Author Topic: Getty e-mail about iStock "Contributor Facing Changes" (Read 82026 times)

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #75 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:25 »

It has been hinted at in this thread but just to spell it out, this is blatantly because they are about to slice their already terrible commissions down to 10% come September right?

How is it they can't seem to learn from their mistakes. Here's what will happen. Some people will email them at that point asking for deactivations. The contributors will be told "No it's all or nothing, your with us or against us". Most people will not want to delete their whole portfolio so will opt for leaving their work up. Getty will think they have won. Contributors will stop uploading any new or decent content to the site. The decline of Getty's micro offering will continue. They will wonder what could have happened. They will react by cutting commissions again.

dpimborough · « **Reply #76 on:** July 15, 2016, 05:18 »

When can this awful company be relegated to the "Sites that no longer exist" section

I pray it will be very soon!

ShadySue · « **Reply #77 on:** July 15, 2016, 06:55 »

I'm guessing that Sig and Ess files will be on the subs site, and Sig+ files will be on Getty only. Royalties will be maxed at 20%, for the lucky few.

However, that's pure speculation on my part, and their reality is always worse than I've imagined.

U11 · « **Reply #78 on:** July 15, 2016, 09:38 »

another possibility is preparation for a sale,
remember Corbis sold to Visual China Group?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #79 on:** July 15, 2016, 12:04 »

"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."

I just got another email about money they owe me, lol.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #80 on:** July 15, 2016, 12:21 »

Quote from: U11 on July 15, 2016, 09:38

another possibility is preparation for a sale,
remember Corbis sold to Visual China Group?

No, Getty bought Corbis, and got in bed with vcg, right?

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #81 on:** July 15, 2016, 12:23 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on July 15, 2016, 12:21

Quote from: U11 on July 15, 2016, 09:38
another possibility is preparation for a sale,
remember Corbis sold to Visual China Group?

No, Getty bought Corbis, and got in bed with vcg, right?

http://petapixel.com/2016/01/22/corbis-images-sold-by-bill-gates-to-china-visual-group/

Getty just has the distribution rights (outside of China)

robsters · « **Reply #82 on:** July 15, 2016, 12:58 »

Hi everyone new to this forum ive been selling stock on shutterstock and pond 5 for over 2 years now, i just got approval for istock today but saw this thread so im guessing it would be a bad move to upload my stuff there? i've recently tried videoblocks but find there site quite buggy.

cobalt · « **Reply #83 on:** July 15, 2016, 13:22 »

Since you won't be able to deactivate your files anymore, I would only upload what you can risk to leave up there, even if they give you even worse roylties than now.

For video I get 4-8 dollars, the same for hd and 4k.

no comparison to all the other sites.

This is the biggest problem if you can't deactivate: you submit your files under the current royalty system and can't pull your best work if they decide to drop the royalties, even lower.

From now on, you always have to assume the worst case scenario, another getty microsoft or google deal where your files are downloaded millions of times without compensation etc...

You put your portfolio completly at their mercy and their track record is not good.

They never tell us what the new royalty system will be. Instead they want to lock down all files for good (unless there is a legal reason that will convince their lawyers you need to pull the file).

simply: I now got a better offer elsewhere, or I just don't want to offer it anymore, maybe it is too old and shaby and I want to clean up my port...all these are no longer valid reasons.

why should I justify changes in my portfolio?

The content is mine, not theirs.

Taking control away from the artist is a move that always backfires.

There is a reason SS and Adobe are successful without taking control over the portfolio away from the artist. Doesn't seem to trouble their customers...

It is the same thing we have seen for years from istock/getty.

Whatever they change doesn't seem to improve our lives or earn us more money.

I keep hoping they get sold to new owners with a longterm vision. But there doesn't seem to be much light ahead.

September is coming...

The time for the yearly istock drama theater.

The most important buying season of the year - what will they break this time?

Digital66 · « **Reply #84 on:** July 15, 2016, 14:16 »

Quote from: eyewave on July 15, 2016, 01:44

"Please note that we will only consider deactivating files for legal or similar justifiable reasons as it provides a negative experience for customers when files are suddenly unavailable for license. "

As I read this, we could still deactivate files when we make them exclusive elsewhere (DT or FT) or sell them as RM at Alamy. These are "legal or justifiable reasons". For pictures with people we could just remove the Model Release.

Do you really think Getty will agree to deactivate a file so you can make it exclusive somewhere else? Don't think so...
And as far as I know there's no way to remove a model release from an image.

robsters · « **Reply #85 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:02 »

so best to try fotolia then, what do folks think of videoblocks i read the post but whats the latest view on this? safe to upload there?

ShadySue · « **Reply #86 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:07 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 13:22

This is the biggest problem if you can't deactivate: you submit your files under the current royalty system and can't pull your best work if they decide to drop the royalties, even lower.

From now on, you always have to assume the worst case scenario, another getty microsoft or google deal where your files are downloaded millions of times without compensation etc...

You put your portfolio completely at their mercy and their track record is not good.

They never tell us what the new royalty system will be. Instead they want to lock down all files for good (unless there is a legal reason that will convince their lawyers you need to pull the file).

+100

CJH Photography · « **Reply #87 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:07 »

Quote from: Digital66 on July 15, 2016, 14:16

Quote from: eyewave on July 15, 2016, 01:44
"Please note that we will only consider deactivating files for legal or similar justifiable reasons as it provides a negative experience for customers when files are suddenly unavailable for license. "

As I read this, we could still deactivate files when we make them exclusive elsewhere (DT or FT) or sell them as RM at Alamy. These are "legal or justifiable reasons". For pictures with people we could just remove the Model Release.
Do you really think Getty will agree to deactivate a file so you can make it exclusive somewhere else? Don't think so...
And as far as I know there's no way to remove a model release from an image.

But what if I sell exclusive rights on another agency? DT offers that on non-exclusive files, just demands they be pulled from the market when sold. It's my content, dammit....

cobalt · « **Reply #88 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:17 »

"But what if I sell exclusive rights on another agency? DT offers that on non-exclusive files, just demands they be pulled from the market when sold. It's my content, dammit...."

Not anymore...once you upload to them, you can´t offer exclusive buy outs anymore. You can´t take a series down to send it exclusively elsewhere. And yes, people do that.

It´s going to be the same system like the Getty contributors. they can´t deactivate files, they can´t change their keywords etc...

The whole entrepreneurial approach of istock is disappearing, no lightbox system to self organize your port to make it easy for the customer etc...no visible community life that attracts more people and allows you to connect and network...

Upload to Getty and it is there forever...

If you are non exclusive, this will be a problem. And if you are exclusive it means, if you give up artist exclusivity you can no longer take your best work and offer it to stocksy or other places. Or add exclusive images to Adobe etc...

It is a very significant barrier.

Which makes you wonder what on earth is coming in September.

ETA:

I won´t be deleting now, because I already did after the Getty Google deal. And since then i have only uploaded what i can risk to lose or that will survive whatever drama comes next. But for many people with thousands of files...checking all the keywords alone or making decisions what they might seriously need if they went non exclusive, I think a few holidays will get cancelled this summer.

It is very, very short notice and just shows again how little they care about us and our business. (I don´t mean the individual hard working admins...this is not their fault)

stockVid · « **Reply #89 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:28 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 13:22

Since you won't be able to deactivate your files anymore, I would only upload what you can risk to leave up there, even if they give you even worse roylties than now.

For video I get 4-8 dollars, the same for hd and 4k.

Why risk so much if you only get 4-8 dollars a clip? - INCLUDING 4K !!

Their royalty rate or price per clip is only going to get worse.

Deactivate everything now while you have a chance.

Lana · « **Reply #90 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:32 »

I was asking earlier and still am confused about editing keywords - please, enlighten me!

The message says:
QTE
In the meantime, between August 20th (or shortly thereafter) and until contributor tools are fully unified.....

..You will no longer be able to edit your keywords via iStock.com or other third-party applications once submitted.
UNQTE

And then:

QTE
"The functionality for editing keywords may still appear on the file edit page, but it no longer supports updates to iStock.com. In fact, you may have already noticed that keyword updates are not being reflected on the ADP and/or do not surface in search results."
UNQTE

So if we re-keyword images now, prior to Aug 20, the search results won't be updated anyway?

Digital66 · « **Reply #91 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:42 »

Quote from: Lana on July 15, 2016, 15:32

I was asking earlier and still am confused about editing keywords - please, enlighten me!

The message says:
QTE
In the meantime, between August 20th (or shortly thereafter) and until contributor tools are fully unified.....

..You will no longer be able to edit your keywords via iStock.com or other third-party applications once submitted.
UNQTE

And then:

QTE
"The functionality for editing keywords may still appear on the file edit page, but it no longer supports updates to iStock.com. In fact, you may have already noticed that keyword updates are not being reflected on the ADP and/or do not surface in search results."
UNQTE

So if we re-keyword images now, prior to Aug 20, the search results won't be updated anyway?

Yes. You'll be just wasting your time.

cobalt · « **Reply #92 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:43 »

Quote from: stockVid on July 15, 2016, 15:28

Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 13:22
Since you won't be able to deactivate your files anymore, I would only upload what you can risk to leave up there, even if they give you even worse roylties than now.

For video I get 4-8 dollars, the same for hd and 4k.

Why risk so much if you only get 4-8 dollars a clip? - INCLUDING 4K !!

Their royalty rate or price per clip is only going to get worse.

Deactivate everything now while you have a chance.

I only upload the testshots that I offer for 10 dollars elsewhere. Or files from Lypses that are exclusive to istock.

they do have sales, more than Fotolia, the only problem is the royalty.

I keep hoping they will offer a more normal rate, because the quality of their video offerings is extremly poor compared to the other sites that pay a lot more money.

The istock video team are extremly kind and helpful people, so I feed the beast once in a while out of nostalgia and to keep one foot in the door, in case things improve. Especially now with all the serious problems at pond5 you would think they would use the opportunity to come to us with an attractive offer...

Instead we get pushed away again...

Rose Tinted Glasses · « **Reply #93 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:47 »

Quote from: stockVid on July 15, 2016, 15:28

Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 13:22
Since you won't be able to deactivate your files anymore, I would only upload what you can risk to leave up there, even if they give you even worse roylties than now.

For video I get 4-8 dollars, the same for hd and 4k.

Why risk so much if you only get 4-8 dollars a clip? - INCLUDING 4K !!

Their royalty rate or price per clip is only going to get worse.

Deactivate everything now while you have a chance.

Never understood why a non-exclusive contributor of video would upload at Istock with full disclosure on $4-$8 per sale and then complain about it. Let me guess Istock tricked you into it?

Please whatever you do, don't move near the airport flight path then complain there is plane noise.

Also of note, if you are exclusive the average royalty is closer to $40-$45 for HD and commonly royalties of $100+ from the clips sent over to Getty.

If I chose to be non-exclusive I would not upload video to Istock. Simple as that. It would also save a lot of poor me talk.

stockVid · « **Reply #94 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:49 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 15:43

Quote from: stockVid on July 15, 2016, 15:28
Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 13:22
Since you won't be able to deactivate your files anymore, I would only upload what you can risk to leave up there, even if they give you even worse roylties than now.

For video I get 4-8 dollars, the same for hd and 4k.

Why risk so much if you only get 4-8 dollars a clip? - INCLUDING 4K !!

Their royalty rate or price per clip is only going to get worse.

Deactivate everything now while you have a chance.

I only upload the testshots that I offer for 10 dollars elsewhere. Or files from Lypses that are exclusive to istock.

they do have sales, more than Fotolia, the only problem is the royalty.

I keep hoping they will offer a more normal rate, because the quality of their video offerings is extremly poor compared to the other sites that pay a lot more money.

The istock video team are extremly kind and helpful people, so I feed the beast once in a while out of nostalgia and to keep one foot in the door, in case things improve. Especially now with all the serious problems at pond5 you would think they would use the opportunity to come to us with an attractive offer...

Instead we get pushed away again...

I'm sorry Cobalt but if you are selling 4K clips for $4-$8 the demise of the industry is inevitable and you only have yourself to blame.

cobalt · « **Reply #95 on:** July 15, 2016, 15:54 »

I sincerly doubt the stock industry cares about my files.

Getty and istock offer them for very high prices, so the customer is not getting them cheap. It is just their royalty sytem that gives me such lousy results.

pond5 is offering 500 dollar 4k files for 5 dollars in their membership program. Over 200 000 files in there...

I think that would make a much bigger difference than 100 files from me.

But we really don't need another useless discussion about how to price testshots. If you want to throw yours away, that is up to you, I have system that also squeezes money out of the stuff that has no value.

Digital66 · « **Reply #96 on:** July 15, 2016, 16:04 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 15, 2016, 15:17

Upload to Getty and it is there forever...

If you are non exclusive, this will be a problem. And if you are exclusive it means, if you give up artist exclusivity you can no longer take your best work and offer it to stocksy or other places. Or add exclusive images to Adobe etc...

And that's why non exclusives and even exclusives considering to cancel exclusivity, should better deactivate now any image that could be sold exclusively somewhere else.

After Aug 20 we can test the new system and see whether deactivating an image to sell it exclusively somewhere else is possible or not. If there's no problem, we can re-upload or re-activate our images. If Getty says that's not an acceptable reason, we'll be happy to have deactivated our valuable images then.

CJH Photography · « **Reply #97 on:** July 15, 2016, 16:30 »

I think I will just delete and then upload stuff that I am not offering exclusive rights on anywhere else. I hate to cross istock off my list all together as I was really excited to be accepted there. But I am narrowing it down to the higher-returning sites and istock, well, not one of them for my files right now. To be fair, it's sort of a self-fulfilling thing because I don't upload much there because of low sales so I continue to get low sales.

w7lwi · « **Reply #98 on:** July 15, 2016, 21:14 »

Last month, IS was number 9 out of the 10 sites I submit to. If I'm lucky, I may get one payout a year these days. Didn't used to be this way, with monthly payouts, but no more. I plan on dumping the entire site in the next few days. With the 30 day waiting period, I have no idea what Getty would do if the end of the 30 day period happened to fall on August 21. Just no longer trustworthy. Maybe they should change their name to Clintonstock.

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #99 on:** July 16, 2016, 00:42 »

Trumpstock is a way better comparison

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Author Topic: Getty e-mail about iStock "Contributor Facing Changes" (Read 82026 times)

Justanotherphotographer

dpimborough

ShadySue

U11

Sean Locke Photography

Sean Locke Photography

Jo Ann Snover

robsters

cobalt

Digital66

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ShadySue

CJH Photography

cobalt

stockVid

Lana

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