Stories in this issue include: Getty Call Center Statistics, Getty Pricing Strategy, Usage Fees Rising at Stock Connection, Cost of Credit Card Sales, Webshots Update, Boston Globe Update, AntiquesPortfolio Case in U.K., and new Managing Director at BIF in Mexico.
The new Corbis contract has been released. The good news is that royalty percentages are up for photographers, no dispute over photographer copyright ownership, no future catalog fees, options for image-excluive and image non-exclusive contracts, monthly payments and more. Also still a few problem areas of concern. Details of interest to photographers and other agencies.
Direct Stock has secured a seven figure venture capital investment from Stonehenge Capital Corporation to reshape directstock.com into an operation that can compete with Getty and Corbis for on-line sales.
Stories this month include: Stone Photographer Income Growth, Photographers Win On Copyright At Corbis, Outstanding 1st Quarter At Getty, Online Use, Getty/Geographic Deal, Freelances Sue Boston Globe, New Business Week Contract and Rates and other short items.
Short news items include: eMotion Secures $34 Million, Update on Boston Globe Freelancer Suit, Patrick Donohue Joins Corbis, Getty Acquires IPL in Australia, Art Resources Represents French Museums and Speeding Request to Photographers at The Image Works.
Corbis has announced a new division - Corbis Documentaries - that will operate as a production company and develop innovative documentaries for television, theatres, and the Internet. On another front there is a resurgence in demand for short six minute films to be used on the net. Hollywood moguls are backing student projects.
Corbis is listening to photographers and has made changnes in their position on copyright registration. The new clause that will be part of their New Standard Contract is included in this article.
Freelance writers, illustrators, and photographers of the Boston Globe have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of one thousand freelancers, seeking an injunction in Massachusetts Superior Court against the Globe's unfair and deceptive trade practices.
If you think it will be a snap to keyword your images so people using other languages can find them -- think again. To get some idea about how hard it is to translate keywords into multiple languages consider some of the fiascos major corporations have had in trying to market their products in other countries.
Between 280 and 300 Stone photographers earned in excess of $10,000 in 1st quarter 2000. Of these between 196 and 210 (70%) had 1st quarter 2000 earning that were 20% higher than 1st quarter 1999.