The best unified solution that is slowly gaining traction (and would benefit everyone quicker if all the professional yet disgruntled contributors hopped on) is Symzio.

For the first time there is a real option here - so don't keep complaining unless you've done everything you can to free yourself from the yoke of agencies. You control most of your own pricing, control your entire collection, have two new independent platforms to sell your stuff, and most importantly, keep a minimum of 70% of all revenue up to 90%.

No one is going to hand you a solution - you need to work for it. No matter how many posts you put up, no matter how many angry retorts or insults you upvote, and no matter how many programs you opt out of, the only feasible way to create a noticeable impact is to compete.

Quote from: r2d2 on February 14, 2016, 03:11

Maybe thats one reason. Another could be that the veterans still earn enough money.
But whats your solution?
Only cry a loud about the good old times? 

"Only cry a loud about the good old times?"
I am not crying about the old good times� Not at all, never.
But I am not whimpering about the new [bad] times, like many here.

I am aware that the system is not the best today (if any "best" system could exist), but we live longer, we live better (and we lament more and more).

The problem is not a problem of changing prices on Shutterstock's ELs� This is a false problem, or only a very very little part of it.
The problem is too complex to be limited only to Shutterstock's ELs.
This is part of the result of how we have built our whole society. We are part of it, we are responsible of it. Constantly whining is just weakness and hypocrisy.
The problem is a general problem of society. A society based on exploitation of the most for the profit of the less.
The problem is a priority of values in life. (What is really important in life, what we really want in life?)

Money (and their possessors) rules the world, banks rule the world. All is done in the name of God Money�
If you really want to change things, change the system, the whole system�
There is could be a way: make the system to fail, theoretically it is very simple: make the banks fail and the whole system will collapse. Are you ready for this? How many people are ready for it?
If you are, do it. If you are not you can continue to whimper, you will change nothing at all (and fill more depressed).
But, in my opinion, this is another battle against windmills because you cannot fight and win against human nature (that is to be courageous in speech and coward in act).

Quote from: Rinderart on February 13, 2016, 20:28

Quote from: sharpshot on February 13, 2016, 07:04

I'm bored of complaining, until we all get together and run our own site or buy a majority share in one of the sites, what can we do about it?  Or we could all just use the few sites that pay 50% but that never happens.  This is all our own fault, I'm sure we could be much better off but the vast majority of contributors still don't care.

CORRECT...The "VAST" majority. and I would be safe to say the "VAST" majority don't even know about the new License or care. Thats the sad part. Just us 50/100/200 that think were gonna change something. I don't think so guys. Opt out of everything. they don't care.

+1

I have told this many times, but here some people think that they are the center of the world and that everything they say or think is holy word���

Quote from: Freepik on February 02, 2016, 09:38

Hello again everyone,

Justanotherphotographer, we do not do this anymore. However, there are resources that are still indexed, like the examples that you have indicated and we have already erased.

We take seriously every copyright infringement and we invest a lot of money in creating our own content. Therefore, whenever we detect plagiarism, we take measures immediatly removing the content and correcting our working methods, but it is inevitable that some case go unnoticed.

Shelma, I can ensure you that we never ask for replicas from Shutterstock and whenever we have detected a plagiarism of any sort, we have immediately terminated the contract with the designer as we do not tolerate these actions. We work with many authors and one of our core values is to respect the work of designers. Those working exclusively for us know how we are react in terms of copies.

As for the contributors, there are more and more people interested in our system. Having your illustrations in Freepik doesnt mean that the sales of your images in other banks decrease but, in fact, it is a way to monetize files for which a designer was no longer generating any income in other platforms. Designers like you have tried it and they are very satisfied.

Really, we'd love to have your collaboration. We would like you to give us a chance, get to know us, as now you know how much we strive to make your work be respected by others.

We pay to all contributors $5 for every 1000 downloads. We know that this is a new business model, but It's just another way to earn money with your illustrations and you can try it when you want (Please mail us to marketing(at)freepik.com)

And the most important. We want that you know that we take seriously every copyright infringement. Therefore, whenever we detect plagiarism, we take measures immediatly removing the content and correcting our working methods, but it is inevitable that some case go unnoticed. This happens in all banks and, in fact, we sometimes are also victims of plagiarism.

Shelma, if you need we can talk by Hangout or Skype but, if not, we will leave this matter to our lawyers, because publishing false accusations is an illegal act.

Thanks so much and we keep in touch for everything you need

who writes these stupid announcements? 10 percent the crooks.

unless you get 30% of the contributors on board including some top contributors, we will not make a difference. thats not being negative, thats being realistic. the factories wont join in, they have a responsibility to pay people on their payroll. we have also seen when yuri left, taking 110k images and millions in dollars, ss just let him go without blinking. why do you think ss limited the amount of images you can delete at 1 time? because theyve learned from istock dday and the dpc revolt. they knew al along they were going to cut royalties, and more will come. we will see a drop in royalties until this business becomes unsustainable for the amateurs. and only then, when the microstock business defaults, we will see a change. but that will be a long way from now, look at getty, they keep dragging themselves along when they have been broke for years now. the bubble will burst, but dont hold your breath

Quote from: Shelma1 on February 02, 2016, 21:55

There always have been and always will be a certain percentage of people who don't care, can't be bothered, think nothing can make a difference, cross picket lines, etc.

Yet unions do form and people do protest and change does happen.

I'm all for unions.  They are effective if you can get the majority of workers to join, pay dues, and support collective bargaining.  Do we have a union representing us? Negotiating with top management on our behalf?  Where do I send my dues payment?

No??  Then this is just another shitstorm (good word Elena).

We are an intelligent bunch of people, it would not take much to setup a dedicated independent central body we all subscribe to that looks after our rights and acts as a central go between, between contributors and resellers.

Microstockgroup is half way there is terms of popular and independent.

Another poll, would you pay $10 a year to subscribe to a independent agency that looks after the rights on microstock contributors?

10k people join = $100,000 revenue to run it. Its pretty simple stuff.
100k people join = �1m a year to run it
that's 100k people with one voice, that's powerful.

I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can beat them just for one day
We can be heroes just for one day

Quote from: r2d2 on December 18, 2015, 04:06

Quote

Envato is responsible for determining, collecting and remitting VAT for all Envato Market purchases from EU buyers.

Quote

Envato will report the VAT collection and remittance to the relevant EU member state authorities using our EU MOSS VAT registration.

sounds good but then:

Quote

For clarity, EU VAT is not reported in the author�s name, and we do not require author VAT registration numbers or details.

From:
https://help.market.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/204416900?_ga=1.81029911.1024980761.1450428179

I dont know if it is possible/legal and the contributor not having to pay more VAT in his own name.
What do youb think is that legal for european contributors?

So all of this would affect me only if the contract was a direct contract between me and the end customer. For example, when I sell things on Ebay, they are just offering the platform but the sale is still between me and the customer. So I have to care about VAT requirements.