Should all Web usages be of equal value just because all the
customer needs is approximately a 600 x 800 pixel file?
Recently, one of Ken Weingart’s rights-managed images of a
cop talking to a driver was used for one day on the Yahoo! home page to
illustrate an article on “What not to say when you’re pulled over.” Yahoo! is
the 4th most trafficked site in the world, reaching nearly one out of every
four online adults. That equals more people than The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning
Herald and the Los Angeles Times
combined.
The image was licensed by Corbis for $10, which, according to Corbis is “the
industry norm.” A blogger reaching a few people could have purchased the image
for Internet use at the same price. Weingart will receive $4 for this usage. Is
it any wonder that photographers are having second thoughts about shooting
stock?