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Messages - ML Harris

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1
This looks to me like another sign that Getty is up against the wall with their debt.

2
Like Sean I also just uploaded a new batch today with no problems. Wondering if it has to do with your location? I'm West Coast US.

3
Thanks Mat,
I just watched the replay and got some great tips! Is there someplace where we can sign up to be notified of in advance of webinars? I can't find a place to subscribe to such notification on the contributor site.

Also I was wondering how we might lobby for a change to the witness signature requirement on releases. Getty/iStock & Pond5 don't have this requirement and Fotolia didn't. I recently left Getty and have thousands of images I want to submit to AS, but b/c many of the releases don't have witness signature I can't upload them to AS. Seems like a competitive disadvantage for AS to have this requirement. Really can't imagine that a release dispute will result in dragging in a witness to testify.

Thanks in advance for help on these 2 Qs!

ML

Thanks ML, you should be able to "follow" me on Crowdcast which I believe will then provide you with updates on new webinars: https://www.crowdcast.io/mhayward2909

We have a few planned and once I get the dates locked in I will be sure to post here in MSG also. Regarding the witness requirement on releases, yes I will bring this up again with our legal team.

Best regards,

Mat Hayward

Great! I just followed you on Crowdcast. I think the MR issue is very significant for AS as it discourages folks with content from other agencies from joining. Anything that makes it more difficult for contributors and their collaborators is a disincentive. Plus, if AS were willing to match the Getty/iStock policy, it would give them an advantage over SS who still require witness for all releases. Finally, in addition to my (former) Getty collection, I often photograph people solo and sometimes in remote places, where there is no ready witness, so the need to have one can be a significant hurdle. I hope the decision-makers at AS are fully evaluating the cost vs. benefit of this requirement. I rest my case ;-).

4
Thanks Mat,
I just watched the replay and got some great tips! Is there someplace where we can sign up to be notified of in advance of webinars? I can't find a place to subscribe to such notification on the contributor site.

Also I was wondering how we might lobby for a change to the witness signature requirement on releases. Getty/iStock & Pond5 don't have this requirement and Fotolia didn't. I recently left Getty and have thousands of images I want to submit to AS, but b/c many of the releases don't have witness signature I can't upload them to AS. Seems like a competitive disadvantage for AS to have this requirement. Really can't imagine that a release dispute will result in dragging in a witness to testify.

Thanks in advance for help on these 2 Qs!

ML

5
Pond5 / Re: It's official, you are exclusive.
« on: March 27, 2019, 00:10 »
Best of luck to you, George. I've decided to go the middle way, and created a second account with Pond5 so I can market some work there as exclusive, and some as non-exclusive. For those who asked for rationale, this is mine:

First, as far as I can tell, Pond5 is not Getty. Their culture, their management team, everything. They aren't a bunch of bankers up to their eyebrows in debt working to exploit 'assets'. Quoting here from last week's letter from Pond5's CEO: "Pond5 was founded on the principle of providing artists with control over the pricing of their content and equitably sharing royalties earned from licensing that content. We are proud to say that we will never waver from these founding principles, even as we adapt to evolving market conditions." I think they're the real deal. I was burned by Getty in recent years and didn't think I'd ever go exclusive again, but if there's any chance of reversing the race to the bottom and shutting out Getty's PA scheme, I'm all in.

Secondly, some of us might be making more in total today from P5 + SS, etc. than from P5 exclusive, but as prices fall for non-exclusive content - which they surely will - this could change.

Finally, there's all the time saved not having to upload to 3-4 outlets. I'd much rather spend my time shooting, and I'm pretty sure I could easily produce 30% more if I only had to upload to one place.

There are many things I like about this offer:

* 60% royalty from Pond5: Wow, that is like the 'good old days'!! Isn't that what The Image Bank paid once upon a time?
* Pond5's resolve to hold the line on pricing
* Distribution to Adobe, Vimeo and others without any additional work required on my part
* Assurance that distributors won't undercut P5 price
* Easier release/legal requirements. There's no witness signature for some of the clips I had with Getty, which means I can't upload them to SS and maybe not even to Adobe directly. (It seems Adobe's requirements are changing as they transition from Fotolia.) Pond5 is OK with no witness as long as you can attach an image of the subject.
* Rational editing and good support: working with people who really seem to understand the market and their contributors.
* Refusing to let Getty undervalue my content and lead the entire industry to the bottom (improves my sleep). As the saying goes, we've seen this movie before, and I don't want to watch it again.

I have about 20 clips on iStock and others that are also on P5. Since I can't delete them from iS (another reason not to submit!), but still want to market them, I decided to leave that content 'as is' and set up a second account for exclusive content with Pond5 today. I'm waiting for approval of my ID, but in the meantime have already uploaded my first set of Pond5 exclusive files. This is good quality, but specialized, work that would never sell dozens of times for $10. If I can make a few sales per clip at $79, that works for me.

I understand that we all have unique circumstances, and what's right for one might not be the best for another. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this plays out and I am especially curious to see how Getty responds.

6
Adobe Stock / Re: Inaccurate Data showing at FT
« on: October 06, 2018, 11:06 »
My stats are following a normal pattern, views & sales increasing as they always do after the Summer lull. No unusual spike as others have seen.

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