His post's been deleted now and so has mine pointing him to this thread.

or maybe they want google to see it if they are talking to them.

This looks as though it might be vaguely significant in some way:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=350613&messageid=6825025

Yes.  I posited twice here that it might be some sort of live test for PicScout and there were no takers for that idea.

However, if that IS the case then why didn't they just come back straight away and say so?  I can think of no fathomable reason why they wouldn't.

You probably gave em that idea now. I can see someone from IS slapping their forehead now. Tomorrow HQ will post something like that. 

I can't see how Picscout would have anything to do with this.

I can't see how Picscout would have anything to do with this.

An experiment to track use?

Could someone repost the link to that gallery that lists all the images currently in the Google Drive collection? I lost it and have been searching the forums for it but it's difficult to find anything in all these monster threads. Thx.

Has the list been updated to include the images sent over there in the past week? According to one tally I read, the number of images is pushing 8000 now. I did check the initial batch and none of my pix were there, but I'd like to see if some have turned up since then.

So it's up to 8,696 images now. 

So it's up to 8,696 images now. 

Worse than I thought. 

Thanks for the link. I didn't see any way to tally up the total number of images included in the list. Does anyone know if this is up to date?

Quote from: rubyroo on January 20, 2013, 12:54

So it's up to 8,696 images now. 

Jeez.  Really bad.  I don't see a positive way they can spin this.  Sure puts a lid on the notion that it was some sort of mistake. 
 

And shows which of mr_erin's two contradictory statements:
"There may eventually be additional content added to this pool/agreement, but at the moment there are no concrete plans"
and
"Google is an important partner for us and we have many innovative licensing arrangements with them in place and in negotiations. Our goal is to continue to expand and improve this partnership over time � to the benefit of everyone involved including Google and it's customers, as well as Getty Images and our contributors. This is a long term objective that includes pricing, copyright protection, and volume."
was a total lie, and which was just a partial lie.

Quote from: sjlocke on January 20, 2013, 12:15

I can't see how Picscout would have anything to do with this.

An experiment to track use?

So is there any way to tell if an image has been indexed into the ImageIRC platform? The reason PicScout might have something to do with this deal is if Getty planned to do post-usage billing on these images for anything outside of Google Drive. If Getty planned to keep all that revenue versus share it with the copyright owner, even small additional amounts could add up.

I really don't understand where PicScout and ImageTracker are going - if you look at the case studies, it doesn't appear they've done much do date - but when this description of what it is compares it to YouTube's content ID tracking system, it says to me that Getty wants to get its technology as the platform for this type of usage tracking and payment.

"With the ImageIRC Post-Usage Billing Service, photographers and content licensors can now be assured that their work is properly acknowledged on platforms which will embrace the ImageIRC Post Usage Billing solution.

In the online video world, a similar service is YouTube�s Content ID. Launched in 2007, Content ID allows licensors of video and audio media shared by YouTube users to take action on their content as it is uploaded. Similar to the ImageIRC model, licensors upload the audio and video �reference� files they would like monitored on YouTube into Content ID. Then, the uploaded reference files are fingerprinted and stored in the Content ID system. When YouTube users uploaded audio or video content that exists in the Content ID system, the licensor has the ability to track, block or monetize the content. Like professional imagery, professional audio and video content drives significant engagement on YouTube. Since the launch of Content ID, licensors and YouTube users can benefit equally from value created by professional content."

It seems to me that your big hurdle if you have a service like this is getting the major online players to use your platform. It seems to me that getting Google to use Getty technology for image IDs - the image equivalent of Content ID for video - might be the thing Getty is really after in this Google Drive deal.

Our images are just the sideshow (from Getty's point of view) if this is what's actually going on.

If I were Google I wouldn't want to be beholden to an outside company for something that central. But Getty might think they can do a deal.

I also don't understand why, if it's free to register images with Image Exchange, more people aren't using it - is it because no one trusts Getty and figures that it'll soon cost money? Or 'cause they're lousy at getting the word out?

Quote from: ShadySue on January 20, 2013, 12:17

Quote from: sjlocke on January 20, 2013, 12:15

I can't see how Picscout would have anything to do with this.

An experiment to track use?

Perhaps, but then their experiment is still at all the contributors whose images they are giving away's expense.

Indeed - no matter what, it would have been far better if they had used their wholly-owned content for this funny business. It's especially suspicious that they apparently included none of it.

Quote from: polar on January 20, 2013, 13:07

Quote from: rubyroo on January 20, 2013, 12:54

So it's up to 8,696 images now. 

Worse than I thought. 

Thanks for the link. I didn't see any way to tally up the total number of images included in the list. Does anyone know if this is up to date?

1-100 of 8696 images (100 per page. Page 1)  --this text located just under the search box.  Kenny said that 14 new ones were added on 1/18 but I don't know when the others "hit the page"

Thanks, I didn't catch that. So, for now, I still haven't been caught in this net. I feel I like I ought to escape while I can.