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Author Topic: Opt Out of Enhanced Licenses at SS #OptInWhenTheyPayUp  (Read 37151 times)

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« on: January 28, 2016, 12:41 »
+57
The other thread on SS's royalty cut has gotten buried in a pile of off topic p*ssing contests, so I thought I'd start something on what action we can take if we don't like SS's recent cash grab.

This morning I opted out of ELs

Go to the contributor (submit...) home page and Account Settings is under your name - top right, between the earnings menu and the language drop down.

I get a few ELs every month, so this will cost me, but after getting my first EL at the "improved" rates earlier in the week - and losing $7.61 on the deal - I'm frustrated enough to take the risk.

Opting out of ELs doesn't do anything to change SOD options, so the larger corporations who've done a custom deal keep on as before.

Some people have said that they get so few ELs after the standard license print run was raised to 500K that it doesn't matter about the cut.

I'd argue that if you aren't getting a lot of ELs, it makes it even easier to opt out as you won't have to spend much to send a message to SS that they can't cut royalties to contributors without consequences.

The argument that they're making this change to increase EL volumes fails on two levels:

1. They're just cutting contributor royalties (most severely for the lower-tier contributors; this is where they hope that higher tier contributors will quietly accept the change as they don't lose all that much). Buyers are still paying the same prices

2. Even if they do cut prices, you don't buy more ELs because they got cheap. If you're not doing a long print run or selling mugs/T shirts/prints etc, then you don't buy an EL regardless of the price. If they think they're losing business to a rival site when an EL is needed, then this is just a price war and contributors can't possibly win if sites start cutting prices to try and swipe business from a competitor

It's important to remember that high price extended/enhanced licenses are just gravy to stock agencies. They need to be compensated for their costs to host the site, inspect the incoming work, market the agency to buyers, process payments, etc. But to take the same percentage from the extra license terms as they do from the base license is disgraceful - the agency should pay a higher percentage as they have no additional costs associated with it (I think iStock used to when they started ELs; Stocksy pays 75% on ELs versus 50% on regular license sales)

I realize that SS is now focused on keeping Wall St analysts happy - they want to see profit growth and increasing their take on what the buyer pays is one way for them to do that - but they can't just forget about contributors.

They can boost the collection numbers with vast wastelands of marijuana pictures or near-duplicate icons but I doubt those matter much to buyers in the long run.

Paul Brennan should get a KK Thompson (money isn't what makes you happy) hall of fame award for this: "We are your partners and our job is to work tirelessly to serve you and grow our marketplace together."

If SS really wants to serve contributors, how about adding 10% to the tier percentages for EL sales? 30% to 40% for ELs versus 20% to 30% for all other non-sub sales.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 15:59 by Jo Ann Snover »


« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2016, 13:39 »
+10
I would prefer not to get less than $28 for an EL, so I just opted out of Enhanced licenses on Shutterstock!  :D

stockVid

« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2016, 14:49 »
+9
I'm out !

« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2016, 15:22 »
+1
I was out before them.  Sorry, but if there has to be a p*ssing contest to get people engaged it might as well be on topic.

« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2016, 15:42 »
+9
I'm out.  We need to not only opt out, but also send
them an email telling them why. 
I doubt that they care, but if enough of us do it,
it might make them reconsider the next cash-grab before they do it.

« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2016, 15:52 »
+7
Opting out is good, but better yet do not upload any new content until they reverse this. Plus send them an email telling what you have done and why.

MxR

« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2016, 16:06 »
+7
out of this

« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2016, 16:24 »
+8
Opt out. I think we need more public relations. The buyers should know that SS is taking more from us without giving somthing to the buyers.  8)
« Last Edit: January 28, 2016, 16:31 by r2d2 »

« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2016, 16:24 »
0
It's actually all irrelevant to me, because I gave up on microstock over a year ago and quit uploading.  But - doesn't SS have some sort of "Contributor Relations" person - whose job would be to give out the bad news, recite the official corporate spin, and listen to the angry responses from contributors?   And maybe even respond? 
« Last Edit: January 28, 2016, 19:26 by stockastic »

« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2016, 16:27 »
+7
I am out.

« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2016, 16:37 »
+1
It's actually all irrelevant to me, because I gave up on microstock over a year ago and quit uploading.  But - doesn't SS have some sort of "Contributor Relations" person - whose job would be to give out the bad news, recite the spin, and listen to the angry responses from contributors?   And maybe even respond?

Some other character posted the announcement on the forum and it looks like the forum moderator is ignoring it as he is posting in other threads and leaving that one alone.  No response from emails either, anybody would think they had taken on all the IS staff.

« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2016, 21:54 »
+3
I'm totally against this royalty cut. I got 2-3 ELs per months in last 6 months.

Could someone provide a comparison between enhanced licenses provided by major agencies (SS, FT, IS, 123RF, etc) and the royalties they pay? I guess SS still pays more than some other agencies for ELs, but I might be wrong. If so, we have to opt out from ELs from those low paying agencies as well (or simply stop submitting them). Otherwise, it doesn't make much sense (for me).

marthamarks

« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2016, 22:46 »
+4
Done! No more ELs for me either.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 03:10 by marthamarks »

« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2016, 00:39 »
+4
Opted Out.

Rinderart

« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2016, 00:41 »
+7
Good Luck.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 00:44 by Rinderart »

marthamarks

« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2016, 00:55 »
0
But - doesn't SS have some sort of "Contributor Relations" person - whose job would be to give out the bad news, recite the official corporate spin, and listen to the angry responses from contributors?   And maybe even respond?

Nah.

« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2016, 01:32 »
0
Could someone provide a comparison between enhanced licenses provided by major agencies (SS, FT, IS, 123RF, etc) and the royalties they pay?

I don't have one already made up, and you could do the research as easily as anyone else if you want to make a chart. It's hard to make apples to apples comparisons though.

For example, 123rf splits out different rights (as does DT) so they have limited, print and comprehensive ELs. The comprehensive EL netted me $37.35 last year for the 100 credit purchase (exact amount will vary depending on buyer's purchase price; I found one a few months before that netting $36.00).

DT's extended license royalties are priced differently based on image level as well. But when you consider that their rights are sold la carte as opposed to one bundled set at SS, DT's royalties of up to $17 at level 0 and $30 at level 5 are greater than SS. I can't remember the last time I got an EL at DT though.


Chichikov

« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2016, 01:40 »
+3
Well, 20 contributors (here) will opt out.
But 1 million will not.
SS doesn't care
So, what it will change?

If we want to get a real effect we have to find other ways to touch more (and more) people.

« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2016, 02:23 »
+7
I am not opting out, my enhanced licenses are so rare that I would like to first see if there is an improvement in sales. If there is no improvement, then I will look at the money I am getting and decide if a protest on something that rarely ever happens is that important for me.

I understand if people are getting daily or weekly enhanced licenses that a significant part of your income is affected, but in my case these are so rare, that maybe now it will get  better.

It is also not a sneaky underhanded deal like the dollar photo club or the Getty google deal. with the rarity of these sales, I simply dont feel strongly affected by these changes.

But the opt out is there to make everyone comfortable, so Shutterstock has a built in option to keep control how your files are licensed.

« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2016, 02:26 »
0
Yes we need a nice shitstorm via socialmedia in the meantime we can click SS Google Adwords advertising away...

« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2016, 02:33 »
+30
Good Luck.

your a front runner when it comes to complaining about ss and taking action, here is action, and you wish them good luck instead of joining? my my

Chichikov

« Reply #21 on: January 29, 2016, 02:47 »
+1
Good Luck.

your a front runner when it comes to complaining about ss and taking action, here is action, and you wish them good luck instead of joining? my my

I think that Laurin has very more serious problems than to opt out now

« Reply #22 on: January 29, 2016, 04:20 »
+3
I will not opt out, it was a good change for some of us. Before I had +/- one EL a week and 4 last days got me 4 ELs $28 $28,50 $17,93 $18,88. You do the maths, I prefer to take photos.

« Reply #23 on: January 29, 2016, 04:25 »
+1
Can't help thinking ELs were getting scarce for SS so they had to do something....I can't work out exactly what they have done though ;-). Are they cheaper for buyers?

« Reply #24 on: January 29, 2016, 04:32 »
+8
if they were getting scarse then surely raising  the usage limit to 500k for standard licences didnt help


 

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