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Author Topic: Google giving photos away free for commercial use and iStock agrees  (Read 256417 times)

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rubyroo

« Reply #125 on: January 11, 2013, 08:41 »
0
Here's someone who has had their Photographers Choice images (the deal where you pay $50 to sell an image on Getty) included in the deal for a big $12 royalty. 

Step 1: pay $50 to 'sell' your image on Getty
Step 2: collect $12 in royalties
Step 3: have your image given away for free on Google

Quote
I found some of my Photograper's Choice RF images added to Google drive.


I checked the Getty statements to see any purchase and I found them:


----


Product Type: Premium Access Time Limited


Customer Name: Google eCommerce & Google Dri


Gross Royalty (in USD): 12.00


http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=350439&messageid=6817023


There are no words.  Just unbelievable. 


« Reply #126 on: January 11, 2013, 09:44 »
+1
I know this is mostly about the google 'deal' but this is equally damming and giving away stock images to people that would otherwise buy them:  http://blog.getresponse.com/1000-free-istock-images-in-getresponse.html

It's also probably the tip of an even bigger iceberg of free give aways by istock.

lisafx

« Reply #127 on: January 11, 2013, 09:49 »
+1
none of mine there, the brain says phew... the ego takes a hit  :)

Exact same boat here.  I think I'll go with the brain though.  I'm relieved none of mine are there. 

« Reply #128 on: January 11, 2013, 10:13 »
0
^^ So far, I seem to be another of the lucky (sucky?) ones with no images there.

lisafx

« Reply #129 on: January 11, 2013, 10:17 »
+1
Here's why this affects all of us, whether our images are used in this promotion scheme or not:

Posted by CJP on Istock's forum:

Getty have lost it. Giving images away for free is utter madness - only this week one of my design business clients told me they are no longer buying images because they said they can get them free. I actually warned them about the risk of using images without a licence!! Now I find I've been mugged by my own agent! You couldn't make this up.

« Reply #130 on: January 11, 2013, 10:35 »
0
I have 4 images there. They are from Getty/Flickr collection. Google bought them in 31-Oct-12. They paid $60 and I got $12 for each one.

And in 29-Nov-12, google bought another 2 images (Customer Name: Google: eC
ommerce & Google Dri), but can't find them there. Something different is that they paid only $30 for each one this time. :-\

« Reply #131 on: January 11, 2013, 11:37 »
0
I know this is mostly about the google 'deal' but this is equally damming and giving away stock images to people that would otherwise buy them:  http://blog.getresponse.com/1000-free-istock-images-in-getresponse.html

It's also probably the tip of an even bigger iceberg of free give aways by istock.


I would venture that this would actually come under an 'electronic items for resale', as the images can be included in a template that the subscriber (paid) can send out.  It isn't just a random 'do anything you like with this image' set up.

« Reply #132 on: January 11, 2013, 11:48 »
0
So what's happening? Is Istock or Getty making any statements on this? From what I understand they promised to come back today with something?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #133 on: January 11, 2013, 11:58 »
0
So what's happening? Is Istock or Getty making any statements on this? From what I understand they promised to come back today with something?

If my memory serves, this is c10 am iStocktime.
They need time to coggle something up with some legalese 'distractors' thrown in.

« Reply #134 on: January 11, 2013, 12:05 »
0
I have 4 images there. They are from Getty/Flickr collection. Google bought them in 31-Oct-12. They paid $60 and I got $12 for each one.

And in 29-Nov-12, google bought another 2 images (Customer Name: Google: eC
ommerce & Google Dri), but can't find them there. Something different is that they paid only $30 for each one this time. :-\
How do you feel about it? Is it a problem for you? Why isn't this discussed in the Flickr forums? Four pictures are quite a lot if I read the iStock forums there is a lot of outcry even from contributors that aren't affected at all.

« Reply #135 on: January 11, 2013, 12:06 »
+2
One possible avenue to go after Istock/Getty and/or Google might be the removal of metadata and distribution of these images without metadata which seems to be inconsistent with Istock/Gettys and Googles obligations under the EUs InfoSoc Directive and the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). 

http://picworkflow.com/blog/microstock/do-microstock-agencies-violate-photographers-dmca-copyright/

http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/dreamstime-makes-a-good-change/msg225199/#msg225199

Note that Google usually gets to plead ignorance to things that are DMCA inconsistent like on bootleg videos posted on YouTube since it was posted by somebody else, but in this case Google licensed the images and then made them available, so they are on the hook (if there is one).

« Reply #136 on: January 11, 2013, 12:11 »
+2
iStock staff have acknowledged that money changed hands between Getty and Google - this isn't Google acting unilaterally. And if you read above you'll see that it appears the license was for $12!! Time limited but no notion of how long. It might as well be forever given how many people and businesses are now using Google Drive

If you put your image into a document and then right click and Save Image As... you'll see the file number in the JPEG. It's probably Thinkstock and you can search there by file number to check


Yup the number matches Thinkstock image number, here it is: http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/search/#122507672
That's where they got it from. I still can't believe this happened - it's not like they thought they own the rights to these images, they are not that dumb... they thought they can get away with this. We're being screwed intentionally - they don't think people can or will do anything about it.

« Reply #137 on: January 11, 2013, 12:16 »
0
I have 4 images there. They are from Getty/Flickr collection. Google bought them in 31-Oct-12. They paid $60 and I got $12 for each one.

And in 29-Nov-12, google bought another 2 images (Customer Name: Google: eC
ommerce & Google Dri), but can't find them there. Something different is that they paid only $30 for each one this time. :-\
How do you feel about it? Is it a problem for you? Why isn't this discussed in the Flickr forums? Four pictures are quite a lot if I read the iStock forums there is a lot of outcry even from contributors that aren't affected at all.

Are any of the Getty/Flickr images in the Google set? If so, then certainly the media wind-up could be started at the Flickr forums. Even if we don't know, the Getty/Flickr contributors would likely want to go look for themselves to see if they have any orphans now loose.

« Reply #138 on: January 11, 2013, 12:20 »
+1
In addition to everything else, it is teaching the public that image grabbing is okay. We really need a highly publicized lawsuit to act as an example for all.

How did the music industry combat this years ago? We need to follow their example. AFAIK, Apple stepped in and coded downloads to allow only limited copying of downloaded material. I know there are still bootleg sites out there, but the music industry has not imploded from it. We need a smart programmer to develop a way to disable right clicking a jpg that can be embedded into all uploads.

Our agents distributors pimps won't help us, so we will likely need to band together and start this movement on our own.

« Reply #139 on: January 11, 2013, 12:20 »
0
Here's someone who has had their Photographers Choice images (the deal where you pay $50 to sell an image on Getty) included in the deal for a big $12 royalty. 

Step 1: pay $50 to 'sell' your image on Getty
Step 2: collect $12 in royalties
Step 3: have your image given away for free on Google

Quote
I found some of my Photograper's Choice RF images added to Google drive.


I checked the Getty statements to see any purchase and I found them:


----


Product Type: Premium Access Time Limited


Customer Name: Google eCommerce & Google Dri


Gross Royalty (in USD): 12.00


http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=350439&messageid=6817023


This is totally insane..boundaries are being pushed to the limit...it seems that braking point will only be reached once contributors start removing their images. Until then, they really don't give a *

« Reply #140 on: January 11, 2013, 12:26 »
0
I have 4 images there. They are from Getty/Flickr collection. Google bought them in 31-Oct-12. They paid $60 and I got $12 for each one.

And in 29-Nov-12, google bought another 2 images (Customer Name: Google: eC
ommerce & Google Dri), but can't find them there. Something different is that they paid only $30 for each one this time. :-\
How do you feel about it? Is it a problem for you? Why isn't this discussed in the Flickr forums? Four pictures are quite a lot if I read the iStock forums there is a lot of outcry even from contributors that aren't affected at all.

Are any of the Getty/Flickr images in the Google set? If so, then certainly the media wind-up could be started at the Flickr forums. Even if we don't know, the Getty/Flickr contributors would likely want to go look for themselves to see if they have any orphans now loose.
Yes there are  many Getty/Flickr images in the Google set!
« Last Edit: January 11, 2013, 12:36 by incarno »

« Reply #141 on: January 11, 2013, 12:35 »
0
iStock staff have acknowledged that money changed hands between Getty and Google - this isn't Google acting unilaterally. And if you read above you'll see that it appears the license was for $12!! Time limited but no notion of how long. It might as well be forever given how many people and businesses are now using Google Drive

If you put your image into a document and then right click and Save Image As... you'll see the file number in the JPEG. It's probably Thinkstock and you can search there by file number to check


Yup the number matches Thinkstock image number, here it is: http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/search/#122507672
That's where they got it from. I still can't believe this happened - it's not like they thought they own the rights to these images, they are not that dumb... they thought they can get away with this. We're being screwed intentionally - they don't think people can or will do anything about it.


I think that they will simply say that they negotiated a 'special' license with Google, acting as our agent/distributor. The low price of $60 per image was discounted due to the high volume of 6000 image licenses being bought. Total price was $360K with $60K being given to contributors and Getty pocketing the other $300K. I think it was that deliberate and nothing to do with 'promotion' of either Getty or the artists.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #142 on: January 11, 2013, 12:53 »
0
I think that they will simply say that they negotiated a 'special' license with Google, acting as our agent/distributor. The low price of $60 per image was discounted due to the high volume of 6000 image licenses being bought. Total price was $360K with $60K being given to contributors and Getty pocketing the other $300K. I think it was that deliberate and nothing to do with 'promotion' of either Getty or the artists.

I just noticed that on the buy credits page, they are now advertising credits as low as 29c to corporate buyers. Never noticed that amount as low before.

However, in no case should they be licensing our images ('our' loosely as I don't think I'm personally affected) to be given away free.

« Reply #143 on: January 11, 2013, 13:01 »
0
I think that they will simply say that they negotiated a 'special' license with Google, acting as our agent/distributor. The low price of $60 per image was discounted due to the high volume of 6000 image licenses being bought. Total price was $360K with $60K being given to contributors and Getty pocketing the other $300K. I think it was that deliberate and nothing to do with 'promotion' of either Getty or the artists.

I think this is the truth of the situation that will be covered in corporate goo when it's served up.

« Reply #144 on: January 11, 2013, 13:06 »
0
Yeah, Sue that's the thing.  We have to stand together on this one.  Who knows what is next.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #145 on: January 11, 2013, 13:14 »
0
Sorry, my mind is mush.
There's a lot of talk of Google having stripped out copyright and metadata.
Doesn't iStock strip this out as standard?
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I seem to have forgotten the definitive answer.

« Reply #146 on: January 11, 2013, 13:30 »
0
Sorry, my mind is mush.
There's a lot of talk of Google having stripped out copyright and metadata.
Doesn't iStock strip this out as standard?
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I seem to have forgotten the definitive answer.

When I bought a couple of images via IS the CR information was corectly given in the Metas

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #147 on: January 11, 2013, 13:31 »
0
Sorry, my mind is mush.
There's a lot of talk of Google having stripped out copyright and metadata.
Doesn't iStock strip this out as standard?
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I seem to have forgotten the definitive answer.
When I bought a couple of images via IS the CR information was corectly given in the Metas

Thanks.

« Reply #148 on: January 11, 2013, 13:41 »
+1
I have just seen this on IS forum. Will help searching if your image has been used.

Posted By sjlocke:
I've downloaded all 6923 images available on Google, and should have a page tomorrow, possibly with all the images and exif.

In the meantime, here is a text list so you can search in your browser and see if you find yourself: http://seanlockephotography.com/data.html
« Last Edit: January 11, 2013, 13:44 by uvox4 »

« Reply #149 on: January 11, 2013, 13:47 »
0
I have just seen this on IS forum. Will help searching if your image has been used.

Posted By sjlocke:
I've downloaded all 6923 images available on Google, and should have a page tomorrow, possibly with all the images and exif.

In the meantime, here is a text list so you can search in your browser and see if you find yourself: http://seanlockephotography.com/data.html


Oh no, 7 of mine!!!


 

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