Author Topic: Pond5 Contributor Agreement Update (Read 3275 times)

Atomazul · « **on:** December 11, 2024, 10:14 »

Dear Artists,

As the global market for creative content continues to grow and diversify, Pond5 is also evolving. We’re exploring new ways to expand licensing activity and maximize the earning potential for our contributors as one of several strategic moves to ensure Pond5’s future and enhance our competitive offering. By adapting our pricing and embracing new opportunities, we’re positioning the marketplace for sustained growth in an ever-changing landscape.

Starting on January 15, 2025, we will introduce new contributor royalty rates. Artists will now earn a 30% royalty from licensing activity on Pond5, while Exclusive video artists will earn an increased royalty of 40%. The new rates will also apply to the Pond5 Subscription, Global Market Earnings, and Partner Earnings programs. Given their restricted use rights and narrow license scope, Dataset Earnings will now earn 20%.

We will update our Contributor Agreement effective January 15, 2025, to account for these changes. We encourage you to review the new Pond5 Contributor Agreement carefully.

While the industry has evolved dramatically since our founding in 2006, our commitment to supporting our artists remains at the heart of everything we do. We deeply value you as a member of our talented and diverse contributor community and understand this change may feel significant. Our ultimate goal is to build a sustainable marketplace where you can continue to grow and succeed over the long term.

Please visit our Contributor portal for further information about the Pond5 contributor experience, and contact our Support team at [email protected] with any questions.

Thank you, as always, for being a valued part of our community.

Warm Regards,

Your Friends at Pond5

Atomazul · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:14 »

Warm regards my ass. This is typical Shutterstock tonedeaf holiday timing. Any of you bootlickers defending this? This is what we get when you idiots supported these companies, despite better alternatives. They become the dominant players, because you idiots supported them. They buy out the better companies, because they can afford to because you idiots supported them. And now the better companies are destroyed.

This is why some of us begged you idiots not to support IS, SS and all the terrible companies. But nope, you short sighted bottom feeders willingly ruined everyone's long-term prospects in favor of pennies. Idiots.

Idiots. Greed. Stupidity.

trucic · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:21 »

… great news, happy holidays in SS style…

everest · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:22 »

I have disabled now both my regular non exclusive account and exclusive account data earnings. Those still stay in Adobe but P5 is out. For me 20% not worth it.
Exclusive account will also not receive anymore files from me. 10% more is way to low to have them only in one place. Those where there because the 60% and barely but no kiss goodbye.

it is Shutterstock. They will bring it down year by year until 15 or 20% non exclusive as the Shutterstock slaves already receive. So no surprise here. Who knows, they might even try down the road a 15% rate like Isuck.

In any case it has been now 2 years that I started to move away from stock. AI and sliding rates make this not a sustainable business for contributors. I still make 50k on stock, but this is not my focus anymore.

Merry Christmas....Shutterstock always knows how to chear up contributors.

In any case, watching with pleasure their stock collapse. Let's see if December 25 they are around 20$ /share.

Good luck to all.

cobalt · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:29 »

I wonder if somewhere there is a smaller agency willing to pay more that the high end producers will migrate to?

I am not surprised at all, this has been coming since the takeover.

Pond5 never fvored the exclusive content.

I hope they keep this rate, close enough to industry standard.

7% more than adobe…how many people will go non ex now?

Atomazul · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:33 »

"I hope they keep this rate, close enough to industry standard."

Just curious, how does boot taste?

cobalt · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:40 »

How is life in your fantasy world?

Everybody knew that when pond5 was sold it was over.

And yet people kept promoting the p5 exclusive thing although anyone with half a brain knew they are riding a dead horse.

The SS rat race would be much worse, the current rate is industry standard.

So yes, it is better than what I expected.

But go and whine that the stockworld doesn‘t worship you…

Some of us run this as a business, which means you also anticipate the bad news

Ambu · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2024, 10:51 »

I am pretty sure...within one year they introduce levels system to Pond5...Just like how they ruined Shutterstock...

alexandersr · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2024, 11:15 »

What do you expect from a Shutterstock company? Lot of people here love Shutterstock and youtubers,tiktokers are worst, i don't understand!

Camillo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2024, 11:20 »

I stopped uploading to SS in 2020. I don’t get how people put up with crap. I stopped uploading to istock in 2008; hated the community and too many rejected images.

cobalt · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2024, 11:35 »

This is just pond5.

Now let us see what exciting christmas news they have for ss and envato...

Like I said, in this industry you need to live in reality.

Endless moaning gets you nowhere.

If you don't like reality, do something else...nobody is holding anyone back from getting rich from their work.

If stock is not their thing, just don't do it.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2024, 11:47 »

Hahaha.

Happy holidays from Shitterstock.

These assholes know no shame.

cobalt · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2024, 11:55 »

Hey...you are getting 5 weeks warning...last time we got 7 days....

And your rate is still there for xmas...

I am really curious what is coming for SS and envato.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2024, 12:03 »

https://www.microstockgroup.com/pond5/how-long-until-pond5-is-paying-shutterstock-prices/

Well, it seems we have our answer.

gnirtS · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2024, 13:23 »

Well there we go, whatever Shutterstock touches turns to crap and that is true here.

First they remove the ability to set your prices and adjust your own prices, often downwards. Now they cut the percentage you can earn from those prices.

Everyone knew this would happen after SS bought them. It's the slow process of them being absorbed and cease to exist as a separate entity. I cant wait for 12 cent video sales to start.

That said, its also my first 0 sale month on P5 ever. So it might not matter.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2024, 13:27 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 11, 2024, 10:40

How is life in your fantasy world?

Everybody knew that when pond5 was sold it was over.

And yet people kept promoting the p5 exclusive thing although anyone with half a brain knew they are riding a dead horse.

The SS rat race would be much worse, the current rate is industry standard.

So yes, it is better than what I expected.

But go and whine that the stockworld doesn‘t worship you…

Some of us run this as a business, which means you also anticipate the bad news

I'll have to read further and what everything is going to be, unless I'm just not reading this right?

Starting on January 15, 2025, we will introduce new contributor royalty rates. Artists will now earn a 30% royalty from licensing activity on Pond5, while Exclusive video artists will earn an increased royalty of 40%.

Old in case anyone doesn't have that handy.
Video: Exclusive video contributors receive 60% revenue share. Non-exclusive video contributors receive 40% revenue share.
Contributors who license photographs, illustrations, After Effects, and other templates receive 50% revenue share.

Funny to call it an increased royalty when it's going down

If I have this right, 60% exclusive video, will now be 40%. Everything else was 50% and is moving to 30%? In shorter terms, a 20% cut off of everything?

Yes, we all knew that SS would cut and chop, I was surprised that it didn't happen faster. I think you're correct, whether I like it or not, that does bring them into the range of the industry standard, maybe slightly higher for video exclusive and above most for photos, illustrations, but below Alamy 40% or Adobe 33%. (IS 15% & SS so low they have to pay the minimum instead of a percentage 10¢ ) DT whatever that is a percentage of what you can find in a Black Hole.

What? The world of stock doesn't worship me and think I'm the reason they are a success? I'm hurt.

Quote from: gnirtS on December 11, 2024, 13:23

Well there we go, whatever Shutterstock touches turns to crap and that is true here.

First they remove the ability to set your prices and adjust your own prices, often downwards. Now they cut the percentage you can earn from those prices.

Everyone knew this would happen after SS bought them. It's the slow process of them being absorbed and cease to exist as a separate entity. I cant wait for 12 cent video sales to start.

100% right.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2024, 13:40 »

is this straight out of the 1984 novel

ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
The communication style in this email does have echoes of the kind of language and framing found in George Orwell's 1984. In particular:

Parallels to Orwellian Language:
Euphemistic Framing: The reduction in royalty rates is framed as a way to “maximize earning potential” and “position the marketplace for growth,” which obscures the immediate negative impact for many contributors. This is reminiscent of 1984's Newspeak, where language is used to mask or soften harsh realities.

Focus on Long-Term Vision: The emphasis on building a "sustainable marketplace" and ensuring "future growth" shifts attention away from the present downsides—much like the Party in 1984 justifies sacrifices for the supposed greater good.

Avoidance of Clear Comparisons: The lack of direct acknowledgment of the prior, higher royalty rates could be seen as an attempt to control the narrative, similar to how the Party in 1984 rewrites history to suit its needs.

Key Difference:
Unlike 1984, where the intent is complete subjugation and manipulation, Pond5’s changes are likely driven by business pressures, not malice. However, the way the changes are communicated may feel disingenuous to contributors, leading to the comparison.

Verdict:
While this isn't a perfect parallel to Orwell's dystopia, the careful framing of bad news as a positive development does feel reminiscent of 1984-style doublethink, where contradictory ideas (e.g., reduced royalties = maximized earnings) are presented as harmonious.

cobalt · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2024, 13:49 »

The real grab is lowering dataset earnings to 20%.

Because according to all their financial statements that is their big future earnings project.

So now they get 100% more on that...

How long until they also take ai?

gnirtS · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2024, 13:55 »

So in 12 months i expect "Good news" where they'll introduce a resetting levels system of 15% to make it "fairer" and "increase uploading".

mike123 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:10 »

Glad I never got around to upload anything there. And now I never will

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:11 »

Basically - the title SHOULD have been "The executives at shitterstock decided to buy a new yacht. It's coming out of your royalities. Happy Hannukah!"

bennu99 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:11 »

Pond5 (aka Shutterstock) is so proud of its Trustpilot record that it displays it every time you open their page. Now, let's see how quickly they will hide it when the tables turn after today's exciting news.

alexandersr · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:32 »

Quote from: bennu99 on December 11, 2024, 14:11

Pond5 (aka Shutterstock) is so proud of its Trustpilot record that it displays it every time you open their page. Now, let's see how quickly they will hide it when the tables turn after today's exciting news.

Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha!

PCDMedia · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:38 »

Significant 60>40% change of royalty cut for P5 Exclusives is not good.

Perhaps time to drop P5 Exl and apply to BlackBox to try the "spray and pray" approach.

fotoroad · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:44 »

This year make me Adobe alone more money for video than ,,SSPond5Pond5Exclusive,, together. Why??? Less greedy? Better management?

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Author Topic: Pond5 Contributor Agreement Update (Read 3275 times)

Atomazul

Atomazul

trucic

everest

cobalt

Atomazul

cobalt

Ambu

alexandersr

Camillo

cobalt

Noedelhap

cobalt

Noedelhap

gnirtS

Uncle Pete

Brasilnut

cobalt

gnirtS

mike123

SuperPhoto

bennu99

alexandersr

PCDMedia

fotoroad

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