Agency Based Discussion > Shutterstock.com

Time to kill the Top 50 at SS?

(1/3) > >>

helix7:
I posted the following in the SS Suggestions forum, and just wanted to start a poll to see if anyone is in agreement:

----------

I think the Top 50 of the Week is a feature that I once regarded as useful, but now think of as damaging and harmful to the Shutterstock collection. It is no longer a place for people to browse top-selling images and get ideas for concepts that sell. It is a breeding ground for duplicates, copies, and overly "inspired" images, especially in the vector section. How many times have we seen a top-selling floral design that is amazingly similar to a Top 50 floral image from last week? How many glossy icons are uploaded each week because that's what appears in the Top 50? How many times have you clicked on an image thinking, "I know who made this, I recognize this image," only to find that it's a copy made by someone else?

And is any of this actually helping the SS collection? It seems like this only encourages more of the same types of images, flooding the collection with an overabundance of copy cats that are nothing more than cheap knock-offs, rarely on the same level as the original image.

Unfortunately, these copies sell, undercutting the original artist and rewarding the practice of building a portfolio simply by re-creating cheap versions of the Top 50 images.

I think the time has come for the Top 50. In a business where there it is increasingly difficult to prevent image theft, the Top 50 only puts another tool in the hands of those who would copy an image and resell it as their own original work. What started as an inspirational tool is now just a shopping list for those who would move beyond inspiration and straight to duplication.

I respectfully suggest that Shutterstock give serious consideration to removing the Top 50 feature, or offering an opt-out option for submitters who would prefer not to see their images appear there.

----------

Any other thoughts on this?

Lizard:
I think that cant make things better, If someone wants to do all that , he will start browsing trough  most popular images, and get his "ideas" there anyway , so whats the point ?

stock_fan:
People with the skill the replicate a Top50 image will find other ways to identify "the originals". Some sites allow "sort by download" and would do ...

It is sad, but it seems that for artists who do not won't to be copied/ be an inspiration to others, this is the wrong business.

sharply_done:
I think SS should keep the Top 50, but move it to the buyer's section of the site. It might even be useful to expand the list to Top 100 if they do this.

Allsa:

--- Quote from: stock_fan on April 19, 2008, 18:04 ---People with the skill the replicate a Top50 image will find other ways to identify "the originals". Some sites allow "sort by download" and would do ...

It is sad, but it seems that for artists who do not won't to be copied/ be an inspiration to others, this is the wrong business.




--- End quote ---

True, but why make it easy for the copycats? Take away the top 50 list and let them do their own research.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page