Quote from: cobalt on September 12, 2013, 14:14

Quote from: tickstock on September 12, 2013, 13:15

Quote from: cobalt on September 12, 2013, 13:14

So this is what we are supposed to "aspire to"? The "special" secret deal with Getty??

I'd like a special secret deal, wouldn't you?

No, thank you. I like transparency and openness in business. It may not always be possible, but the more transparent, the better the business. At least this has been my experience.

The whole "secret handshake" private club mentality isn�t me.

Is that what they're calling Stocksy these days.  Just a joke, really.   I was talking about aspiring to be good enough and being able to bring enough value that you are worth special deals.  I don't see the outrage at Sean getting a special deal with depositphotos (wasn't it that one?), I know I'm not outraged.  Good for him, we all deserve more.

its a completely different thing, that is common for a few years, FT did the same with former iStock exclusives and other, can�t say I "agree"

Quote from: cobalt on September 12, 2013, 14:21

I�m not against being successful and negotiating your own contracts. But it is not something I would "aspire" to in business. I look for business partners who have the same goals like me.

Hard work, tolerance and discipline. Nothing secret or special in the end.

Yuri did negotiate his own terms.  I don't really see the point in being jealous about it, I think it shows that contributors still have some value and leverage in this business.  Wanting him to have a contract with worse terms because you don't like special deals sounds petty to me.

its curious that you keep on defending what Yuri and Getty are doing like its fair for you and other contributors, I still remember you saying that a few of weeks can mean a few months, I wonder how many months you believe it is acceptable?

Quote from: lisafx on September 12, 2013, 13:36

Quote from: tickstock on September 12, 2013, 13:24

Why shouldn't exclusive content get a biased search?  It's good for the business to have unique content and the only way to get it is to promote it.

Oh yeah, I see your point.  It's worked out great for Istock's business.   

They have about 50% more revenue per year than Shutterstock, do you really think they would be in a better position without exclusivity?

Is that a response to me?  If so I'm confused.  I never mentioned Istock exclusivity.  I responded to your post about "super secret deals" with a comment about the confusingly biased search results at a number of agencies.  I didn't even mention Istock specifically in my initial post, although I can see why you would have thought of them immediately.  Their search is legendarily bad.

I'm not sure if you really failed to understand my post, or have deliberately constructed a straw man to argue about, for your own reasons. 

'

Quote from: lisafx on September 12, 2013, 13:20

Quote from: tickstock on September 12, 2013, 13:15

Quote from: cobalt on September 12, 2013, 13:14

So this is what we are supposed to "aspire to"? The "special" secret deal with Getty??

I'd like a special secret deal, wouldn't you?

I wouldn't turn one down, but mostly I'd simply like a level playing field and an unbiased search engine.  That goes for all the sites.

Why shouldn't exclusive content get a biased search?  It's good for the business to have unique content and the only way to get it is to promote it.

But it's bad for the reputation of a business when they claim and promote 'unique' content which is anything but.

Quote from: cobalt on September 12, 2013, 14:21

I�m not against being successful and negotiating your own contracts. But it is not something I would "aspire" to in business. I look for business partners who have the same goals like me.

Hard work, tolerance and discipline. Nothing secret or special in the end.

Yuri did negotiate his own terms.  I don't really see the point in being jealous about it, I think it shows that contributors still have some value and leverage in this business.  Wanting him to have a contract with worse terms because you don't like special deals sounds petty to me.

Where exactly did you see me write that I am jealous of Yuri? Or that I want him to have a contract with worse terms? I gave up my Getty House contract out of my own free will because I believe there is a better future for me by working with other teams. But I don�t hate Getty,even if I am stunned by how they have destroyed istock.

I simply don�t believe that it is necessary to run after people (or agencies). If you are good at what you do and keep an open mind you will meet the right people at the right time.

The industry has a lot more options than just "high prices on getty" and the luxury life of the Getty House artist and " pennies from the micros" for the unwashed masses.

There is a lot more out there.

You talked about an unbiased search engine (and this is a Yuri exclusive thread), I thought exclusives getting better results than nonexclusive content would make it biased, is that incorrect?  Usually when people are talking about the search being biased they mean exclusive vs. nonexclusive but I guess recently there has been some talk about Shutterstock and Fotolia penalizing higher level contributors.  Sorry if that's what you meant.

You're right, the conversation had gotten so convoluted I forgot I was posting in the Yuri exclusive thread. 

But no, my comment wasn't about Istock exclusive bias in the search.  There was always an Istock exclusive bias and I didn't have a problem with it.  If you go exclusive that's a reasonable thing to expect that the site will promote your work. 

The Fotolia bias against successful contributors does burn me up no end, because it is both punitive and illogical.  The biases I have a problem with in the Istock search has more to do with pushing wholly owned and/or much higher priced content and pushing back other images (both exclusive and non) that have demonstrated saleability.  I have read exclusives making similar complaints. 

I can't speak to the current state of the best match, but for years I've been reading buyers complain that all the content had jumped tenfold in price.  That wasn't true, as we contributors know, but the search bias made it appear that it was. 

I'll just renew my wish that the sites would return their search results to more of a meritocracy.  (for all the good that wish will do me )

I think istock will be more concerned if he had violated their contract. I think yuri knows that if he had violated the contract, he can get sued.

So basically I think they had a deal n they don't need explain to the rest.

These last times in every thread speaking about Yuri Arcus I read a lot of bad comments and verbal attacks against him.
Well I agree that he does not seem a very clear person and that he apparently does not respect the rules other contributors have to respect.
But what changes all this gossiping?

I think that people like him (probably very arrogant and egocentric), and companies like iStock deserve some good lesson.

Unfortunately for most of us it is not easy to go by legal way, as it has costs that a single individual cannot support, and in most of the countries the possibility of a class action does not exist.

But who can (those from countries where exists the possibility of a class action) will you keep clattering or will you begin to make something serious about it?

I'm just playing of course... I'm sure there's a method to the madness. I actually watch these threads now because their entertaining.

I don't see why he should be allowed to soften the blow of turning exclusive at IS with keeping his portfolio up where is should not be. Live and let live, by I do find it very irritating....

Funny how jealous is observed what Yuri does or does not. So you can spend a lot of time, you would better invest in photography.
It is totally irrelevant whether Yuri has pictures in Mostphots or not. In both cases, it would not matter for your personal success.

Quote from: Oldhand on September 12, 2013, 13:05

I don't see why he should be allowed to soften the blow of turning exclusive at IS with keeping his portfolio up where is should not be. Live and let live, by I do find it very irritating....

Funny how jealous is observed what Yuri does or does not. So you can spend a lot of time, you would better invest in photography.
It is totally irrelevant whether Yuri has pictures in Mostphots or not. In both cases, it would not matter for your personal success.

I think it's just a matter of principle�
You know these things as morals, respect for others, honesty�
I find that it is sad to live in a world where all is about money, power and success�