How 123RF trained their AI tools? They need millions of files to train their AI tools?
If they used contributors files to train their tools, anyone received any amount for using files to train their AI?

I have illustrations that uploaded 5 months back still under review. They don't care about contributors, only focusing on their AI tools.

Anyone getting video sales from there. I am thinking to delete 2000+ videos from there.

They DO NOT pay for using your files for AI.  Contributors had to agree to new terms late last year. The terms were essentially 'we are going to use your content to train AI and you have no choice other than to leave the platform'.  So I left.  I made about $3 a month with 6K images and videos. I wasn't about to not make any money and ALSO allow them to exploit my content, so I left. In fact, I manually deleted all of my images and videos before closing my account.  I had some email exchanges with a rather rude and arrogant individual there, so I didn't trust them to "delete my images", so I did it myself. 

Scum bag agency.
 

This isn't fake.  I had several exchanges with SS. Here is their last email to me.  Basically telling me they aren't a bank, so pull your money out ASAP before we snatch it away ind give it to the GOVERNMENT as unclaimed money.

Thanks for reaching back.

US business law requires us to issue payments to contributors as long as it is feasible for them to receive them, Shutterstock cannot hold on to accrued earnings indefinitely as we are not a bank, we are an entity that produces earnings for contributors and we are obligated to pay those earnings out. So our goal was simply to remind contributors who have accrued earnings that we need them to take additional steps if necessary to ensure they receive them in the next payout cycle.

If you fall under any of the following scenarios you can disregard the message, otherwise, please consider finding a way to get paid:
If your account is disabled: this message was sent due to an error in our mailing system inaccurately determining it was still active.
If you recently received a payout: this message was sent due to a mistake in the system which did not recognize the recent payment or used outdated information.
If you are from the Russian Federation: you should not have received that communication. We are aware that as an artist who resides in Russia or Belarus, your options for receiving payments are extremely limited at this time. Your earnings can continue to accrue with Shutterstock until viable options for receiving payment from Shutterstock become available in your country
We apologize for any confusion our original communication may have caused and appreciate your understanding.

Regards
Royber,
Shutterstock Contributor Care Team

I think it's from Bigstock and the tax form has expired.
It's says:
Thank you,
The Bigstock team

Mine does not cite bigstock.  I have been gone from there for years.

Mine said to cash out your money

Hi Shutterstock Artist,

You have earnings in your account! If this amount is not claimed ASAP, your unclaimed earnings are at risk of being transferred to the appropriate US tax authorities in the state of the home address we have on file.

Take a moment to log in and collect the money you have earned! Here are some possible reasons why you have not received them:

Missing tax form:To receive payments, all contributors must have an approved tax form on file. If you have not submitted one, or your old one has expired, simply go to the Tax Center and follow the simple instructions to submit a new form. It�s easy to submit a W-9 electronic tax form, and these forms are reviewed and approved almost instantly!

Payout settings: Ensure you have a valid electronic payment account linked in your settings . We issue payments via PayPal, Skrill, and Payoneer.

Minimum payment threshold: Ensure that your minimum payout limit is not higher than your unpaid earnings amount.


Once again, please take action on this ASAP.

Once you have all the required information and settings in place, just sit back and relax - your payment will be issued in the next payout cycle by the 15th of the month.

Contact our support team if you have any questions; we�ll gladly assist you!

Recently I've been uploading regularly to P5 but they are breaking new records in how often I don't even reach the payment threshold.

Back in the days I used to earn hundreds of dollars every month and now my last payment of only around $50 was way back in July.

P5 is just going down hill for me.

Same here. I make more on literally every other site I'm on, even DT and DP.  For the year I am at $38 on P5.  I'm usually in the 1200-1500 keepable range.

Hmm. Nice.

For me - not sure what happened... Last year - was consistently doing well - so uploaded a set of about 1,000 new videos. Sales tanked by about 90% almost overnight to my utter shock, and for probably 6-7 months really didn't do that well. I asked the staff - and just got a stock reply basically saying 'hmm. oh well'. I was very sad.

Slowly it seems to be growing again. I hope I see the same kinds of results you have soon, because that is very nice.

Congratulations.

Same here. Zero recovery.    I maybe have had 5 sales all year.  Last year I got that every month.  In January, I stopped getting sales. Canned response from P5.  They are now my lowest performer, below DP.

I�m left in the dirt. Each year I clear about $1500. This year to date I�m at $145. Trajectory is $290.  Something changed when SS bought them. I know there are swings in any business, but this pattern is repeatable for almost seven months.  I think that�s enough to conclude that P5 is now dead for me, like RF 123 was.

It doesn�t seem to matter that they can price my content for peanuts, even then I�m not getting any sales�..and the few times I do they are image sales not vids.

Very dissappointing.

Dear Exclusive Artist,

This July, we will begin a short-term test on new price tiers for HD and 4K clips to simplify purchasing and appeal to buyers with frequent licensing needs.

We continually test and improve our marketplace to offer buyers the best possible experience and drive increased content licensing. These include pricing tests, which have historically excluded your Exclusive content. However, to see the full effects of this change, we feel that it�s critical to include Exclusive content in this experiment.

One of our primary missions at Pond5 is to help our artists thrive. Our success is dependent on your success. As the royalty-free stock licensing market changes, more competitors emerge, including several offering unlimited subscriptions at low prices. We must consider adjusting our pricing model to meet the needs of today�s buyers.

You are not required to take any action, and we will keep you informed of any long-term changes planned as a result of this test. If you have any questions, please don�t hesitate to contact our Support team at [email protected].

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

The Shutterstock influence. We all knew something that would devalue our content was forthcoming the day we learned that SS bought them.  And what they are testing is a cheap-ass sub model.  Get ready for $2 royalties.

I have a portfolio I think of a few thousand assets there (both video & pictures), and strangely enough don't really see any sales there (haven't the last couple years). Not sure what is going on there end, not sure if anyone is earning anything significantly there, but seems to be a bit of a waste of time...

I also had about 4k images and 1200 videos and got really no sales. I reached out to them to try to find out what was going on and their response was tantamount to if you don't like it we can close your account. So over a period of several weeks I deleted each asset myself then closed my account.  Since they were using our assets to train AI without even informing us, and I had really about $3 a month in sales, I ended my time there with a closing email filled with facts and fks. Made me feel better:)

Quote from: bennu99 on January 26, 2024, 12:44

They gotta start caring about us creators if they want us to stick around.

Rolling out 10c subs and resetting levels annually were strong indicators that they don't care. Things can only get worse.

WRONG: See edits below

Rolling out 10c subs and resetting levels annually were strong indicators that they don't care. Things can will only get worse.
[/quote]

So far this month in January 2024.  This is sad.  It's on pace for only 1/2 the January 2023 sales.  Shutterstock used to be the King.  Whatever gone wrong there. 
Shutterstock used to pay us $0.38 minimum for subscription sale like Adobe Stock does.  Since they introduced wonderful $0.10 photo sub commission, contributor enthusiasm seem eroded.  Probably Shutterstock nowadays doesn't get as many quality photos or videos as Adobe Stock does.  They still own Pond5 now.  So, they get the best stock videos on Pond5.  But for the photos, Adobe Stock is the King now, no question.  They totally had a wrong approach toward contributors belittling us while Adobe Stock is trying to work with us.  Big mistake.

Same with me.  VERY LOW SALES. But we still have 11 months to go:)

The best way to submit to this company without worrying about keywords or description-- NOT SUBMIT at all. Another bottom feeder that doesn't deserve our art at all!

Agree 100%. If you don't want your images used to train AI yank them. They are doing that without compensation of any kind.  Their response to me was tough s h ! t, if you don't like it close your account.  That, and for a couple of other reasons, I did just that.  Since I don't trust them one bit, I deleted my portfolio (~6,000 assets) myself. Then closed the account. They kept my $30.