Author Topic: Bullied by Istock?? (Read 11627 times)

Axel Lauer · « **on:** April 24, 2013, 14:57 »

Hi everybody,
i just experience a very interesting encounter with Misses K. N. from Istock.
It started with one of these weird rejections you normaly get only with little agencies (MR for a flower-bouquet or PR for a governmental building etc...).
I answered with a critique and suddenly Misses N. found some "Issues" in my profile and now it seems like she is searching desperate for a reason to get me kicked out .
And it seems like she tries that in a way that noboy can say its censorship against photographers who are not willing to shut up with every thing they do.

She digged very deep for a reason and now they suspect me that i upload images which are not mine.
Of course i only upload images which are made by myself.

They come across with the argument that with companys (i run a company - but that does not mean necessarily that i upload images as a company) it might be a bit tricky.
Quote Istock:
"Since iStockphoto is really set up to deal with single photographers, it
is a bit tricky to work with a company that may employ several
photographers or artists."

I answered:
"-All required fields in the profile-section of your backend are filled out.
-I dont hire other photographers.
-All images are made by myself. "

If i am right with my "feeling" its one of the most unserious behaviors i encountered in 35 years of businesslife.
I really hope that this is just a severe misunderstanding and to clearify that i invite Misses K.N to give her statement here.
regards axel Lauer.
www.axellauer.de

tickstock · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:05 »

ShadySue · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:06 »

They deal with plenty of image factories, groups, husband-wife teams etc.
Though I had a similar response when I asked about uploading photos or scans of some of my husband's analogue artwork, with PRs, even though he is totally pc-phobic and there's no way he would do any of the computer work.

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:09 »

Its very simple.
I have my account there since (its a rogh estimation) a year and i do not sell exclusive
I gave a critic by mail
Some Minutes later she asked me to clearify how many people are contributing to my account!!

It really looks like she is searching for a "hanger", a hook to get my account closed, to make me shup up.

Is that clear now?
regards axel

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:11 »

double post -- Sorry

tickstock · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:11 »

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:13 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:11

I don't know what the rules are for contributing as a company with Istock but if you are claiming the copyright as Axel Lauer and have other photographers under you then I would guess you would need a contract or releases to do that.

Thats what i said above....
I do not upload images which are not shot by myself !!!

tickstock · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:14 »

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:15 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:14

Then there shouldn't be an issue.

I know that there shouldnt be an issue but she makes up one.
Thats the scandal.

tickstock · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:18 »

gclk · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:19 »

Bizarre. Hope you manage to get it sorted out Axel.

ShadySue · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:24 »

I think maybe you'll need to quote exactly what she said.
Just to clarify - you got a rejection for needing a release when none was needed, but instead of contacting Scout, you wrote to CR?

tickstock · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:25 »

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:26 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:18

Quote from: Axel Lauer on April 24, 2013, 15:15
Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:14
Then there shouldn't be an issue.

I know that there shouldnt be an issue but she makes up one.
Thats the scandal.

What's the scandal? After you told her you created all the images did she make some threat or something, it looks like a misunderstanding. Maybe the language difference is causing problems her response doesn't sound threatening to me.

Do you know that you can kill with paper?
Same with documents!
If you upload as a single photographer for weeks and months, than you give a critic and suddenly you are suspected to upload images of other people and are "threatened" with crazy documents to fill out it really looks a bit "fishy", dont you think?

But i hope its a misunderstanding and thats why i sended this email to Misses N:

Quote

"Dear Misses N,
i am pretty sure that you are willing to get that - i hope it is a misunderstanding - cleared.
Therefore i just started a thread and i invite you heartedly to state your opinion and view there.
http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/bullied-by-istock/
Of course i will repeat there as well.
So other people, who maybe stumble into similar kind of misunderstandings, can see that Istock is doing its best to get these kind of trouble out of the way.
I wish you a nice evening and maybe i can read your statement tomorrow in the morning.
I wish you all the best
Regards
Axel Lauer"

tickstock · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:26 »

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:30 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:25

Looking at your website: http://www.axellauer.de/infos/das-team/ you do have other people listed as employees like a photographer's assistant, not sure why this was brought into the discussion. Did you send them a link to your website?

Of course i write emails accordingly to german law - and it says that you must have a proper mail-signature with all your company-data in it.
So yes - it was visible in the mail but it was not brought into the discussion by me.
And thats what gives my and my employees the feeling that she was looking to find a "crack" to make up something

tickstock · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:33 »

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:37 »

Quote from: ShadySue on April 24, 2013, 15:24

I think maybe you'll need to quote exactly what she said.
Just to clarify - you got a rejection for needing a release when none was needed, but instead of contacting Scout, you wrote to CR?

At this point i was not familiar with the scoutsystem.
I was in contact with Misses N before about other topics.
It happend like that but this is not the point.
The point is that you do something "bad" (critic) and right away there comes the "slight announcement of a sanction" or better..... they let you know hat they have the tools to give you a hard time.

gostwyck · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:38 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:33

I added the bold but "photographers" stands out and suggests that there is more than one photographer.

That's not in question __ there are portraits of the full team of 7 on the website.

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:40 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:33

I don't speak German and guess whomever you contacted doesn't either but on your homepage Google Translate has this:
We offer an extensive portfolio of individual, photographic services. Let the most beautiful moments of your life from professional photographers to hold or give a photo session for your loved one.

I added the bold but "photographers" stands out and suggests that there is more than one photographer.

True.
Does that imply that i upload images (of customers by the way!!!) i did not make myself to Istock??
Where is that written?

tickstock · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:43 »

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:44 »

And one thing more....
My istock-account is not a companyaccount.
It is the account of "private" A.Lauer

What for does istock accuses me?
For having a businesslife?
For not having chosen a companys name which is so different that nobody knows its me?

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #22 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:46 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 24, 2013, 15:43

It doesn't imply that but it does raise the question,

So why didnt they ask me??
Shoot first, ask later???

And why is there such a close relation between my critic and that suspected "issue"

tickstock · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:52 »

ShadySue · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2013, 15:57 »

Quote from: Axel Lauer on April 24, 2013, 15:37

Quote from: ShadySue on April 24, 2013, 15:24
I think maybe you'll need to quote exactly what she said.
Just to clarify - you got a rejection for needing a release when none was needed, but instead of contacting Scout, you wrote to CR?

At this point i was not familiar with the scoutsystem.

It's in the rejection note:
"In order to have your image(s) re-evaluated or to get further information on the rejected file(s), please submit a support ticket to Scout and they will be more than happy to assist you or for immediate peer to peer feedback you may visit our Critique Request Forum.
To contact Scout please see:
http://www.istockphoto.com/contact_ticket.php
To visit the critique forum please see:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_threads.php?forumid=26"
There's nothing to suggest it would be a good idea to contact CR about a rejection.

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Author Topic: Bullied by Istock?? (Read 11627 times)

Axel Lauer

tickstock

ShadySue

Axel Lauer

Axel Lauer

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Axel Lauer

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Axel Lauer

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gclk

ShadySue

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Axel Lauer

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Axel Lauer

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Axel Lauer

gostwyck

Axel Lauer

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Axel Lauer

Axel Lauer

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ShadySue

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