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Newbie Discussion / Re: iStock Exclusive Loophole
« on: June 10, 2015, 23:29 »
Wow this has certainly been a very spirited debate! While my question was dealing primarily with the legal end i was just and interested at hearing the ethical discussions that would ensue. I really appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts concerning both issues
iStock exclusivity has really been a double edged sword. When I went exclusive iStock promised a great royalty rate, marketing and better protection for my work. Back in the Bruce Livingstone days, they made good on the promise. I had 45% royalty rate, my work was posted all over the place and getting lots of views and iStock even chased down copyright infringers working up a very sizable settlement for me at times. Now however my royalty rate has dropped to 30%, iStock's marketing power and visibility has dropped significantly (see alexa.com) and iStock won't even follow up on my infringers.
I want to leave but the exclusive royalty rate is the thing keeping me. I'm the only one in my house that's working and I have a family to support. Losing exclusivity with nothing to immediately supplement it would be taking food out of mouths. Also afraid that if I was brave enough to drop exclusive and come back that my work would lose it's priority in searches on iStock and Getty. I was merely wanting to explore ideas that would minimize immediate financial risk test the waters legally so I can ween myself from iStock exclusivity.
iStock exclusivity has really been a double edged sword. When I went exclusive iStock promised a great royalty rate, marketing and better protection for my work. Back in the Bruce Livingstone days, they made good on the promise. I had 45% royalty rate, my work was posted all over the place and getting lots of views and iStock even chased down copyright infringers working up a very sizable settlement for me at times. Now however my royalty rate has dropped to 30%, iStock's marketing power and visibility has dropped significantly (see alexa.com) and iStock won't even follow up on my infringers.
I want to leave but the exclusive royalty rate is the thing keeping me. I'm the only one in my house that's working and I have a family to support. Losing exclusivity with nothing to immediately supplement it would be taking food out of mouths. Also afraid that if I was brave enough to drop exclusive and come back that my work would lose it's priority in searches on iStock and Getty. I was merely wanting to explore ideas that would minimize immediate financial risk test the waters legally so I can ween myself from iStock exclusivity.
