the 'change in collections' ...

Quote from Oldladybird...
"   Just did a quick run down to Technology to confirm...
Right before we launch, we will stop the Connector. Any files that have not yet been shared will be subject to a change in Collection.
The new collection will then dictate where the files will be shared.
As I said above, Signature + and Vetta will be shared on GI.....   "   End Quote

The initial reaction is that iStock have reneged on their promises ...
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=353725&page=20#post6891915

Not a surprise any more....

EDITED TO ADD - seems like iStock are now promising to transfer any pre-existing E+ files (about 180k apparently) regardless of collection changes (if I read the above thread correctly)
Happy to stand corrected...   

Posted By 2ndLookGraphics:
This kind of makes the Exclusive Survey and accompanying retoric a big joke. There is obviously no committment to iStockphoto Exclusive contributors.

Posted By Lobo:
Sure there is. I appreciate your frustration but I think you might be thinking your content won't be Signature + worthy so it won't be offered a chance for mirroring. I would expect you would have selected E+ material for the E+ collection so everything should work out in the end.
 
When we were talking about the prospect of some of the previous content not making it over due to Connector issues we decided it was better to get infront of this issue rather than wait until we found out from Dev. So we found out exactly what the plan was so we could inform everyone as soon as possible. I can assure you we would prefer that we could get everything in place immediately but unfortunately we are getting ready to make a huge change to the site.
 
We expect the Collection changes will make these types of issues moot. We don't get any pleasure from disappointing our Exclusives or the Non-exclusives for that matter. However, we would prefer to be upfront about the realities of the incoming changes and how it will relate with the current Connector issues.
 
The question has been asked a number of times so we went to see exactly how all that would work. Unfortunately it's not the answer we would have preferred.
 
Have a good weekend, folks.

Posted By 2ndLookGraphics:
When we selected the images for E+, E+ had completely different criteria than the new and improved E+ now Signature + which will have the same criteria as Vetta and Agency files included in it. At that time the selection was based on the contributor's belief that an image would sell at the higher price point.
 
We were also told, AND ENCOURAGED to select additional E+ images with the promise that these would then have the opportunity to be mirrored on the Getty website. This was months and months ago and during that time we have been told over and over and over again that this migration would take place by the next afternoon or the next week  or the next morning.
 
This never materialized due to technical issues that are beyond belief. At the same time we are told that the entire iStock collection would be sent to be mirrored on Getty 360 which would take place in a couple of weeks.
 
When you indicate that if any of our "left behind" images do not make it into the Signature plus, that it is our own fault for choosing inappropriate selections you are not keeping in mind the criteria by which the selections were made. At that time we were not considering that these images would have the same criteria as Vetta and Agency images.
 
The fact remains that we were encouraged to move our images to E+ with the promise of having them mirrored at Getty. Anything less than fulfilling the promise would be unethical.

Above are a few other posts. The real reversal of things comes in where Lobo the admin says:
 
I would expect you would have selected E+ material for the E+ collection so everything should work out in the end.
 
Basically, no, that wasn't always the case. At one time people could use E+ as a vehicle to get some of their content that wasn't selling so well on iStock to be offered to a new set of buyers and at a higher price point on Getty by simply making those files E+.  So I think 2ndLookGraphics� first paragraph reply from above is the key to it all:
 
When we selected the images for E+, E+ had completely different criteria than the new and improved E+ now Signature + which will have the same criteria as Vetta and Agency files included in it. At that time the selection was based on the contributor's belief that an image would sell at the higher price point.
 
And then where 2ndLookGraphics further states the following which again covers the fact that contributors were using a different criteria before when selecting E+ files which they simply wanted mirrored on the Getty site:
 
When you indicate that if any of our "left behind" images do not make it into the Signature plus, that it is our own fault for choosing inappropriate selections you are not keeping in mind the criteria by which the selections were made. At that time we were not considering that these images would have the same criteria as Vetta and Agency images.
 
So basically iStock is now unfairly punishing people by not mirroring their E+ files onto Getty as previously promised unless those files now meet the new iStock criteria instead. Had the Connector been working properly all along, this point would be moot because the files would already be on Getty and iStock would not be able to shift gears on whether to mirror the content or not. Instead, what was promised before to contributors is again being taken away because there was a sudden change in policy. As a result, iStock is not willing to grandfather in the old files which should have been moved over already but weren't and weren't only because of iStock's failed technology. As usual the contributor get�s unfairly and unjustly treated because the new policy is either better or easier for iStock to implement. What is even more ironic about the change in policy is that just 2 days ago Old Lady Bird had stated this:
 

Hi All, just a quick update on the Connector.
We are making great progress with the pulls and we should start to see the new files moving again next week.
We are hopeful that will be early in the week.
 
Missed files should still be in the queue and since they haven't been shared, should be still in the new category.
Let's see what progress we make next week and take a closer look then.

The right and fair thing to do for the contributors would be to move all the pending files to Getty first which are in the E+ cue. Meaning those files that are supposed to be moved over to Getty should be moved before making any changes to the collections. I guess fair isn't part of the equation though. And to make things even more fair iStock should give all contributors a cut off date for moving files before changing collections and then adhere to it. But they couldn't really give a toss. So that's why things are happening all hodge podge the way they are.

I was kind of expecting this would happen at some point, but later rather than sooner.

I dont have any files waiting, and im not even involved, but as a contributor to this board, i would like to ask the question,


Why wouldnt they make sure the connector worked before announcing anything? Please dont tell me thats not possible.


Its always some kind of IT issue with them.

Seems a pity to troll a post which is obviously intended to be helpful.

"Who We Are:
iStockphoto, a division of Getty Images is the world's leading creator and distributor of visual content and the first place creative professionals turn to discover, purchase and manage imagery. The company's award winning photographers and imagery help customers create inspiring work which appears every day in the world's most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and Web sites. Headquartered in Seattle, WA and serving customers in more than 100 countries, Getty Images believes in the power of imagery to drive positive change, educate, inform, and entertain. Visit Getty Images at http://gettyimages.com."

It's been said before... the fact that a company claiming to be the world leader in image distribution has consistently failed, over a period of years, to correctly distribute images between two of their own websites, speaks volumes about how important this issue is (or was) to iStock/Getty.

"Who We Are:
iStockphoto, a division of Getty Images is the world's leading creator and distributor of visual content and the first place creative professionals turn to discover, purchase and manage imagery. The company's award winning photographers and imagery help customers create inspiring work which appears every day in the world's most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and Web sites. Headquartered in Seattle, WA and serving customers in more than 100 countries, Getty Images believes in the power of imagery to drive positive change, educate, inform, and entertain. Visit Getty Images at http://gettyimages.com."

It's been said before... the fact that a company claiming to be the world leader in image distribution has consistently failed, over a period of years, to correctly distribute images between two of their own websites, speaks volumes about how important this issue is (or was) to iStock/Getty.

I wont say it's been a perfect but we've done pretty good transferring between to the two entirely different systems. Technical issues will be less of an issue as soon as both sites work off the same architecture. It's been a long walk, yes, but it was a walk we've had to take. In time we will have less Connector related woes. It might seem like it's a non-issue to us but in reality having a steady flow of content move between the two sites is really important to us.

As I mentioned previously today, we will continue to push for a more reasonable resolution to the backlog of files. It's not a large amount of the content our Exclusives have sent us, in fact it's marginal in volume compared to the amount that has made it to GI. However, it would be great to get everything over pre-Collections changes so we can accommodate the Exclusives that brought their content into the E+ bucket over the last several months.

Thanks, folks. Have a terrific weekend.

Just for reference, how many files do the people posting actually have waiting to be moved over. Feel free to post in the actual thread in the Exclusive forum BUT if you'd like to show your numbers please do.

I'm missing about 30% of mine (which also, coincidentally, happens to be about 30 files).

(have edited my original post) ... 

If I understand the current additions to the iStock thread, it seems they will honor the transfer of existing E+ to Getty, regardless of any Collection changes. 

Quote from Lobo in the original thread referenced in the first post ...

QUOTE
There was a concern previously that we wouldn't be able to accommodate the mirroring of the content the contributor base had already hoped to have had sent over PRE-Collections change. We are just happy to report we will still be able to accommodate those moves. Even in the event certain files change collections after the launch.
END QUOTE

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