Alamy Images has announced that they have more than one million RM and RF images available for licensing from over 175 agencies and 2,500 plus photographers. This represents a 33% growth in content since this time last year.
PicScout image recognition software and Image-Tracker is now being used by Zefa and Masterfile to identify unauthorized uses. The technology searches commercial areas of the web for images and compares them with a database of images supplied by the agency. It can detect images that have been cropped, resized or colorized.
This issue has stories on Media Bakery being temporarily off-line; Central Stock going out of business and selling assets on E-Bay; Corbis giving away Apples; and a new Photoshop magazine from Dynamic Graphics.
This issue has stories on a Fire at Panoramic Images, Corbis Partners With InfoSpace Mobile, ImageState Staff Changes, AbleStock Adds Partners, and Index Stock Imagery Names Portuguese Distribution Agent.
The NFL has offered WireImage a three-year contract to take over management of its NFL photo archive that will cost WireImage at least $500,000 per year in payments to the NFL. Observers think the deal is too heavily weighted in favor of the NFL and WireImage is expected to make a counter offer.
Jupitermedia Corporation has acquired all the assets of Comstock for $20.85 million in cash. Jupitermedia had gross revenues of almost $47 million in 2003, but only $4 million of that was for licensing rights to stock photos and illustrations. It is believed that Comstock's current gross annual revenue is about $10 million.
This article by Nancy E. Wolff, Counsel for PACA outlines the legal risks according to current U.S. law when photographing people at work or play using ordinary objects. The second part of the article deals with photographing buildings, trademark protection, trade dress and fair use.
a21 has completed the acquisition of SuperStock's assets including approximately 900,000 images, one-third of which are wholly owned, and an approximately 73,000 square foot facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The aggregate purchase price was up to $5,760,625 of which about $2.6 million was cash. Gross annual sales are about $10 million.
The SAA (StockArtistsAlliance)is engaged in an ongoing study of Rights Managed usage fees worldwide and has uncovered some surprising price differentials. For some uses the price of purchasing an RM image from Getty Images in the UK is more than four times the price for the same usage in the U.S. In addition the price is determined by where the use is PURCHASED, not where the image is USED.
Corbis is probably doing more than any other stock photo seller to track infringements, and collect from those who infringe. Dave Green, Corbis Senior Corporate Counsel, explains how they do it and the benefits, not only in additional revenue, but in educating customers.