Author Topic: SS sends mass-mail with open adresslist (Read 24541 times)

Axel Lauer · « **on:** November 19, 2014, 03:47 »

I have no G-rated words for this :

I received a begging-mail from [email protected] containing a litany about the benefits of opt-in into subscription footage sales ...bla bla

the scandal is....
a: we stopped to sell our footage a while ago because SS stopped to support us (alsway trouble with CSV import)
b: the mail had an open adresslist with more than 60 adresses

Ranker · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2014, 05:29 »

Mantis · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2014, 07:26 »

Quote from: Axel Lauer on November 19, 2014, 03:47

I have no G-rated words for this :

I received a begging-mail from [email protected] containing a litany about the benefits of opt-in into subscription footage sales ...bla bla

the scandal is....
a: we stopped to sell our footage a while ago because SS stopped to support us (alsway trouble with CSV import)
b: the mail had an open adresslist with more than 60 adresses

At least they asked, which hopefully means they will at the very least only move content at the artists' discretion.

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2014, 08:15 »

@Mantis.

SS is violating law and you are patting their shoulders???
Do you think these 59 people (from their open adresslist) which might use their private, non-published mailadress are amused that 59 others got their data now?

Mantis · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2014, 08:39 »

Quote from: Axel Lauer on November 19, 2014, 08:15

@Mantis.

SS is violating law and you are patting their shoulders???
Do you think these 59 people (from their open adresslist) which might use their private, non-published mailadress are amused that 59 others got their data now?

ummm no. Don't put words in my mouth. We know from past experience from FOTOLIA that they "automatically" opted in our content to DPC until we screamed. What I am saying is that at least we don't have to fight that particular battle, it seems.

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2014, 08:50 »

@Mantis,
sorry, i didnt want to put words in your mouth.
It just makes me wonder that you aim at a topic which does not lay on the table.

The more severe topic is that they just dont care about their obligation to observe confidentiality

ShadySue · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2014, 09:08 »

Quote from: Axel Lauer on November 19, 2014, 08:50

@Mantis,
sorry, i didnt want to put words in your mouth.
It just makes me wonder that you aim at a topic which does not lay on the table.

You were the one who laid it on the table.
Your subject line showed you were concerned with the open address list, which is a very serious issue.
However, you muddied the waters by also addressing the topic of subs video, thereby inviting comments on both issues.
Maybe you should have confined your OP here to the issue of the open address list, and if you also wanted to vent about subs video you could have opened another post on that issue.

You will do your cause no favours if you turn against your colleagues here, especially unfairly as you did above.

scottbraut · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2014, 10:58 »

Hi All,

Regarding the address list, our apologies for the error that was made. We've taken steps to make sure that this doesn't happen again in the future.

Best,

Scott
VP of Content

gbalex · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2014, 12:52 »

Quote from: Axel Lauer on November 19, 2014, 03:47

I have no G-rated words for this :

I received a begging-mail from [email protected] containing a litany about the benefits of opt-in into subscription footage sales ...bla bla

the scandal is....
a: we stopped to sell our footage a while ago because SS stopped to support us (alsway trouble with CSV import)
b: the mail had an open adresslist with more than 60 adresses

Did this email differentiate where your content will show up? I.E. Will it also show up on BS as subscriptions sales via bridge?

How do you feel in regard to the price point they set for video subscription sales at BS and have you talked to other contributors on the list about the price point shutterstock set for BS video clips.?

KB · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2014, 12:57 »

Quote from: gbalex on November 19, 2014, 12:52

and have you talked to other contributors on the list about the price point shutterstock set for BS video clips.?

Ha, I love this idea! Send an email to everyone on that list about the new BS subscription deal, just in case they aren't aware (most probably aren't). (And include a link to MSG, so they can keep better informed.)

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2014, 13:50 »

Is it really illegal to send out a bulk mail that includes the address list, as Axel said? Just curious.

mystock · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2014, 13:58 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on November 19, 2014, 13:50

Is it really illegal to send out a bulk mail that includes the address list, as Axel said? Just curious.

maybe not illegal in itself, but not respecting their own Privacy Policy may be illegal:

"We do not sell, rent or share your personally identifiable information to or with third parties in any way other than as disclosed in this Privacy Policy."

( from http://www.shutterstock.com/privacy.mhtml )

silksatsunrise · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2014, 13:58 »

First, my mail from SS onlly has one email address and that is mine, second where do you see anything about cheap videos. The link leads to the screen to purchase IMAGE subscriptions and says nothing about video subscriptions. Third in the US it is not against any law to have multiple addresses in the to list, it is only not shown as a matter of privacy for all the email goes to.

Dennis

ShadySue · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2014, 14:03 »

Quote from: silksatsunrise on November 19, 2014, 13:58

First, my mail from SS onlly has one email address and that is mine, second where do you see anything about cheap videos.

Presumably yours was a different email.

Pixart · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2014, 14:06 »

I do believe it is illegal in Canada with our strict privacy laws. You cannot even sent emails to your own clients here without them signing up in advance.

Gino · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2014, 07:28 »

Someone at SS made a mistake. It happens and was a mistake. I don't see all the commotion. People are not perfect.

Mantis · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2014, 07:32 »

Quote from: Gino on November 20, 2014, 07:28

Someone at SS made a mistake. It happens and was a mistake. I don't see all the commotion. People are not perfect.

Seriously, this is a good point. This is a mistake, that's all. The larger issue remains the strategic intent of 15 cent videos on BigStock.

MarcvsTvllivs · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2014, 16:29 »

As a lawyer... you should do something about this, Alex. I can't help you but there are definitely people out there who would jump on the opportunity to send them a nice "Abmahnung" -- which they very much deserve.

As a microstock contributor... who knows what they would do to your account.

As for the "mistake" part: Corporate mistakes need to have consequences. Our personal ones do.

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2014, 04:27 »

Quote from: Gino on November 20, 2014, 07:28

Someone at SS made a mistake. It happens and was a mistake. I don't see all the commotion. People are not perfect.

What?

?

1: "Oh sorry that i flattened you with my brandnew SUV, little pedestrian. Was a mistake. I am not perfect. See you.... ha ha....."
2: The measures you have to use for a company like SS has to be different then the ones you have to use for a 60 year old grandma writing her first email
Do you understand the difference, Gino?

mystock · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2014, 09:01 »

Quote from: Axel Lauer on November 21, 2014, 04:27

Quote from: Gino on November 20, 2014, 07:28
Someone at SS made a mistake. It happens and was a mistake. I don't see all the commotion. People are not perfect.
What??

1: "Oh sorry that i flattened you with my brandnew SUV, little pedestrian. Was a mistake. I am not perfect. See you.... ha ha....."
2: The measures you have to use for a company like SS has to be different then the ones you have to use for a 60 year old grandma writing her first email
Do you understand the difference, Gino?

I have to agree with Axel on this one.
When I was younger I used to think like Gino, in a sort of "take it easy" way of thinking.
Then unfortunately I started to realise that business is business, and as soon as you give up your rights you are giving them the green light to disrespect you in every possible way.

Mantis · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2014, 09:07 »

Quote from: mystock on November 21, 2014, 09:01

Quote from: Axel Lauer on November 21, 2014, 04:27
Quote from: Gino on November 20, 2014, 07:28
Someone at SS made a mistake. It happens and was a mistake. I don't see all the commotion. People are not perfect.
What??

1: "Oh sorry that i flattened you with my brandnew SUV, little pedestrian. Was a mistake. I am not perfect. See you.... ha ha....."
2: The measures you have to use for a company like SS has to be different then the ones you have to use for a 60 year old grandma writing her first email
Do you understand the difference, Gino?

I have to agree with Axel on this one.
When I was younger I used to think like Gino, in a sort of "take it easy" way of thinking.
Then unfortunately I started to realise that business is business, and as soon as you give up your rights you are giving them the green light to disrespect you in every possible way.

So what do you propose should happen?

mystock · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2014, 09:25 »

Quote from: Mantis on November 21, 2014, 09:07

So what do you propose should happen?

First, I didn't receive their email, perhaps because I don't have any video on SS and I am not even on BS. If I were on the list, I would probably not take any action because I can't afford their possible retaliation.

I think that at the very least their "Privacy Officer" (their words on their privacy statement) should give us an exact explanation of the actions they have taken for this not to happen again. Which means setting up an automated way to send emails that prevents that.
A generic answer by Scott that it won't happen again is not enough: it just means that it won't happen again until the next time the same error occurs.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2014, 10:16 »

Mountain. Molehill.

Axel Lauer · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2014, 11:21 »

a bit of business-knowledge for Gino & Shelma1

1: Sending newsletters without having permission from the receiver (double-opt-in) is in many countrys forbidden and results often enough in a lawsuit ( german statistics say that every 10th sender of unwanted newsletters will be prosecuted)
2: A lot of people dont know that (see 1)
3: I bet that some adresses from that list will end up in newsletterlists from the people who have been in that open adress list (out of different reasons)

What will be the result?
A lot of unwanted newsletters and a lot of lawsuits.

Why?
Because SS sends massmails with open adresslist

tickstock · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2014, 11:33 »

How do you have time for all these lawsuits? You've threatened almost every agency with legal action haven't you?

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Author Topic: SS sends mass-mail with open adresslist (Read 24541 times)

Axel Lauer

Ranker

Mantis

Axel Lauer

Mantis

Axel Lauer

ShadySue

scottbraut

gbalex

KB

BaldricksTrousers

mystock

silksatsunrise

ShadySue

Pixart

Gino

Mantis

MarcvsTvllivs

Axel Lauer

mystock

Mantis

mystock

Shelma1

Axel Lauer

tickstock

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