Author Topic: New post - Google (holding) and Microsoft (news) (Read 4411 times)

ShadySue · « **on:** January 31, 2013, 19:22 »

I thought maybe this deserved a thread of its own.

Lobo has started a new thread, holding on Google but with a bit of info about deactivation over the next few weeks of all images in the MS 'promotion'.

Google Drive
Once again, we'd like to thank you for your continued patience. To reiterate from previous posts, royalties have been paid in connection with the Google Drive usage based on all consideration received by Getty Images under the licensing agreement. We understand your concerns relating to the deal and we are making progress in a productive dialogue with Google about these concerns and potential solutions. As many of you have pointed out Google is a big company, much bigger than Getty Images, and coordinating across the teams there that will help with any modifications is taking longer than we might have hoped, but things are still proceeding.

Microsoft
Based on your concerns, we have also been working with Microsoft over the past several months to bring resolution to the license that was set up in 2007. Over the next 60 days all imagery licensed as part of this promotional arrangement will be removed from the online version of Microsoft Office. Keep in mind though that all licenses that were granted by Microsoft prior to the removal of the content remain valid licenses under the terms of the Microsoft EULA. As previously explained, if you see instances where your content is being used without or contrary to the iStock or Microsoft license terms, please let us know at [email protected].

Our contributors are extremely important to us. We take very seriously our obligation of representing your creative work. While every deal is not perfect out of the gate, we strive to license your content in a financially beneficial manner and believe we largely succeed in this effort across the millions of customers and transactions completed each year. We are also working hard to make your content available to new customers in new uses through investments in marketing, technology and new business models. At the same time, we are investing heavily in technology, education and industry efforts to protect your copyrighted work and license your content responsibly.

Thanks again for your time, patience and constructive feedback.

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=351105&page=1

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2013, 19:33 »

The reverse of a promise not to do any more deals like the Google deal - working hard ... new customers ... new business models.

- No discussion of an opt out.
- No discussion of informing us of what deals are happening once they are signed.
- No list of images in the Google deal
- No information about how many files are there now and what the planned total is.
- No date for an update on progress in undoing/revising the Google deal (things are still proceeding...)

Forgive me if a promise to license my content responsibly seems rather hollow in light of the deal they did with Google - if they thought that was responsible, I want to know what other deals they're working on.

For those who have content in the Microsoft deal, I guess the second part is good news - but set an alert in your calendar to go and check in 60 days to make sure the content is gone.

I think this is pretty underwhelming.

ShadySue · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2013, 19:34 »

He did say there's a newsletter going out next Mon or Tues, this is just a quick update.

rene · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2013, 19:35 »

So there is no guarantee it will stop.
What is interesting for me it's that the communication job is now made by Lobo. Lobo is not an iStock employee, he is a contractor.

KarenH · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2013, 19:40 »

Quote from: jsnover on January 31, 2013, 19:33

I think this is pretty underwhelming.

Jo Ann, I couldn't agree more. I may well be wrong, but I suspect this was an attempt to hold off D-Day, people figuring they'll wait for something more substantive before they take action. And I suspect it will probably work. I don't expect the big picture to change though. Too much water under the bridge by now, and too much delay in even addressing this. Plus their attitude towards contributors doesn't seem to be improving any, given the forums over the last couple of days.

tickstock · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2013, 19:41 »

jjneff · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2013, 19:55 »

This was some positive news! maybe not what everyone wants but I applaud any news

cobalt · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2013, 21:24 »

I have at least 25 files floating free in this Microsoft deal. I am thrilled they will be removed. So for me this is good news indeed.

stockastic · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2013, 21:28 »

"... we strive to license your content in a financially beneficial manner..."

Yeah well that much is obvious.

w7lwi · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2013, 21:36 »

Do you think Lobo actually wrote this or was it handed to him by someone higher up with the instructions to post it and see if contributors quiet down? Pretty much in line with whoever posted elsewhere that they would put something up just before D-Day to try and disrupt as many deactivations as possible.

gostwyck · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2013, 21:50 »

Quote from: jsnover on January 31, 2013, 19:33

I think this is pretty underwhelming.

I should coco!

Can I be alone in associating this statement with the soothing platitudes offered when Istock agreed to lessen the blow of the Canister changes __ only to have the bat shoved up our arses with the RC System a few months later?

Pixart · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2013, 21:55 »

Our contributors are extremely important to us.

OMG Lobo, we just caught you in a big fat lie!

chromaco · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2013, 21:58 »

Am I the only one wondering what they (Microsoft) are going to replace the removed images with? Why not remove old images especially if they can update their catalog with new ones? Hopefully, I'm just glass half empty and this really is a good thing.

Milinz · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2013, 22:09 »

Quote from: Pixart on January 31, 2013, 21:55

Our contributors are extremely important to us.

OMG Lobo, we just caught you in a big fat lie!

These deals are old we're finding new ways to F you in 2013. This isn't a win, it's a diversion to stop the revolt. Nothing has changed.

gillian vann · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2013, 22:10 »

i don't understand why people are saying thank you for that "update". there's no info in there at all (re: Google) and a small pacifier re; MS.

it's a trick.

polar · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2013, 01:47 »

Quote from: w7lwi on January 31, 2013, 21:36

Do you think Lobo actually wrote this or was it handed to him by someone higher up with the instructions to post it and see if contributors quiet down? Pretty much in line with whoever posted elsewhere that they would put something up just before D-Day to try and disrupt as many deactivations as possible.

I was the one who made that suggestion in the D-Day thread. The mention of taking images back from Microsoft was a little more substantive than I was expecting, but I think it was designed to subliminally convey the idea that the promised announcement next week (conveniently after D-Day) might offer contributors the possibility of getting their images out of the Google deal.

I doubt that will happen, but the mere hint that it might could, I think, make some people think twice about deactivating, especially in light of other comments made in the IS forums that reactivations might be problematic.

vlad_the_imp · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2013, 01:57 »

Quote

it's a trick.

Look, if you're that distrustful of IS, and have work there, just remove it and close your account. It's not rocket science. If you don't have work or an account there, don't worry about it.

sharpshot · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2013, 03:51 »

They still can't apologise for doing the Google deal without asking for consent from contributors first. Until they do that, their words mean nothing. I don't see how they can change now. It's quite clear that their only priority is making money in the short term. They have no concern about how the Google deal has severely devalued the images of the contributors involved.

I'm quite surprised that this is all they've got before D-Day. It doesn't change anything for me. I'll be deactivating 500 images tomorrow.

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Author Topic: New post - Google (holding) and Microsoft (news) (Read 4411 times)

ShadySue

Jo Ann Snover

ShadySue

rene

KarenH

tickstock

jjneff

cobalt

stockastic

w7lwi

gostwyck

Pixart

chromaco

Milinz

gillian vann

polar

vlad_the_imp

sharpshot

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