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Author Topic: Getty e-mail about iStock "Contributor Facing Changes"  (Read 69024 times)

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« Reply #25 on: July 14, 2016, 13:14 »
+9
I sent a site email to them asking if we can still freely close our accounts after the new terms are in affect or does closing your account equate to deactivation and we are at their mercy to give us permission to close our accounts. I want clarity so I can move to take action prior to August 20.

Yes, this is key.  They cannot legally prevent us from closing our accounts and hold our images hostage.  We are still the copyright holders!


« Reply #26 on: July 14, 2016, 13:19 »
0
I sent a site email to them asking if we can still freely close our accounts after the new terms are in affect or does closing your account equate to deactivation and we are at their mercy to give us permission to close our accounts. I want clarity so I can move to take action prior to August 20.

Yes, this is key.  They cannot legally prevent us from closing our accounts and hold our images hostage.  We are still the copyright holders!

so what does that mean ???
there is going to be a class suit taken by all contributors who had deactivated their port???

who owns the images these days , really???
if you live in a country where ownership of the photos are automatic,
photographers can gather together to get Getty to delete their images.

why is it so diificult to claim ownership of your own work and regain control of how youwant iit used???

« Reply #27 on: July 14, 2016, 13:20 »
0
I doubt it very much getty has a mountain of debt and SS is sitting on a pile of cash.......
[/quote]

who is sitting on a pile of cash in ss???
it is only until we all short the stocks???

drd

« Reply #28 on: July 14, 2016, 13:21 »
+3
I can see where this is going... after 20th august exclusive files will go into essentials and no one will be able to do anthing about.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #29 on: July 14, 2016, 13:23 »
+4
I can see where this is going... after 20th august exclusive files will go into essentials and no one will be able to do anthing about.
Because the price difference is 'too confusing' for buyers.

Could be, or any number of other undesirable scenarios down the line.
As we've said so often, it's death by a thousand cuts.

Rose Tinted Glasses

« Reply #30 on: July 14, 2016, 13:27 »
0
I can see where this is going... after 20th august exclusive files will go into essentials and no one will be able to do anthing about.

I see it going the other direction. I think they are paving the way for exclusive content to become image exclusive and slowly phase out contributors who are non-exclusive. After all, if you don't show a commitment from your end, why should they show commitment from their end. I think it makes sense to not be able to delete an image on a whim, or to change keywords after the fact. I think they are cleaning house to be more competitive for the long term in an ever evolving industry.


drd

« Reply #31 on: July 14, 2016, 13:32 »
+9
As we've said so often, it's death by a thousand cuts.

Or, there might be another September announcement which will provoke mass deactivations.

« Reply #32 on: July 14, 2016, 13:32 »
+1
I can see where this is going... after 20th august exclusive files will go into essentials and no one will be able to do anthing about.

I see it going the other direction. I think they are paving the way for exclusive content to become image exclusive and slowly phase out contributors who are non-exclusive. After all, if you don't show a commitment from your end, why should they show commitment from their end. I think it makes sense to not be able to delete an image on a whim, or to change keywords after the fact. I think they are cleaning house to be more competitive for the long term in an ever evolving industry.
you chose your name wisely....the exclusive model seems to me to have comprehensively failed but we will see I guess

« Reply #33 on: July 14, 2016, 13:46 »
+6
As we've said so often, it's death by a thousand cuts.

Or, there might be another September announcement which will provoke mass deactivations.

Based on past experience,  I  would bet on this scenario.

drd

« Reply #34 on: July 14, 2016, 13:50 »
+1
I can see where this is going... after 20th august exclusive files will go into essentials and no one will be able to do anthing about.

I see it going the other direction. I think they are paving the way for exclusive content to become image exclusive and slowly phase out contributors who are non-exclusive. After all, if you don't show a commitment from your end, why should they show commitment from their end. I think it makes sense to not be able to delete an image on a whim, or to change keywords after the fact. I think they are cleaning house to be more competitive for the long term in an ever evolving industry.


Seeing that despite my commitment to shoot/keyword/upload regularly only a small amount of images compared to previous years are selected for the S+ collection, proves that you might be wrong. They are cleaning exclusives out of the house.
After all it comes down to how much % share they get after each E, S or S+ image.

« Reply #35 on: July 14, 2016, 13:54 »
+8
As we've said so often, it's death by a thousand cuts.

Or, there might be another September announcement which will provoke mass deactivations.

Based on past experience,  I  would bet on this scenario.

Sounds like they're getting ready for the next D-Day. 

« Reply #36 on: July 14, 2016, 14:24 »
+5
As we've said so often, it's death by a thousand cuts.

Or, there might be another September announcement which will provoke mass deactivations.

Based on past experience,  I  would bet on this scenario.

Sounds like they're getting ready for the next D-Day.
They are ready for D-day - contributors won't be able to deactivate their own photos.

« Reply #37 on: July 14, 2016, 14:33 »
+1
I started with IS exactly 2 years ago - can I still delete all the crap I uploaded there in the beginning or is it too late? I always meant to do it..

And do I get it right that it is already not possible to edit keywords?  :(

We should be able to delete images until 20th August. I deleted a couple of images today without problems. I also tried editing keywords and I was still able to (I dont know if 20th August is also the date for editing keywords though...).

I think you're actually "deactivating" them, not deleting them. Keep in mind that iStock can and has sold deactivated files.

Yes, well, that is the term they use. I have deactivated a lot of images in last couple of years and they always disappeared from my iStock port and Thinkstock port within next day... there is no way for me to find out if they sold them after deactivation since we dont have further control over it :-/

They do actually pay you when they sell a deactivated image, so you get an email about it.

I'm not sure what would happen if the contributor has actually closed the account, though.

« Reply #38 on: July 14, 2016, 14:47 »
+8
They do actually pay you when they sell a deactivated image, so you get an email about it.

They do pay (although I had to get in touch with support to get the image IDs for the money they initially sent me e-mail about), but they have no right to license deactivated images. Their rights were terminated when the file was deactivated.

I had an e-mail back and forth with them about this as they initially said they could sell extended licenses to someone who purchased an RF license while the file was active and I disagreed. After a long time, they admitted that they shouldn't have done that and that they do have checks to be sure they don't license deactivated files but they failed in this case.

I wasn't angry enough (and don't have endless free time and spare cash) to pursue this to make them undo the license once they admitted that they should not do that. But they were technically violating my rights over that image by selling a license to it without my consent.

« Reply #39 on: July 14, 2016, 14:59 »
+1
They do actually pay you when they sell a deactivated image, so you get an email about it.

I'm not sure what would happen if the contributor has actually closed the account, though.

I see. It never happened to me but good to know.

I regularly deactivate my older illustrations to re-work them and submit an improved version. I dont think iStock will accept this as a justifiable reason for deactivation after 20 August, so I guess I will have to remove the weaker part of my portfolio all at once before that day. I would have done it anyway but not so hastily..

dpimborough

« Reply #40 on: July 14, 2016, 15:15 »
+7
Oh well time to stop uploading to them

It was a waste of time didn't matter how many images they took the earnings never grew.

I spoke to a Getty contributor who reported getting 2 cents for a an RM image they sold as RF!

What a crowd of maroons  ::)

« Last Edit: July 14, 2016, 15:54 by Teddy the Cat »

« Reply #41 on: July 14, 2016, 15:31 »
+6
Indeed bad news. But who expects good news from them anyway. They are shielding themself from what's to come which I bet will be not good in a few months.....

« Reply #42 on: July 14, 2016, 15:46 »
+13
We own the copyright to our images, therefore they cannot legally hold our images. If you demand your images to be deleted (for whatever reason), they will have to do so.
If they decide to keep your images online against your will, that's a reason to sue Getty for copyright infringement and / or image theft. It's as simple as that.

I'm waiting for the fog to clear and if they persist in keeping up this bizarre new deactivation policy, I'll delete my portfolio. Can't risk them stealing our work.

« Reply #43 on: July 14, 2016, 15:51 »
+1
We own the copyright to our images, therefore they cannot legally hold our images. If you demand your images to be deleted (for whatever reason), they will have to do so.
If they decide to keep your images online against your will, that's a reason to sue Getty for copyright infringement and / or image theft. It's as simple as that.

I'm waiting for the fog to clear and if they persist in keeping up this bizarre new deactivation policy, I'll delete my portfolio. Can't risk them stealing our work.
I guess the argument is they could say OK then we can close your account as they don't have to host any of your images. I imagine there will be some clarification as it doesn't seem to make much sense...but then it is Istock.....

dpimborough

« Reply #44 on: July 14, 2016, 15:56 »
+4
These people need a deactivation day!

I moved them to the "Do not upload" bookmark and I'm canceling all outstanding uploads

« Reply #45 on: July 14, 2016, 16:21 »
0
They do actually pay you when they sell a deactivated image, so you get an email about it.

They do pay (although I had to get in touch with support to get the image IDs for the money they initially sent me e-mail about), but they have no right to license deactivated images. Their rights were terminated when the file was deactivated.

I had an e-mail back and forth with them about this as they initially said they could sell extended licenses to someone who purchased an RF license while the file was active and I disagreed. After a long time, they admitted that they shouldn't have done that and that they do have checks to be sure they don't license deactivated files but they failed in this case.

I wasn't angry enough (and don't have endless free time and spare cash) to pursue this to make them undo the license once they admitted that they should not do that. But they were technically violating my rights over that image by selling a license to it without my consent.

Oh, I agree it shouldn't have happened. I was just pointing out that contributors are notified when it happens -- or at least they were. Who knows what's going on now. 

I wouldn't put too much stock in their claim that they have checks in place to prevent this from happening. Several such sales (and the attendant promises) have been reported here and they were a considerable distance apart in time, so it's clear that any "checks" in place are non-functional, if they even really exist.

As they say, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

Rose Tinted Glasses

« Reply #46 on: July 14, 2016, 16:29 »
+1
We own the copyright to our images, therefore they cannot legally hold our images. If you demand your images to be deleted (for whatever reason), they will have to do so.
If they decide to keep your images online against your will, that's a reason to sue Getty for copyright infringement and / or image theft. It's as simple as that.

I'm waiting for the fog to clear and if they persist in keeping up this bizarre new deactivation policy, I'll delete my portfolio. Can't risk them stealing our work.

Of course you own the images and the copyright, I don't recall Istock was going to change that. All they are doing is changing the terms in regards to deactivation and keyword adjustments with advance notice. You either agree to it and stick around or you disagree and remove the images you deem fit to remove with the ample notice given.

Pretty straight forward in my books.


« Reply #47 on: July 14, 2016, 16:42 »
+5
Not straight forward deleting 1500 files one at a time though, only 1100 to go!

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #48 on: July 14, 2016, 16:51 »
+2
Not straight forward deleting 1500 files one at a time though, only 1100 to go!
Are you deactivating all your files? If so, wouldn't it be easier just to contact CR to close your account?

« Reply #49 on: July 14, 2016, 16:59 »
0
Not straight forward deleting 1500 files one at a time though, only 1100 to go!
Are you deactivating all your files? If so, wouldn't it be easier just to contact CR to close your account?

Would love to, but have audio files too and Getty offering good terms for those sales


 

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