I would be in for a 100$ too.  I think its a small cost for the unethical nature of this deal.

I'm been pretty confused with the developments.

First sent message to Fotolia to remove my port from DPC.
Meanwhile found button under My Account - My Dashboard and de-listed myself.
Shortly after found that the DPC button had disappeared from My Dashboard.
Re-found the button under My Profile - Contributor Parameters.
It now reads "Don't Sell My Files on DPC".
THIS IS IT - I'm opted out..

OR am I ?

Went to DPC site - found one of my images there.  Clicked on it (as if to download) - but it doesn't seem to pull up for download.

Hopefully I'm opted out

Thanks much everyone who made all the clear posts on this site.

And done!

Good luck with the project

Exactly the same in my case !!!  My images were not showing/ selling on Shotshop (or so I thought). But entered the DP image number and voila there they are on sale at Shotshop.   

I deactivated a pretty good part of my portfolio from DP already and this motivates me to deactivate more� Also am sending DP yet another email on the issue.

This is outright and blatant misuse that cannot be legally correct.  Its even surprising that a group of contributors have not brought a lawsuit yet.

FT saved the month for me with some good sales. PD positive to last year.  Disappointers included SS (flat/ small decrease from last year - and DT with about −15% decrease from last year despite 450 to 500 range new images added).  Bigstock came in about half of last year which lays to rest the idea of getting more in  sales at lower prices - it ain't happening for me and I stopped uploading new content there some months back - pity because before this debacle they could at least muster up a better RPD.  123RF and Canstock also among my decliners this month.  Small contributions from GL and Pond5 (new account). Have reduced content on iStock and that impacts sales there.  Deposit came in with some miserable performance, no doubt showing the burden of my opt out from their partnerships and deactivation of content - doesn't matter as it wasn't much sales to begin with and anyway looks like I'm on an exit road from there due agency trust issues ... 

Am opting out of most distribution deals after the DP experience - I think its important for better control of my port - the opt outs now include Bigstock, 123RF, Alamy.  Veer sales are tiny most recent months and I may close account there esp. as they wont allow opt out from partnerships, as I understand.

Symbiostock is likely to be my next big stop - soon as I find time to explore setting up a site there

Checked Shotshop and couple other DP partner/ reseller sites at random and did not find my DP content back on these sites.  Have already deactivated a good part of my DP port.  But will need to continue random checking in future also.    I understand that they even keep full res copies of deactivated files - why!!

Finding that my trust with this agency is at an all time ZERO.

Found some of my images there too. I haven't uploaded to Veer in a longish while already, and may well close account soon - no big loss as sales have been phenomenally sluggish on my Veer port since many months.

I'm more and more getting behind the idea of clean up and return to basics.  Simply applying the 80/ 20 ratio it just doesn't look worth it either for control of work nor the returns many of these sites generate. 

Have also marked April in my calendar as I understand that's when one can opt out of Alamy distribution partners ..

Great thread, thanks.

A clearly increasing trend in ODs and SODs at Shutterstock! 

In my mind it just reinforces SS's position as the industry leader with an improving capture rate, both in volume and in prices.

It also blows away a myth that so many other stock sites seem to be pursuing - dumping rates to sub type levels thinking that it will bring them market success.  That kind of strategy only devalues our work.  And generates less revenue both for the contributor and often for the agency itself (except perhaps 'cases' like DP- Shotshop!!).

Found my images on this site too.  It does not show my name/ copyright - and the wording of the image text seems similar to Canstock.

I'm increasingly uncomfortable with this vast dissemination of images with accompanying loss of control.  The DP-Shotshop issue is still fresh in mind and that only makes things feel much worse.

Need to figure out how to handle this whole issue of API/ resellers, partners etc. Its starting to feel like a dark and endless abyss.

 
[/quote]
Is Symbio an 'agency'?
[/quote]

Yes, the content creators own agency.

But this is not the real point. To me the real point is that honestly we, as photographer have what we deserve. Now DP is not the only agency that act unfairly, but is a small earner de facto. A lot of people are scared by Getty because in the end, there they get a lot of money. Their answer is that principle don't feed family and don't pay bills. What I think it's not important and I can get this point, but why DP is so important for a lot of people? Am I missing something? They assure you a lot of money? Really are you so desperate that need this absurd agency? If DP can do this and artists remain with them, then for sure agencies can do whatever they want because they understood that people don't care what happen to their files.
If you find that your accountant has stolen your money, are you happy if he returns a third of the amount? And you'll continue to hold him as your accountant?
What I'm missing why DP is so special?

Absolutely agree! 

Every single stock agency is built on Contributor support - we form the backbone of their business, and without our work there is nothing to sell.

We should stop contributing to any agency that acts in unfair or unethical manner or in a way that is against contributor interest. 

Its a powerful message and can change the dynamics of the business.

We should instead focus on agencies who firmly keep their contributors in mind, and who believe in fair trade and fair play - the future belongs to them and we should be part of that success!

Must a Symbiostock site be in an individuals' name (photographer) or can it be in a company name instead? (mainly for legal / tax handling reasons).