I'm aware of the problem. Living in Belgium it's not easy to start any webshop that's selling worldwide.
Once, Cascoly started a service that gave me some hope "Symbiostock Co-operative Project" http://symbiostock-network.com/  but this solution as it is designed will not be of any help in the EU.
Besides it is quit silent around the project for the last couple of months.

At this moment I've setup my site without any direct sale but only as a window on my work and with a link where it is available (thanks to the plugin from Ajotte).  At least my pictures are out there on display in a quite "professional" way thanks to Symbiostock. We'll see what comes next. Any hint is welcome

As a nice side effect, this could also solve THE major problem of Symbiostock imo: the absence of a single site for buyers, with just one login.

But it would add another problem: what if the major agencies don't appreciate the fact that we would be effectively starting a competing site? how many of us would be ready to leave the traditional agencies if forced to decide between them and Symbiostock? Not me.

Considering all these problems, I am not currently using Symbiostock anymore (after a short trial period) although I appreciate the effort of its creator and sustainers.

http://www.microstockgroup.com/symbiostock-general/symbiostock-co-op-launched/

Isn't this just a paid technical support? Helping with the initial setup but not solving any legal issue?

Symbiostock is not currently set up for automated separation of contributors within one set up so a co-op could become a fair amount of work for the manager to maintain and manage.  You might find a solution in partnering with one other person, especially if you could share skills and had complimentary work, ie: a photographer and illustrator (easy to separate sales), one hosting and managing and the other handling marketing and promotion.

I wonder what kind of problems you see for selling direct in Germany? I don't see any big ones. At least not THAT big that it would stop me from selling direct if I decide that's the right way for me.

Quote from: MichaelJayFoto on April 27, 2014, 09:41

I wonder what kind of problems you see for selling direct in Germany? I don't see any big ones. At least not THAT big that it would stop me from selling direct if I decide that's the right way for me.

One problem is the "Mehrwertsteuer" this depends one the buyers homecountry.

Well, yes. But that is not different for a company with residence in the US... if they want to deliver to EU countries. You wouldn't get away from these duties by founding a company somewhere else.

ETA: Actually it might be easier to do it as a small person/company because unless you make revenues of more than � 50.000, you can get away without charging and accounting for VAT. And if you indeed make more than � 50k, I think you should be able to afford a tax advisor/accountant.

ETA: Actually it might be easier to do it as a small person/company because unless you make revenues of more than � 50.000, you can get away without charging and accounting for VAT. And if you indeed make more than � 50k, I think you should be able to afford a tax advisor/accountant.

this is not correct it is 17,500� a year and you do not have a "Vorsteuerabzug".
In addition, you need quite german law texts like Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions.
But yes you can do all of this but the effort is enormous.

All this could legally deal with a "Symbio Agency".

ETA: Actually it might be easier to do it as a small person/company because unless you make revenues of more than � 50.000, you can get away without charging and accounting for VAT. And if you indeed make more than � 50k, I think you should be able to afford a tax advisor/accountant.

Not only that but - non EU sites are also required to levy TVA/VAT when they sell to EU customers. And there are no thresholds.

Someone running a site in the US might wonder why they should bother with non-US legislation. The issue however is that this affects the customers since these purchases cannot be properly accounted for unless they are properly conducted. Therefore any purchases from these 'grey' sites are effectively sous la table - which is clearly not an option for anyone buying an image on behalf of a business.

The microstocks all levy TVA/VAT.

ETA: my feeling is that non EU sites should at least be careful to notify [edit] EU customers of these issues. EU customers would be used to the rate being added at checkout.

Quote from: MichaelJayFoto on April 27, 2014, 09:49

ETA: Actually it might be easier to do it as a small person/company because unless you make revenues of more than � 50.000, you can get away without charging and accounting for VAT. And if you indeed make more than � 50k, I think you should be able to afford a tax advisor/accountant.

Not only that but - non EU sites are also required to levy TVA/VAT when they sell to EU customers. And there are no thresholds.
....

not true -- see http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/vat/traders/vat_community/vat_in_ec_annexi.pdf

Quote from: stockphotoeurope on April 27, 2014, 08:34

Quote from: Shelma1 on April 27, 2014, 08:30

http://www.microstockgroup.com/symbiostock-general/symbiostock-co-op-launched/

Isn't this just a paid technical support? Helping with the initial setup but not solving any legal issue?

We have 2 services -- the installation service
http://cascoly-images.com/pix/symbiostock-installation-service/
is tech support to get your domain up & running as a symbiostock site

the co-op is different -- sites run as subdomains of http://symbiostock-network.com (there are 2 active sites listed in symbiostock.info and several test sites)  when several more sites join I'll also show a separate search of just the co-op sites

these sites are run as US sites, Cascoly collects payments and handles customer support - artists are only responsible for uploading their images and are paid a royalty, so EU artists only need to report the royalty income - they have no direct contact with customers

http://symbiostock-network.com/

Sounds good! maybe what I'm looking for.
I actually need to be able to settle only the opportunity in the United States with an "Agency/Cascoly".
Is a pure tax issue.
By the way I must not operate a Website under German law.

that was one of the reasons for starting the co-op - to allow anyone to get started with minimal investment

But at least from a German (EU) view the problems remain, unfortunately, exist.
At the current date symbiostock-network.com also is a solution for the technical issues.
Unfortunately, the vat problems can not be solved as in the conventional agencies.
In German view, it is VAT regardless when you have your own Symbistock-Website or you are with symbiostock-network.com customer.
In both cases you have to settle and pay VAT for every single buyer that comes from the EU.

Because in view of law symbistock-network.com ist not an Agency but only a Broker.
If is a Agency i have only  one contract as contributor with symbiostock-network.com/agency.
And because it is a non EU-Company i have to pay non VAT!

Reasons why it is only a broker:

1. There is no written contract between contributor and symbistock-network.com about licensing.
2. Contributors can have contact to the buyers.
3. Enduser license agreement can be created by contributor.

These are then all notes for this that it is not an agency.

Do not get me wrong I not see it this way but the law.
With a proper agency solution everything would be much easier for the europeans.
Then we can Symbiostock supply  with the same expense as the Big 4.