MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: lewis larkin on August 23, 2013, 20:28
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It must be late and I must be getting cranky, but I just hate it that iStock ( in the form of an un-named moderator [sorry - 'contributor relations manager' - which is positively Orwellian newspeak]) refers to our work as 'assets' ... (see http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=355526&page=1#post6929994, (http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=355526&page=1#post6929994,) in an otherwise uninteresting blabber about why the Getty 'connector' corrupts our images).
Wikipedia informs us that ... Assets are "... an economic resource. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset. Simply stated, assets represent value of ownership that can be converted into cash..."
From my point of view, I do not like being an asset, or a generator of assets... but aside from my own feelings, I think the terminology just reinforces the view that iStock management view contributors on the same level as as a piece of machinery, or a farm animal. (Hardly breaking news of course... but galling nonetheless).
Wikipedia also explains that employees are NOT assets, as they are not sufficiently controlled by the company (my interpretation), but assets DO appear on the company balance sheet. That is interesting, since I (and all other contributors) do still retain the ability to destroy some of iStock's assets by removing their images, hopefully before iStock drives their value into the ground.
Sadly iStock (and its corporate culture) does not seem to have to have appreciated the value of 'intangible assets' (such as goodwill, which is inextricably linked to their tangible assets). I have many opinions as to the possible future outcomes of this attitude, but I am sure that everyone will have their own better-informed take on this subject.
Thanks for reading
Regards
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Re: Snip
That is interesting, since I (and all other contributors) do still retain the ability to destroy some of iStock's assets by removing their images, hopefully before iStock drives their value into the ground.
Sadly iStock (and its corporate culture) does not seem to have to have appreciated the value of 'intangible assets' (such as goodwill, which is inextricably linked to their tangible assets).
Stellar Post
I am a buyer as well as a submitter, about time we wake up to the fact that we fund, produce, deliver and keyword those "assets" to all sites involved. Istock & Fotilia burned their goodwill with me and may other buyer/contributors and we will not forget being thrown under the bus.
SS is in the process of burning bridges that once burned are a done deal!
IS is a perfect example of what happens when you throw enough of us under the bus! I have one file on IS and I will never buy a single image from them again!
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You have assets too (http://www.symbiostock.com)
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Well, how appropiate for IS to call them assets
As something that you control. Thats very appropiate for them. They no longer control my assets!
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So why don't more non-exclusives remove their "assets" from istock? I removed my 500 best selling images. Feels like the best decision I have made. That was before the price cuts. Now I can't think of any reason why non-exclusives still put up with them? Instead of all these threads about how bad they are, why don't we have some discussion about what we're doing about it? Removing images and letting buyers know how little they pay us and where they can see our full portfolios is a positive step. Eventually, istock will become insignificant for non-exclusives and hopefully this forum will no longer be so cluttered with threads about them.
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So why don't more non-exclusives remove their "assets" from istock? I removed my 500 best selling images. Feels like the best decision I have made. That was before the price cuts. Now I can't think of any reason why non-exclusives still put up with them? Instead of all these threads about how bad they are, why don't we have some discussion about what we're doing about it? Removing images and letting buyers know how little they pay us and where they can see our full portfolios is a positive step. Eventually, istock will become insignificant for non-exclusives and hopefully this forum will no longer be so cluttered with threads about them.
My wife and I were talking about finally killing my Istock port and getting my stuff off of it before it does something really bad. Post the thread. I'll be giving myself a week to make this decision.
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Eventually, istock will become insignificant for non-exclusives and hopefully this forum will no longer be so cluttered with threads about them.
I can't remember how you do it, but you can put the whole iStock forum on ignore. I'm sure someone else can tell you.
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So why don't more non-exclusives remove their "assets" from istock? I removed my 500 best selling images. Feels like the best decision I have made. That was before the price cuts. Now I can't think of any reason why non-exclusives still put up with them? Instead of all these threads about how bad they are, why don't we have some discussion about what we're doing about it? Removing images and letting buyers know how little they pay us and where they can see our full portfolios is a positive step. Eventually, istock will become insignificant for non-exclusives and hopefully this forum will no longer be so cluttered with threads about them.
My wife and I were talking about finally killing my Istock port and getting my stuff off of it before it does something really bad. Post the thread. I'll be giving myself a week to make this decision.
Here it is. http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/what-are-you-doing-about-istock/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/what-are-you-doing-about-istock/)
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"Asset" is commonly used to refer to media files used as content in a larger project - i.e. a generic way to say images, video and audio clips. Adobe themselves describe Bridge as a "digital asset management software":
http://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html (http://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html)
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I'd rather be an asset than a commodity. ;D
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/commoditization-and-what-it-can-teach-stock-photographers.html (http://www.microstockdiaries.com/commoditization-and-what-it-can-teach-stock-photographers.html)