As a full-time contributor, I've been reflecting on this as well. While I'm still making a decent income this year, earnings have dropped nearly 50% compared to last year. Looking ahead, it's hard to justify the return on investment. The older I get, the more I value my time, and I'd rather spend it in ways that feel more worthwhile.

wishing you the best going forward

thank you - found a few of my videos. will report to shutterstock asap.

here's another one: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/VisuaLuxe_Studio/video

Quote from: blvdone on August 06, 2024, 03:24
You are pretty much safe from those thieves if you don't sell on unlimited download sites.  I'm 100% Pond5 exclusive.  So, I don't worry about thieves.

I don't sell on unlimited sites either, but still found four of my clips on shutterstock from those links yesterday.  So being exclusive may not be 100% safe either.  I also found some of my exclusive footage on YouTube last month being given away for free(unedited). .  Thank goodness YouTube is quick at closing down those people once you notify them via up violation form

and: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Anas+Zouhri/video

add this one too: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Tinytoons/video

found another one here with 1.6K videos music loops: https://www.youtube.com/@LoopsHouse

I sent a few takedown notice to youtube and waiting to see what happens.

That is amazing Mat, looking forward to get access to the beta program to try it out.

just noticed it also. Very weird to see it on the dashboard - don't think it's really a smart move from SS (and not sure if it's a very good placement of adds either)

Quote from: vectorsforall on August 17, 2021, 14:10
Here we go, Shitterstock team never stop the race to the bottom :
Neither they have not deleted the entire portfolio of the thief I have notified to them, but now he/she has put the files that they deleted again, and it's all online.
I've made again a DMCA notice with same dozens and dozens of duplicate files of my work because they did not delete his port.

And now in french (sorry):
J'en peux plus, je voudrais les avoir devant moi pour leur défoncer la gueule!!!!

je suis vraiment désolé Vectorsforall.

I've been spending my summer taking down those thieves ( I know, it's sad) and was 95% successful in doing so, but I was fortunate that none of them are on shutterstock website. I had a few with Adobe stock. pond5 and Envato Videohive and it was super easy to process via email, resulting in takedown and full account closure in 1-2 days (not a big fan in using DMCA forms - don't really like giving those thief's my personnel information). for Amazon, it was relatively easy, but wish they made it a bit easier by taking the infringement asset down across the whole amazon domain range (right now you need to file one IP infringement per country, amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.co.uk, etc.....).   the only one that I have problem with are torrent sites and some servers in china (only reason is because I can't write in Chinese to make a formal complain). for those 2 type, I usually ask for help from Adobe, pond5 or Envato (but never shuttertstock - they are useless). 

the only outstanding site that I'm trying to take down at the moment is one that posted large image dumps with "proof of purchase" screengrab from shutterstock (the thief's are using it to show proof they purchased it if someone ask for it).  I notified shutterstock about 1.5 month ago and still didn't get any results (only an acknowledgement they received my email).

I feel Shutterstock takes a huge percentage of income from my images and videos and I don't really get much protection from them.

Cheers everyone

Quote from: SVH on July 15, 2021, 14:50
I am having the same problem with another website that sells wallpaper. This company bought three photo's with a standard license and are selling the three photo's as wallpaper. I discovered it by change. Sometimes you have these websites where your photo is on but you clearly see the watermark of Adobe and then it's an API client of Adobe, I assume. But this website is clearly not.
I informed Adobe about it but they say it's apparently allowed (allthough the license rules clearly state it's not). Even after a second inquiry mail from my side, to ask if they are really sure, they repeated it's allowed and then on my third mail I did not get any response anymore. Either the Adobe employee did not look into the case properly, they don't care or it's allowed these days to buy a standard license and go commercially with the photo.

I also contacted the seller and they say that they didn't want to buy an extended license because that was to costly if it would not sell. So they bought the standard license instead. If they would make a sale then they would buy the extended license. But how can you ever check if they had a sale or not? And they also say that Adobe said it was all fine.

If that is really true then I don't think contributors to Adobe will ever have to expect royalties for an extended license anymore.

Hey SVH, sorry to hear that you are also struggling with this type of infringement.  it's possible that some of them are legit by using some type of API through adobe, but they usually keep the watermark on those image.

I just heard back from Adobe in regards to this amazon seller and they confirmed that Standard license does not allowed to resale derivative products, only the Enhanced and the Extended licenses do. In the case of printed products - I'm assuming the only option is extended licenses.

With a Standard license, you may not:
Create merchandise, templates, or other products for resale or distribution where the primary value of the product is associated with the asset itself. For example, you can't use the asset to create a poster, t-shirt, or coffee mug that someone would buy specifically because of the asset printed on it.

With an Extended license, you may:
Create merchandise or products for resale or distribution where the main value of the product is associated with the asset itself, such as a coffee mug or t-shirt.

I will be sending all this info to Adobe shortly via legal department and hopefully they can pursue and protect all the other contributor's artwork still available in that store.

I have seen a huge increase of my artwork on amazon this year from POD sellers. total of 398 different products ranging from wallpaper, skateboard art, carpets all the way to toilet seat covers.

I do not like doing this, but I have been reaching out to some of the sellers for clarity (will write a separate post on that later).

One as been vocal and willing to divulge information (after reporting it to amazon via infringement claim).He admitted using illustrations and photography from Adobe Stock and showed me proof of purchase. The license was just a standard one, so I politely explained the difference between standard and extended and he immediately apologized for his mistake.  he was really sincere and truly sorry for this mistake and agreed to take down or purchase the extended license of those images.

I was happy with the outcome (he took them all down), but was concerned about all the other contributors from Adobe and this forum. so, I asked him about the rest of his products (over 10,000) and he agree that he will review all of them this week and will buy the necessary extended license where necessary.

so please have a look at his store on amazon.com, amazon.ca, etc... (I noticed listing differs from different domains) and search his store with your most popular image title from adobe (he copy/paste the same title for his product listing on amazon):

https://www.amazon.com/s?me=AU350TTTVDFHT&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER

if you noticed some of your photos or illustrations in his store, please keep an eye out for extended sales.  Hopefully, that would mean he is keeping his word on cleaning up his store and that would make me happy that I converted him into an honest seller.

Cheers and stay safe everyone

just got an answer back from Envato.  looks like I'll have to submit a DMCA for some of the videos that belongs to me (don't think I can submit a DMCA on behalf of all the other illustrators).

Cheers

Thanks Video1977

I emailed Envato support team last night and will see what they say - they are usually very responsive with this type of complaint.

stay safe

I haven't seen any differences between SFTP and FTP on my side. Adobe as always been the slowest uploader of all stock sites I contribute (usually half of other FTP). I usually compress my video a little bit more (going from 2gig to ~600mb) or upload at night time.

I'm so sorry pfiverzv, I feel your pain.

I'm seeing the same thing on my account with Shutterstock and it's really depressing.  I'm still waiting for adobe to replace Shutterstock when it comes to video sales, but unfortunately this won't happen anytime soon.  I've been uploading a lot less video lately,  just can't justify the cost vs reward from it at those prices.

stay safe

Hello,

I hope this post finds everyone safe and healthy.

Sorry for this post - I'm new and don't know if I can post this here.

I found some of my work on VideoHive by another author but not sure if it's legal (derivative work), copyright infringement or just plain stolen?

He seems to be taking images from shutterstock, adobe and other agencies and overlaying video elements to make it a video asset. his account as been around since 2018 and made a lot of sales since (over 1,591 assets sold).

here is portfolio on VideoHive (MusicoLab ) : https://videohive.net/user/musicolab/portfolio?utf8=%E2%9C%93&order_by=sales


Modern web network and internet telecommunication from Oleksiy Mark
Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/modern-web-network-internet-telecommunication-technology-523968604
MusicoLab at videohive: https://videohive.net/item/server-room-network/22586603

Abstract futuristic infographic from WhiteMocca
Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/abstract-futuristic-infographic-visual-data-complexity-1165818856
MusicoLab at videohive: https://videohive.net/item/digital-data-world-news/22586428

Communication technology for internet business by greenbutterfly
Shutterstock: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/communication-technology-internet-business-global-world-1421446100
MusicoLab at videohive: https://videohive.net/item/communication-technology-world-network-background/28281920?s_rank=17

Abstract background. luminous swirl by Rybin Dmitriy
Adobe: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/images/abstract-background-luminous-swirl-elegant-glowing-circle-bright-spiral-glow-ribbon-empty-space-sparkling-particle-space-tunnel-glossy-orbit-colorful-ellipse-glint-galaxy-oval-stage/157909033?prev_url=detail
Musiclab at videohive:https://videohive.net/item/abstract-luminous-swirling/22931197] [url]https://videohive.net/item/abstract-luminous-swirling/22931197[/url]  and https://videohive.net/item/futuristic-background/22931565

Lamp of Wishes In The Desert from Romolo Tavani
Adobe: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/images/lamp-of-wishes-in-the-desert-genie-coming-out-of-the-bottle/104000720?prev_url=detail
Musiclab at videohive: https://videohive.net/item/lamp-in-the-desert/22063801?s_rank=2

Abstract Technological background by Spainter_vfx
Adobe: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/abstract-technological-background-made-different-element-712496005
Musiclab at videohive: https://videohive.net/item/tech-background/22008768?s_rank=44

demonic ugly face looking at you by Hektor2
Adobe: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/images/demonic-ugly-face-looking-at-you/31845952?prev_url=detail
Musiclab at videohive: https://videohive.net/item/evil/22586439

I know some of those designers and recognize their excellent work (purchased a few of them in the past), so it was easy to figure it out and find the assets back to shutterstock or adobe.  but for others, it's very hard to do reverse image search on google (because they are video assets).

if it is derivative work - would I assume that this is possible if author (MusicLab) purchased an extended license for resale? seems to be an expensive option and don't think he could recoup from it (even with so many sales).

Cheers

thank you very much for the info - glad to be part of the team