Author Topic: Pond5 Contributor Agreement Update (Read 3524 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?

gnirtS · « **Reply #25 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:45 »

Quote from: fotoroad on December 11, 2024, 14:44

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

Easily integrated with the major editing software globally.

alexandersr · « **Reply #26 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:46 »

Quote from: PCDMedia on December 11, 2024, 14:38

20% royalty cut for P5 Exclusives is a significant reduction.

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

Pond5 is going in the same direction as Shutterstock, 10% royalty, give time to time!

Shutter Angle · « **Reply #27 on:** December 11, 2024, 14:52 »

I use Shutterstock for uploading all the images that I used to upload to Wirestock.
Anything that's not good enough for Adobe Stock.
Will do the same with Pond5 for video now.

jjneff · « **Reply #28 on:** December 11, 2024, 15:54 »

Hear me out. I did stock video full time for 10 years. Services like BlackBox and wirestock are starting to make more sense. You can sell on your own and set your own prices on wirestock. I am changing it up a bit here in order to maximize my income. I know but wirestock….. and so on. I have and am selling in my own as well there and it is working. BlackBox now makes more sense then Pond5 Exclusive. Think time and money people. It’s a business for me nothing personal.

gnirtS · « **Reply #29 on:** December 11, 2024, 16:14 »

Quote from: jjneff on December 11, 2024, 15:54

Hear me out. I did stock video full time for 10 years. Services like BlackBox and wirestock are starting to make more sense. You can sell on your own and set your own prices on wirestock. I am changing it up a bit here in order to maximize my income. I know but wirestock….. and so on. I have and am selling in my own as well there and it is working. BlackBox now makes more sense then Pond5 Exclusive. Think time and money people. It’s a business for me nothing personal.

Blackbox started to make economic sense for me when SS introduced the level system (and made it near impossible for Level 6 for normal, non mass agency submitters). I resisted as P5/AS got me my income without having to pay extra to an agency.
Ironically, i signed up to BB this week as a test (not uploaded yet) out of curiosity. This P5 announcement does make it seem more worthwhile when combined with SS and the fact P5 may well cease to exist completely in a while once its fully eaten.

stocker2011 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 11, 2024, 16:15 »

Quote from: cobalt 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?

Do you know what the % of dataset earnings were before the announcement?

U11 · « **Reply #31 on:** December 11, 2024, 16:58 »

exciting news!

Evaristo tenscadisto · « **Reply #32 on:** December 11, 2024, 17:15 »

Interesting... non-exclusive accounts will only lose 10% while exclusive accounts will lose double which is 20%. It's crystal clear that they want to end the Exclusive in the medium term since roughly 7% does not justify the exclusive account

This is not a "Contributor Agreement Update" it is more like a "Breach of Contract of Contributor Agreement" since Pond5 announced today the failure to delivery the percentages agreed for the sale services P5 provides for non-exclusive and exclusive accounts, 40% and 60% respectively, for the copyright works of contributors. In law terms its simply called a "NEW CONTRACT AGREEMENT" but it seems pond5 is trying to sell it like an "Contract Amendment" by using marketing language strategies like "Contributor Agreement Update". It's not. It's simply new contract.

A contract amendment is a change, correction, clarification, or deletion of unworthy/invalid aspects to an agreement you have already signed. An amendment leaves your original agreement substantially intact but never when values of services like income, salary, profits are object of change. For example, if you change a worker's salary you have to sign a new contract. But if you just want to change some aspects of services such as dates or working conditions etc. in that case it is a contract amendment.

So this truly means contributors must not have to provide “a minimum of 180 days written notice (by email to [email protected]) of such termination of (the “Exclusive Period”)” like is stated in the current Contributor Agreement. At this point Exclusive Contributors in P5 can change to non-exclusive, exit or upload to other sites too without waiting 180 days.

It's a new contract and "Exciting" Bad one....

.
I am slowly removing from P5 to other kind of work avenues.

wollwerth · « **Reply #33 on:** December 11, 2024, 17:40 »

Quote from: Evaristo tenscadisto on December 11, 2024, 17:15

Interesting... non-exclusive accounts will only lose 10% while exclusive accounts will lose double which is 20%. It's crystal clear that they want to end the Exclusive in the medium term since roughly 7% does not justify the exclusive account

This is not a "Contributor Agreement Update" it is more like a "Breach of Contract of Contributor Agreement" since Pond5 announced today the failure to delivery the percentages agreed for the sale services P5 provides for non-exclusive and exclusive accounts, 40% and 60% respectively, for the copyright works of contributors. In law terms its simply called a "NEW CONTRACT AGREEMENT" but it seems pond5 is trying to sell it like an "Contract Amendment" by using marketing language strategies like "Contributor Agreement Update". It's not. It's simply new contract.

A contract amendment is a change, correction, clarification, or deletion of unworthy/invalid aspects to an agreement you have already signed. An amendment leaves your original agreement substantially intact but never when values of services like income, salary, profits are object of change. For example, if you change a worker's salary you have to sign a new contract. But if you just want to change some aspects of services such as dates or working conditions etc. in that case it is a contract amendment.

So this truly means contributors must not have to provide “a minimum of 180 days written notice (by email to [email protected]) of such termination of (the “Exclusive Period”)” like is stated in the current Contributor Agreement. At this point Exclusive Contributors in P5 can change to non-exclusive, exit or upload to other sites too without waiting 180 days.

It's a new contract and "Exciting" Bad one.... .
I am slowly removing from P5 to other kind of work avenues.

This is the way I'm treating it. A change of commission rate is a change in the contract. I just uploaded my first batch to another agency.

PCDMedia · « **Reply #34 on:** December 11, 2024, 17:53 »

Quote from: Evaristo tenscadisto on December 11, 2024, 17:15

So this truly means contributors must not have to provide “a minimum of 180 days written notice (by email to [email protected]) of such termination of (the “Exclusive Period”)” like is stated in the current Contributor Agreement. At this point Exclusive Contributors in P5 can change to non-exclusive, exit or upload to other sites too without waiting 180 days.

The current contrib agreement says that - ... "you terminate your enrollment in the Program by providing us with at least 180 days written notice

So IMO that means the 180 days is a minimum period - but can be earlier.

cobalt · « **Reply #35 on:** December 11, 2024, 19:30 »

Quote from: stocker2011 on December 11, 2024, 16:15

Quote from: cobalt 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?

Do you know what the % of dataset earnings were before the announcement?

Assuming it was 40%/60% respectively

so for exclusive content the drop is even larger

Evaristo tenscadisto · « **Reply #36 on:** December 11, 2024, 19:45 »

Quote from: PCDMedia on December 11, 2024, 17:53

Quote from: Evaristo tenscadisto on December 11, 2024, 17:15

So this truly means contributors must not have to provide “a minimum of 180 days written notice (by email to [email protected]) of such termination of (the “Exclusive Period”)” like is stated in the current Contributor Agreement. At this point Exclusive Contributors in P5 can change to non-exclusive, exit or upload to other sites too without waiting 180 days.

The current contrib agreement says that - ... "you terminate your enrollment in the Program by providing us with at least 180 days written notice

So IMO that means the 180 days is a minimum period - but can be earlier.

The current contract is in force since 2024-08-22. Note that even if a exclusive contributor change is mind to drop is account on 21st of August 2024 he/she could not comply even with 180 days notice because already a new contract arrived on 12th December 2024. That's why the current contract we don't see a version/update or Amendment. You only see "This agreement is effective as of 2024-08-22" which means the date of celebration of contract and not followed by contract amendment/update.

They sell you the idea of an update but its always a new contract.

I just ask for some legal opinions (good to have family with knowledge of law) between judge and lawyers all of them point out to "breach of contract". They not just change the value structure of copyright works as it is impossible to opt out in 180 days when a "New Contract" starts at 15th January. In other words not possible to comply 6 months of notice when they give 1 month to accept what they call it an "Contract update".

So if you do not accept it you don't have to give 180 days.
You can delete all your work from today till 14th of January without the need of writing to them since "Breach of contract" was announced by them.

jamesbenet · « **Reply #37 on:** December 11, 2024, 19:52 »

Merry Christmas, you now have been Pawnd5! Shutterstock truly has destroyed this site as well. Sales down, and now commissions down.

AI is becoming so good now that stock producers will not have a viable business in the near future. I am no longer optimistic about producing new content. Video AI will also replace many video productions, we are really doomed unless people crave and demand real content made by humans. Sadly it will be a niche minority.

Happy Holidays everyone, hope things get better!

cobalt · « **Reply #38 on:** December 11, 2024, 20:27 »

Have you tried creating content with ai?

I have been doing it for 2 years for stock and 4 years for fun and the amount of crappy horrible content I see every day is unbelievable.

Progress is very incremental. And if the ai cannot get it right for photos, how does it work for video?

Most importantly I see zero intelligence in the "ai".

There is a lot of exaggerated hype around these tools. They are useful, but the time to learn about them is much harder than learning how to use a camera.

Just my opinion, but I believe the best way to make money in stock is to look for what is missing and what customers need.

And an ai cannot tell you that, you have to do your own research.

As long as there are so many gigantic gaps in all collections, there is money to be made.

Ambu · « **Reply #39 on:** December 12, 2024, 02:16 »

Instead of increasing sales/promoting content, what Shutterstock is doing from last 4 years is just falling behind contributors share of earnings to increase their revenue...

cobalt · « **Reply #40 on:** December 12, 2024, 03:40 »

It is an easy money grab. And they might even delete pond5 the brand and merge all their different agencies including envato and bigstock into one place.

But even if they buy several more agencies unless they learn to make the customers happy, their client base will keep shrinking. They admit openly in their reports how they are losing clients even though they keep buying customer contracts.

I always wonder, if they had invested all that money into the original shutterstock, without changing anything - where would they stand now?

They had such an incredible team of talented people who all understood that the producers uploading are often also designers and buyers and will obviously recommend their favorite agency to new customers.

The only thing really amazing is the whining of sometimes large scale producers who are acting surprised at what everyone knew was coming for years.

If you need the money and run stock as a business...how could so many people ignore reality and not prepare?

Talk about living in a fantasy world.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #41 on:** December 12, 2024, 03:42 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 11, 2024, 20:27

Have you tried creating content with ai?

I have been doing it for 2 years for stock and 4 years for fun and the amount of crappy horrible content I see every day is unbelievable.

Progress is very incremental. And if the ai cannot get it right for photos, how does it work for video?

Most importantly I see zero intelligence in the "ai".

There is a lot of exaggerated hype around these tools. They are useful, but the time to learn about them is much harder than learning how to use a camera.

Just my opinion, but I believe the best way to make money in stock is to look for what is missing and what customers need.

And an ai cannot tell you that, you have to do your own research.

As long as there are so many gigantic gaps in all collections, there is money to be made.

I watched a few videos created by AI and uploaded to Adobe. In my opinion, most of them are not realistic, fairy-tale-like and closer to computer animation than to real video. I am sure that AI is not my competitor at the moment. I can create different videos faster and fill my niches. Many of the things I shoot, no one will even try to do with AI.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #42 on:** December 12, 2024, 03:43 »

The only thing that worries me is the dismissal of people from the support pond5. No one answers my questions now.

cobalt · « **Reply #43 on:** December 12, 2024, 03:53 »

Agree, ai video is most useful for conceptual and imaginary content, not as a competition to photorealistic. Maybe in a few years, but as long as photo ai has so many problems, video ai cannot work.

However there is also a market for fantasy content and i am sure some early adopters are already making a killing right now.

But for me it is much easier to just do normal videos. The video market has very little content there is hardly any competition in so many areas.

Ambu · « **Reply #44 on:** December 12, 2024, 08:23 »

https://www.news18.com/world/justifiable-homicide-donations-pour-in-for-luigi-mangione-after-unitedhealthcare-ceos-murder-9153833.html

I will donate my one months microstock earnings from all agencies... if anyone do same with greedy Shutterstock Management...

mike123 · « **Reply #45 on:** December 12, 2024, 10:41 »

Quote from: Ambu on December 12, 2024, 08:23

https://www.news18.com/world/justifiable-homicide-donations-pour-in-for-luigi-mangione-after-unitedhealthcare-ceos-murder-9153833.html

I will donate my one months microstock earnings from all agencies... if anyone do same with greedy Shutterstock Management...

We need a "-1" button

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #46 on:** December 12, 2024, 12:59 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on December 12, 2024, 03:43

The only thing that worries me is the dismissal of people from the support pond5. No one answers my questions now.

See the other thread where I answered your claims. No need to post this over and over.

Quote from: mike123 on December 12, 2024, 10:41

We need a "-1" button

You have my support on that.

Bring back the fun.

There was a - vote, way back, but it was just silly sometimes, as someone would post, "Hey, it's Monday" and if they were an unpopular member, they would get -25 in an hour. Leaf removed it, I believe, to make things a little less contentious and adversarial.

But I miss it, even if people disagree with me, I recognize and support their opinions and rights.

Too bad Ambu left, they had some good points about P5

Evaristo tenscadisto · « **Reply #47 on:** December 12, 2024, 13:07 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 11, 2024, 19:30

Quote from: stocker2011 on December 11, 2024, 16:15
Quote from: cobalt 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?

Do you know what the % of dataset earnings were before the announcement?

Assuming it was 40%/60% respectively

so for exclusive content the drop is even larger

The drop is 20% for non-exclusive and 40% for Exclusive.
Basically P5/SSTK is getting 80% of all accounts for dataset earnings starting 15th January.

I've just done the math and this will be a cut nearly 50% of total income/year for long term contributors with large portfolios.
Let's keep in mind that larger is a portfolio where more a contributor will make from dataset earnings.

The best part: it is contributor who makes content/upload/metadata and they cut is 80% for already curator work done + expenses
and the justification....
"Given their restricted use rights and narrow license scope, Dataset Earnings will now earn 20%.".
In other words ...because Ai is making a lot of money we want 80% cut and doing nothing for what we already done before.

The real question that i am thinking of... who SSTK is buying 2025?

cobalt · « **Reply #48 on:** December 12, 2024, 13:30 »

Well, they cannot buy Adobe or Getty...so...these choices will stay.

Maybe Deposit? Dreamstime?

Alamy?? Has lots of editorial...

Yes, for the exclusives the drop will be around 50%.

I think it will be interesting to see how many will now move back to Adobe...after pulling all content from there in 2020....

Evaristo tenscadisto · « **Reply #49 on:** December 12, 2024, 13:53 »

Well... Alamy makes a lot of sense to me since they already act as a P5 distributor in order to extend their video offering.
Let's wait and see

PCDMedia · « **Reply #50 on:** December 12, 2024, 14:55 »

Quote from: Evaristo tenscadisto on December 12, 2024, 13:53

Well... Alamy makes a lot of sense to me since they already act as a P5 distributor in order to extend their video offering.
Let's wait and see

I've been on Alamy a long time - my early image submissions burned onto CDs had to be mailed to their offices in UK.

Alamy currently does not accept video submissions from their own contributors. They've told us that they intended to open video submissions to their contributors more than once in last few years - but it's not happened.

Their video content is all from distributors/partners.

wollwerth · « **Reply #51 on:** December 12, 2024, 20:36 »

Quote from: PCDMedia on December 12, 2024, 14:55

Quote from: Evaristo tenscadisto on December 12, 2024, 13:53
Well... Alamy makes a lot of sense to me since they already act as a P5 distributor in order to extend their video offering.
Let's wait and see

I've been on Alamy a long time - my early image submissions burned onto CDs had to be mailed to their offices in UK.

Alamy currently does not accept video submissions from their own contributors. They've told us that they intended to open video submissions to their contributors more than once in last few years - but it's not happened.

Their video content is all from distributors/partners.

If they were smart they'd open it up to video. Seems that now is the perfect time.

ADH · « **Reply #52 on:** December 15, 2024, 05:52 »

POND 5 has been dead for a while anyway, who cares what SS does to a dead body

Mantis · « **Reply #53 on:** December 15, 2024, 08:39 »

Quote from: ADH on December 15, 2024, 05:52

POND 5 has been dead for a while anyway, who cares what SS does to a dead body

I agree, too, based on my lack of sales. As I've mentioned before, in January 2024 my sales nearly literally stopped. My biggest earning has been the dataset. Month over month zero sales. Previously I would get 3-7 video sales a month. I think I have about 6 for the whole year, several of which are for a net royalty of $2.

stocker2011 · « **Reply #54 on:** December 15, 2024, 17:24 »

Quote from: Mantis on December 15, 2024, 08:39

Quote from: ADH on December 15, 2024, 05:52
POND 5 has been dead for a while anyway, who cares what SS does to a dead body

I agree, too, based on my lack of sales. As I've mentioned before, in January 2024 my sales nearly literally stopped. My biggest earning has been the dataset. Month over month zero sales. Previously I would get 3-7 video sales a month. I think I have about 6 for the whole year, several of which are for a net royalty of $2.

Pretty much the same for me as well.

It's crazy how it can go from multiple sales to zero so quickly. I wonder what happened, and yes this trend began before the SS buyout. Maybe they had no more funds for marketing and promotion when competing with AS iS and SS.

dragonblade · « **Reply #55 on:** December 15, 2024, 20:12 »

Quote from: stocker2011 on December 15, 2024, 17:24

It's crazy how it can go from multiple sales to zero so quickly. I wonder what happened, and yes this trend began before the SS buyout. Maybe they had no more funds for marketing and promotion when competing with AS iS and SS.

P5 showed great potential in the early days of me joining. But sales dropped like a rock as soon as I moved my videos over to my new exclusive account. And that was before the SS buyout. Not sure if that's a coincidence or not.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #56 on:** December 15, 2024, 20:22 »

I read somewhere (I think on one of Alex Rotenburgh's interview blog posts) that someone had noted Pond5 sales collapsed sometime during 2019. I hadn't started there until around December 2019 so never knew what it was like before then.

Since then, Pond5 has never been a great seller but I certainly had more sales with a smaller port even up to as far as this year in May 2024. But now as Shutterstock's management objectives are beginning to work their magic, sales have plummeted.

They don't even hide their contempt for contributors now, except to add in a line about 'commitment to supporting our artists' and 'earning potential for our contributors', they would of dropped royalties to 10%. I suppose 30% is still not bad really in today's market. But the bigger insult by far is to exclusive contributors.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #57 on:** December 21, 2024, 13:34 »

Quote from: ADH on December 15, 2024, 05:52

POND 5 has been dead for a while anyway, who cares what SS does to a dead body

Abuse of a corpse is still an offense.

BT1976 · « **Reply #58 on:** December 21, 2024, 14:50 »

I still can't understand the pond5 pricing system. One of the last 2 videos sold was 4k, the other was HD.

The price I found appropriate for 4K was $50. But it was sold for $16. I was also paid a $6.40 commission. For HD video, I set the price I found appropriate as $25. It was sold for $22.50. And I was paid a $8.97 commission.

In my participant portal, I set the video price as $50, but if I want to buy it, it appears as $16. So why do I set my own prices for videos?

I set a price of $89 for 4k and $49 for HD for all the videos I recently uploaded. But on the video purchase screen, it appears as $60 for 4K and $48 for HD.

I am a participant from Turkey. And I open the purchase screen with a Turkish IP. Could it be that the purchase prices change automatically depending on the country?

A city under the stars HD $22.42 Global Market Earnings $22.42 $8.97

A time lapse close up of a half moon moving across the black dark night sky. 4K $16 Individual License 20240102 $16 $6.40

PCDMedia · « **Reply #59 on:** December 21, 2024, 15:08 »

Quote from: BT1976 on December 21, 2024, 14:50

I am a participant from Turkey. And I open the purchase screen with a Turkish IP. Could it be that the purchase prices change automatically depending on the country?

Yes - the prices shown are based on country.

Evaristo tenscadisto · « **Reply #60 on:** December 21, 2024, 15:13 »

Quote from: BT1976 on December 21, 2024, 14:50

I still can't understand the pond5 pricing system. One of the last 2 videos sold was 4k, the other was HD.

The price I found appropriate for 4K was $50. But it was sold for $16. I was also paid a $6.40 commission. For HD video, I set the price I found appropriate as $25. It was sold for $22.50. And I was paid a $8.97 commission.

In my participant portal, I set the video price as $50, but if I want to buy it, it appears as $16. So why do I set my own prices for videos?

I set a price of $89 for 4k and $49 for HD for all the videos I recently uploaded. But on the video purchase screen, it appears as $60 for 4K and $48 for HD.

I am a participant from Turkey. And I open the purchase screen with a Turkish IP. Could it be that the purchase prices change automatically depending on the country?

A city under the stars HD $22.42 Global Market Earnings $22.42 $8.97

A time lapse close up of a half moon moving across the black dark night sky. 4K $16 Individual License 20240102 $16 $6.40

well.... since August 2024 they can price whatever they want. Read contract agreement "we will have sole discretion to adjust the price of any Content to (A) maximize your overall revenue performance, (B) align with our tiered pricing model, or (C) comply with our minimum pricing guidelines;"

So you can set a price BUT it's only a suggestion, as they say... " Video pricing on Pond5 is dynamic and may change over time. When submitting prices, please provide suggestions to help us determine the optimal list price for your clips".

stoker2014 · « **Reply #61 on:** December 22, 2024, 04:02 »

Quote from: BT1976 on December 21, 2024, 14:50

I am a participant from Turkey. And I open the purchase screen with a Turkish IP. Could it be that the purchase prices change automatically depending on the country?

If someone opens your clip from Germany, they will see a different price.

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