MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: KB on August 13, 2009, 16:12

Title: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: KB on August 13, 2009, 16:12
I just received an email from Shutterstock (see below), and at first I was afraid they were announcing what Fotolia seems to do a lot -- refunding of purchases. And this email applied to ELs.

But, no, just the opposite. It was to inform me that one or more ELs will be added to my account in the next day or two!

Yea! to Shutterstock!!!

Shutterstock Images LLC recently settled a claim against one of its Subscribers. We found the Subscriber had exceeded the circulation limits of the Standard Licenses granted to it by Shutterstock.  As a remedy the client has agreed to purchase the Enhanced License for all the images it has used in this way.
Our research indicates that one or more of your images was downloaded and used by the Subscriber.
Rather than deduct the legal and administrative expenses incurred by Shutterstock in reaching the settlement, Shutterstock has elected to distribute the bulk of the settlement proceeds to affected Submitters and absorb the majority of the costs of the settlement.   We believe the settlement to be fair and reasonable given all of the circumstances surrounding the breach of our Terms of Service.
Within 24-48 hours you will notice an Enhanced License credit in your account for each of your images downloaded and used by the Subscriber.

Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: epantha on August 13, 2009, 16:13
Very Cool 8)
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: sharpshot on August 13, 2009, 16:39
I had one of those too.  Nice to get some good news from a site.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: disorderly on August 13, 2009, 16:48
I'll admit to a moment of tension when I saw this email, especially after losing an EL at Fotolia due to a chargeback.  But I shouldn't have worried.  Shutterstock has always treated me with fairness, and this is another example of why I think of them as the gold standard for micros.  Okay, they're still my top earner by a wide margin; that helps too!
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: Konstantin Sutyagin on August 13, 2009, 17:17
Way to go, Shutterstock!
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: WarrenPrice on August 13, 2009, 17:18
Does Shutterstock have exclusives? 
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: disorderly on August 13, 2009, 17:22
Does Shutterstock have exclusives? 

Nope.  But if they did, it would be an offer I'd have a hard time refusing.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: Pixart on August 13, 2009, 17:51
I got this letter today also at 3:55.  Since the last time I checked I have also had an EL today for $28 (which would seem the full amount), I wonder if this is the same purchase.  

KB, have you received an EL today?  Mine was an isolated pool table (unless this was a new sale) - do you know what yours might have been?

I am certainly impressed with Shutterstock. 
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: lisafx on August 13, 2009, 18:01
I got the letter too.  Wish every site was as aggressive in protecting our interests.  I was really happy with the way SS handled this whole thing. 

I haven't gotten any EL's though today, so Pixart, I think yours was a regular EL, not part of this payout.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: Pixart on August 13, 2009, 18:17
Would be nice if you are right Lisa!  But I thought I would stop by the SS forum, and I counted the EL's reported on the thread and it was around 32 so far, sounds like you have some and must be many others.  Oh, my that's a lot of photos.  Hopefully they are not on a disc being mass distributed.   
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: disorderly on August 13, 2009, 18:20
I got three ELs after the letter.  Have to believe they were the ones I was told to expect; I've not had three in one day before.  As for subjects, they were a Silicon Valley office building, a couple of homes in San Francisco and a head shot of a very pretty woman.  Makes me wonder just who the buyer was and what they were doing with all these shots.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: lbarn on August 13, 2009, 18:21
I had 3 EL's before I saw the letter, and figured it was some kind of mistake.  What nice surprise.  Mine were a house and 2 vehicles.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: sharpshot on August 13, 2009, 18:27
I had 2 EL's after the email, a stack of blank business cards and a rubbish truck.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: HughStoneIan on August 13, 2009, 18:32
Commendable.  Extremely commendable.  Thank you, Shutterstock.

Hope you find all the rest! ;D



(PS - anyone know who the offender was?)
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: lisafx on August 13, 2009, 18:51
Would be nice if you are right Lisa!  But I thought I would stop by the SS forum, and I counted the EL's reported on the thread and it was around 32 so far, sounds like you have some and must be many others.  Oh, my that's a lot of photos.  Hopefully they are not on a disc being mass distributed.   

Update:  I just checked my balance and I did get some additional ELs.  They hadn't come in when I posted a couple of hours ago, but they are definitely there now.  YIPPEEE!!!  With out a doubt this makes my BDE!  ;D
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: LSD72 on August 13, 2009, 20:21
Could someone just forward me one of those emails so I can feel good too  :P
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: Kngkyle on August 13, 2009, 21:01
I also had one. Way to go Shutterstock.  ;)
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: epixx on August 13, 2009, 22:14
One for me as well. That more or less compensates for the refund I had at IS yesterday   :-\
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: KB on August 13, 2009, 23:40
KB, have you received an EL today?  Mine was an isolated pool table (unless this was a new sale) - do you know what yours might have been?

I am certainly impressed with Shutterstock. 
Sorry, I got really busy with other things and didn't even have time to come back to check this thread.  :(

I hadn't looked until now, either, to see if I had one or more ELs credited today. I had one. Since I get one only very rarely, I have to believe it's from the settlement. It was of a waterfall, so I don't see much of a pattern here based on what others have posted.

Nicely done, SS!
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: melking on August 14, 2009, 06:48
YAY!  I got 6 right after this letter!  Ya Whoo!
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: tdoes on August 14, 2009, 07:00
I got the letter too!  I appreciate Shutterstock for looking out! :)
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: kosmikkreeper on August 14, 2009, 07:47
Yeah baby! 5 ELs in one day! Thx SS! :D
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: melking on August 14, 2009, 08:05
Here are the ones I got downloaded...you can see in my blog post:
http://melissaking.ca/wordpress/stock-photography/shutterstock-enhanced-license-settlement/ (http://melissaking.ca/wordpress/stock-photography/shutterstock-enhanced-license-settlement/)
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: borg on August 14, 2009, 08:20
None!!!

 :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: a.k.a.-tom on August 14, 2009, 08:23
Does Shutterstock have exclusives? 

Nope.  But if they did, it would be an offer I'd have a hard time refusing.

Honestly...  I'd have to really consider it just based on this catch and action.  They found some of mine too. MUCH THANKS TO SS!  I have NEVER had a problem with SS and have always been treated fairly and professionally!!  8)=tom
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: Freedom on August 15, 2009, 04:37
Just to prove the OP's point, I had some money deducted from my FT earnings this month. No one has bothered to inform me why. Hadn't I checked, I would never have found out.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: snaprender on August 15, 2009, 10:53
Just to prove the OP's point, I had some money deducted from my FT earnings this month. No one has bothered to inform me why. Hadn't I checked, I would never have found out.

It was probably from a fraudulent credit card.  I heard they are having a lot of that going on there (I closed my account there so I wouldnt personally know though).  This may sound silly, I know, but I am surprised someone (contributor in USA) has not turned them into the BBB or Federal Trade Commission.  From everything I have read, the company that accepted the fraudulent credit card is the one that is supposed to take the loss and if the credit card company is not able to get the money back from the retailer, then they take the hit.  Of course, if a retailer has too many fraudulent sales, they will get fines from the credit card company and possibly loss their ability to accept credit cards.
Title: Re: The opposite of Fotolia!
Post by: stokfoto on August 15, 2009, 11:07
I got the e-mail an extra EL for me  too ;D  Well done SS !