I don't sell much on CC so I don't check my stats there often. I recently noticed that one of my images was sold in size "Vector". I don't submit vectors - only JPEGs so I'm not sure what to make of this.

The email said that Getty is closing Photolibrary and that Zoonar's Photolibrary collection are going to TS, Photos.com and Jupiter. Nothing in the email says it's limited to RF only. I've seen nothing from Photolibrary itself as to where images will be going within the Getty structure.

Note: I fixed the title to be more clear. OK I tried to modify the title but it didn't take.

What really sucks is there is no way to remove Photolibrary from the list. Zoonar lets you pick which partners you want to work with but if you change your mind you have to go one by one through your whole portfolio to change the options. There is no way to cancel the partner agreement. I just closed my account as I've never had a sale there in 2 years.

I just feel for those who are staying with IS. Their images on Thinkstock won't get seen anymore than they are on IS because Getty is importing images from various other sources to Thinkstock.

I received an email from Zoonar, who sublicenses to Photolibrary. Getty has purchased Photolibrary and will be distributing the images through Thinkstock. I'm now researching how to remove my images from photolibrary.

I'm about even with last month this far and a little higher than Sept last year. At least it's going the right direction.

Quote

So Yuri and Lisa's images will be listed as "low priced" and put on Thinkstock/photos.com while lower quality/less sellable images will be moved to Getty because they are owned by exclusives. (Note: Not all exclusives have low quality images the point is simply that work is not automatically better simply based on the exclusivity of the artist even though that is the defining line according to Getty/Istock.)

Yuri already has 24,000 images on Thinkstock.  I doubt this will affect him.

It will when they decide to move instead of mirror the images later down the line. I really think that this is the end game plan. To have each site with a distinct market. It's not a bad idea until you see what they are using as the measuring stick.

From the IS Lawyer starting on page 23 of the ASA thread on IS.

Hello all. We've taken a look through the most common legal questions that have been asked and have prepared some responses which you will see below. We are going to do our best to respond to any follow up questions.

1. Mirroring/Moving Content

Non-exclusive ASA

3(c) Accepted Content may be included in one or more current or future content collections (�Collections�) made available for licensing or distribution by iStockphoto or third party distributors (each a �Distribution Partner�). iStockphoto will determine the Collection and may subsequently move and license Accepted Content through a Collection on notice to you either through the Site or otherwise. For Content that moves into another Collection, the royalties paid to you shall be as set out in the Rate Schedule (defined below).

That means that iStock can move or mirror your non-exclusive content � photo, video, illustration or flash� on other Getty Images/ Master Delegate sites. Upstream or Downstream.

Right now, as has been said here and in the article, the only plans are to mirror non-exclusive photos and illustrations at thinkstock.com and photos.com. If iStock decides to move or mirror your content in another collection on another site at anytime, we will let you know.

Exclusive ASA

3(c) Exclusive Content may be included in one or more current or future content collections (�Collections�) made available for licensing or distribution by iStockphoto or third party distributors (each a �Distribution Partner�). Your Exclusive Content may be made available for licensing through a lower price tier royalty-free Collection of a Distribution Partner only if you opt in to the �Partner Program� category or other applicable indicator under the preferences panel of your account profile on the Site. Unless otherwise provided for in the upload process or on the Site, your Exclusive Content may be made available for licensing through a similar or higher price tier Collection of a Distribution Partner as may be determined by iStockphoto from time to time upon notice to you either by posting notice on the Site or otherwise. The price tier of a Collection shall be determined by iStockphoto, acting reasonably, taking in to consideration the average comparable pricing on the Site. For all Exclusive Content that moves into another Collection, the royalties paid to you shall be as set out in the Rate Schedule (defined below). The price tier of a Collection shall be subject to promotions and varying discounts from time to time.

That means that:

1.   You will only be in the Partner Program if you opt-in � This is the same as always. We can never move or mirror your content downstream without your opting in.

2.    Unless there is some other indication in the upload process or on the iStock site, iStock can move or mirror your exclusive content � photo, video, illustration, flash � to a similar or higher priced collection.

3.   What does �Unless there is some other indication in the upload process or on the iStock site� mean? You know how we have an opt-in for Vetta and Agency? That is � some other indication on the site�. The default is that we can move content upstream but we can also impose some �rules� on iStock that require you to opt-in.

Right now, as JJ mentioned, the ONLY exclusive files that will be moved or mirrored are the Exclusive Video files, which will be mirrored on gettyimages.com. Vetta and Agency will continue to be collections that you need to opt-in to.

There are no plans to move any content to punchstock or Jupiter Images. Those sites were given as an example of what a �similar or higher price tier Collection� might be.

As JJ has said, there are no other plans to move exclusive content. If those plans ever change, we will always give you notice of the move/mirroring of content.

So, why don�t we just limit the agreement to exclusive video files?

The language in the Agreement allows for flexibility. Even though, as JJ has said, there are no plans at this time to move any other exclusive content we would like to not have to change this Agreement for a long, long time. So it was drafted to allow for flexibility as the business changes.

To balance the flexibility that iStock has, we will always let you know what we are doing so that you can make a choice at that time whether it is right for you.

2. Agent vs. Distributor

Nothing nefarious was intended by the change of language. �Distributor � better reflects iStock�s actual role. All of our obligations to you, as always, are set out in the ASA. Nothing has changed in that regard.

3. Privacy Policy

�What is the purpose of 16(f)? What are the possible reasons for iStock handing out privacy data of contributor and models to anyone?�
Our privacy policy is pretty clear how we use personal information. Privacy Policy. We don�t sell your information or give it to a 3rd parties except as they may need it to provide a service for us or as specifically set out in the privacy policy.

But by way of example, here are some uses of contributor personal information: preparation of tax information slips, conducting of audits, data storage, sending emails to you regarding service updates or marketing information (if you are opted in).

4. Why can�t I keep uploading while I think about the changes?

Under the former ASA (and the new one) as soon as the new ASA was posted in the upload process, and you upload a file, you will have agreed to it. Unfortunately there is no way around that. Rather than surprise you with the �you have agreed�, we wanted to make sure that you knew what you were signing.

Even if you agree to the new ASA, you can always decide at a later date to terminate your relationship with us on 30 days notice.

Be sure to check your settings. It appears that with the new ASA rollout they have automatically checked the "opt-in to Partner Program" button for all contributors. So while your debating your images are already being "mirrored". http://www.istockphoto.com/collections_edit.php

If I read this correctly non exclusives have no ability to opt out of anything.  IS will use your images on partner sites, for promotional use and in APIs regardless of your opinions.

I've never been a fan of the contributor as inspector or LCV rejections. The thing I really hate are the new images a week after my rejection that are approved, taken by someone else, but with the same concepts/lighting/poses to the ones that  I took. There was a big blow up in the forums about rejections a few years back but my posts on the subject were deleted. For the record I didn't start the thread, I just asked what the difference was between my images and the ones that were approved.

I uploaded the same images in the beginning. A combination of Deposit rejecting my best sellers at SS and DT and my stopping uploading due to lack of sales has left Deposit with around 100 images less than SS and DT.

I've had 14 sales there in almost 2 years. They are no where near my top 4. I'm also not thrilled with this new VIP program. I came in just after they stopped paying for images. If I had known they had stopped I probably wouldn't have joined at all. I stopped uploading there and have been considering closing my account. Just haven't gotten around to it.