My dl/ image ratio is over 9 and in one search which produces 2500 results 12 of the first 13 are mine.  I can't think of any other reason they are there other than a high dl/ image ratio.  My acceptance rate is about 81% which is fairly high but not over high so if it's not that then I don't know what it is as some of the images haven't had many dls yet.

Someone finally capitalized on a flaw that has been obvious since they lowered the ratings value in best match searches and they banned them? Even though they hijacked the best match results I don't think they should have been banned. People are always trying to find ways to "beat the system", in every endeavor. As devious as it may have been, this seemed like it was within the rules.

I know you can't download your own images but is there a rule that you can't purchase a friends?

The suspicion was strong, given that the photographers concerned used the same subject matter props and models, that they were in fact the same individual - which is a direct violation of istock policy. (and infact you can purchase your own file - not that I have done so - one of the irritations to some people about istock is that if you want a copy of one of your own files for some reason, unlike some other sites, you have to purchase it.)
Given their sales numbers, I was suprised that they were outright banned so quickly - one has a little suspicion (but of course it is only a suspicion) that when their accounts were looked at more closely there were other things wrong. To be honest they were rather silly downloading every single image they uploaded straight way. It makes it very obvious.

My dl/ image ratio is over 9 and in one search which produces 2500 results 12 of the first 13 are mine.  I can't think of any other reason they are there other than a high dl/ image ratio.  My acceptance rate is about 81% which is fairly high but not over high so if it's not that then I don't know what it is as some of the images haven't had many dls yet.

I believe that it is your high acceptance rate that is getting your images to the front page.  81% is quite high.  There was a thread where contributors stated their acceptance ratio and the average was around 62%.  Here is the thread for reference: http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=1177.0

The suspicion was strong, given that the photographers concerned used the same subject matter props and models, that they were in fact the same individual - which is a direct violation of istock policy.

Ah...didn't know that.

....To be honest they were rather silly downloading every single image they uploaded straight way. It makes it very obvious.

Common trait of people who game (or cheat) systems, they are greedy and their greed leads to their demise.

Acceptance rate has already been confirmed by Achilles as being part of the search preferences.

DL/image has not been confirmed, but it would be logical to include it because it hints at quality/popularity.

If that's the case, I sure wish I could start over again! My early rejections are dragging down my percentage!

Achillles is DT not istock
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I was not aware that acceptance rate was part of the best match search, however DL/image was confirmed and has been part of the best match for as long as I've been at iStock. When did Achilles say that acceptance rate was part of the best match search?

There's no economic justification for including acceptance rate (not that I care because my 80.46% is good) because it doesn't impact relevance of the image to the search, nor does it reflect popularity of the image. 
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I'm sure IS has their hands full with this problem. They will be trying to undo all the people trying to take advantage of the situation until they figure out what they are going to do with best match. The only two big stock houses that I hear people consistently complain about search and that is IS and Alamy...

Quote from: digiology on November 14, 2007, 15:03

Just discovered more best match mysteries. Search for the word "trashed" and under best match the same artist appears several times on the first page but sorted under downloads and the results are far more varied. If D/L per image is taken into account for best match then shouldn't the results be simular to the download sort?

Sorry, I thought we were talking about dl/mo. 

Oh were we...sorry I missed that.  Then I guess that makes more sense why the sort results differ.

Yep, they changed it.  My sales have gone down slightly too but I'm going to give it a few more days to see if it could just be ebb and flo.  I sure will hate losing my record high sales if this is the cause...     All part of the game I guess.