Just got this email. Ha, proves I never manage to guess what they'll do next. I'm not in the PP, but feared the lower standards/rapid sinking of new images was their prelude to forcing non- or low-selling files to the PP. But it seems exclusives can no longer add files to the PP. Fine by me, but some exclusives may feel otherwise.

Notification: Partner Program and Exclusivity- July 9, 2013
Early next week we will be removing the option for Exclusives to opt in to the Partner Program. This means Exclusives will no longer be able to add files to the Partner Program (thinkstock.com|photos.com). Any files that are currently a part of the Partner Program will be grandfathered into the Partner Program, but we will also provide you an opportunity to remove these files at any time.

NOTE: Exclusive Content that is currently backlogged (anything post June 17, 2013) will NOT be moved to the Partner Program sites.

This change is a small part of our larger plan to highlight and promote Exclusive content only available from iStockphoto. We have a number of other enhancements queued up for release over the next few weeks. These initiatives will be focused on Search, additional User Interface changes, and optimizing our Exclusive offerings on the site.

As we get closer to those launch dates we will provide some additional details on what is coming up.

Please feel free to comment on this decision in the Partner Program discussion thread we've started http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=354886&page=1

No use writing that, as I'm not free to comment there. So I'll comment here: "what a relief!"
Wonder what's 'coming up'.
 

I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans.

Oh, sh*t, you're right, hadn't thought of that. I should know better than to imagine they would do things in our interest. 

I wonder if nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from the state of Denmark, will retain the option to participate in the PP as one of the 'perks' of their 'nonexclusive exclusivity'.

Quote from: tickstock on July 10, 2013, 14:22

I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans.

Oh, sh*t, you're right, hadn't thought of that. I should know better than to imagine they would do things in our interest. 

Well, if you take what they say at face value (?!!!!!) you would have the right to pull any files they put into PP back out again.
It looks more like they are trying to create a clean split between exclusives and independents.

I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans. 

I tend to agree - I've always thought that was likely part of the strategy.

But the PP has always sat rather uncomfortably with Exclusivity, as I see it;  I felt iStock only allowed Exclusives the opt-in in the first place because they thought there would be complaints if non-exclusives were given access to a market the Exclusives couldn't utilise.  Now it's settled down they can no doubt see that most Exclusives aren't bothering much with it anyway.  Certainly the responses so far in the forum are pretty positive.

As the option was there I did put quite a few in myself, but all were low or non-sellers;  can't say I'll really miss it much.  I did have a couple that sold well there - in fact, they sold so well I moved them to E+, and now they're on Getty, where one has sold, once, for the equivalent of several month's worth of its sales in the PP!

I think this move makes sense.

It looks more like they are trying to create a clean split between exclusives and independents.

Yes, I think that's it exactly.  I suspect the additional changes will make it more difficult for nonexclusives to get sales through iS.  They are going to end up with iS for exclusives and the PP for everyone else.  This explains the lowering of review standards as well (at least for nonexclusives).  This may be positive for exclusives but probably not for the rest of us.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on July 10, 2013, 14:46

It looks more like they are trying to create a clean split between exclusives and independents.

Yes, I think that's it exactly.  I suspect the additional changes will make it more difficult for nonexclusives to get sales through iS.  They are going to end up with iS for exclusives and the PP for everyone else.  This explains the lowering of review standards as well (at least for nonexclusives).  This may be positive for exclusives but probably not for the rest of us.

I agree on all counts. 

To be honest, it's about time they threw exclusives a few bones.  Maybe they can finally stop hemorrhaging exclusives and keep them neatly squared away in the Getty "family". 

Quote from: Snufkin on July 10, 2013, 14:37

I wonder if nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from the state of Denmark, will retain the option to participate in the PP as one of the 'perks' of their 'nonexclusive exclusivity'.

I think it is outrageous that nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from "the state of Denmark" (it actually qualified as a nation the last time I was there), are not allowed to have their images on SS. We need a 'nonexclusive exclusive' revolution to get Yuri's images back on SS.

Gostwyck, old chap, it's a kingdom.... ruled by Queen Margrethe II. (So I suppose it ought to be called a Queendom, but it isn't.)

And, to be fair, Snufkin did have Shakespeare's authority for his terminology.

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