If there are any iS exclusives in TS, can you explain all of the bizarre and out of order percentage rates in the rate schedule for the Partner Program? The table doesn't work arithmetically, but where do all of these extra percentage rate points come from?

It's probably one of those things that are based on what they have found in their database but doesn't really make sense: The 22/24/26/28 would relate to your (former) Vetta/Agency images, that's the percentage you got for those while the 25/30/35/40/45 are/were for your regular "Exclusive" and "Exclusive+" images. But in theory, even back then you couldn't move Vetta/TAC images into the partner program. So there shouldn't be any images in there with the 22/24/26/28 rates at all.

I have no idea how they changed that when they dropped the Vetta and Agency collections and combined them with the former E+ to the new Signature+.

(so the order looks bizarre but follows a pattern: "Bronze" regular/"Bronze" Vetta/"Silver regular"/"Silver Vetta" etc...)

Totally confusing, and after a quick scan of it my brain lost the will to concentrate.
On the other hand with PP payments at around 20% of what they once were in my case, I'm not going to spend much time deciphering it.

Quote from: ShadySue on July 03, 2015, 03:04

Thanks, Michael.
Would the e.g. 22/24% rates have been for the old 'enhanced' prices indies could choose for certain images? That table is so unclear!

No, non-exclusives never could get any more than 20%, and they could never choose a royalty percentage. In the chart you posted, there is only that one left column for non-exclusives. We get "20%" for all PP sales.

As I said, 22% was the royalty rate exclusive silver contributors have received for their Vetta images. Remember, at some point they said "Okay, we'll mirror all your Vetta/TAC images to Getty and in exchange cut your royalty rates for those"? It was some time back around 2010, before the RC introduction I think but part of making iStock "more sustainable".

Of course you're correct. Indies could nominate some files to sell for a higher rate but their percentage remained the same.
It's a total mess, glad you can keep up with all the obscuring they do.