lost copyright with affiliates- agefotostock/easyfotostock

Microstock Photography Forum - General > Microstock Services

(1/1)

Astrantia:
I´ve been submitting pics directly to microstock agencies like SS, Adobe and Alamy for a year now.

I recently signed a contract with easyfotostock (part of agefotostock) in Spain and now discovered they sell my pictures on Alamy using their own pseudonym as photographer to be credited. Meaning my name will not be credited on those sales, although I have the copyright.

I didn´t know they use affiliate programmes and I couldn´t choose any of the affiliates as well. I also can´t delete my pictures on their site.

I want to sell my pics directly not through that agency and I will terminate my contract now.

Is this common? Do agencies sell pictures they don´t have the copyright on under their own name with no credits or mentioning the copyright holder?

I always thought I own my copyright and have to be mentioned when selling through stock angencies.... Am I wrong?

I wrote to Alamy about that subject but they responded I have to talk about that with agefotostock, they use the pseudonym given with the photo.

http://www.selling-stock.com/Article/age-launches-easyfotostock

Example:
my picture with my name
https://www.alamy.de/panorama-der-alpinen-seebersee-see-mit-dem-hohen-anstieg-der-berge-der-texelgruppe-im-hintergrund-in-der-nahe-der-timmelsjoch-alpine-strasse-in-image331811536.html

And this is how they sell it
https://www.alamy.de/panorama-der-alpinen-seebersee-see-mit-dem-hohen-anstieg-der-berge-der-texelgruppe-im-hintergrund-in-der-nahe-der-timmelsjoch-alpine-strasse-in-image338042263.html

Astrantia:
Got an answer from AGEfotostock in the mean time telling me

- they are sorry they uploaded my pictures under a wrong copyright name (but did not change it to the right name til now)
- that I can´t terminate my contract before december 2022 (full three years)
- my pictures will remain online for 6 more months after december 2022
- I can´t have any pictures deleted
- yes, they do work with affiliates (they call them distrubutor) but won´t tell me which (so I have no bloody idea who is selling my pictures)
- I can´t opt out of that affiliate programme nor choose any affiliates

My resumee after all of that:

be beware of the spanish AGEfotostock

You loose all control of your rights and pictures and they might even sell them under a different copyright name.

Uncle Pete:
https://www.agefotostock.com/become-a-contributor/licenses-and-contracts/

SECTION 4. TERM
4.1. Term: This Agreement shall be for an initial term of three (3) years from the Effective Date (“Initial Term”). This Agreement will be automatically renewed for consecutive one (1) year terms
(“Renewal Terms”), unless either one of the parties gives a written notice of termination to the other at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any of the Renewal Terms.

Too bad, you sent back the required signed contract? They get 50% for managing your images and distribution.

True they should have sold them with your name on the images.

Remember to give notice 90 days prior to the expiration or it will auto renew for another year!

falantus:
I did not know they are also doing what Yayimages do. It was easy to upload but I am stopping from this day forward. I feel after a while, I will have 0 company to upload :)

By the way, do you know where they submit videos? Any portfolio of them on other stock websites?

qunamax:

--- Quote from: Astrantia on January 06, 2020, 12:43 ---I´ve been submitting pics directly to microstock agencies like SS, Adobe and Alamy for a year now.

I recently signed a contract with easyfotostock (part of agefotostock) in Spain and now discovered they sell my pictures on Alamy using their own pseudonym as photographer to be credited. Meaning my name will not be credited on those sales, although I have the copyright.

I didn´t know they use affiliate programmes and I couldn´t choose any of the affiliates as well. I also can´t delete my pictures on their site.

I want to sell my pics directly not through that agency and I will terminate my contract now.

Is this common? Do agencies sell pictures they don´t have the copyright on under their own name with no credits or mentioning the copyright holder?

I always thought I own my copyright and have to be mentioned when selling through stock angencies.... Am I wrong?

I wrote to Alamy about that subject but they responded I have to talk about that with agefotostock, they use the pseudonym given with the photo.

http://www.selling-stock.com/Article/age-launches-easyfotostock

Example:
my picture with my name
https://www.alamy.de/panorama-der-alpinen-seebersee-see-mit-dem-hohen-anstieg-der-berge-der-texelgruppe-im-hintergrund-in-der-nahe-der-timmelsjoch-alpine-strasse-in-image331811536.html

And this is how they sell it
https://www.alamy.de/panorama-der-alpinen-seebersee-see-mit-dem-hohen-anstieg-der-berge-der-texelgruppe-im-hintergrund-in-der-nahe-der-timmelsjoch-alpine-strasse-in-image338042263.html

--- End quote ---

I'm not sure why are you bothered by it, you are into microstock to make money, not to stick your name to things, that's what galleries are for.
Buyers are not obliged to display your name when they use photos, thou some do sometimes. Imagine if all the designs that include photos were slapped on with credits.
That's really a common thing, take Wirestock or any random factory on microstock, everyone gets their money in the end and that's the only thing that matters, not making a name, you just hyper-supply goods, you are not building a trademark, and buyers couldn't care less anyway. The copyright remains yours at all times, a simple credit couldn't possibly reinforce that anyway.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

Go to full version