Photog Awarded $12 Million in Copyright Case

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 74 Words | Posted 6/24/2008 | Comments

Outsourced Keywording on Rise

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 402 Words | Posted 6/24/2008 | Comments
As the number of images entering the market keeps growing, companies that license them are face with the difficulty of handling the technical aspects of volume licensing. The trend has given rise to many a start-up, from technology companies that produce back-end content- and business-management applications to companies that specialize in image editing and keywording.

Future Options for Image Uses

By Jim Pickerell | 683 Words | Posted 6/24/2008 | Comments
The traditional commercial market for stock images is slowly declining in number of units licensed, but there is a potential for a huge growth in sales to consumers. Advances in technology make it possible for new still images uses to blossom, but producers and distributors must embrace changing market realities.

Masterfile Publishes Lates 'File'

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 72 Words | Posted 6/23/2008 | Comments

ACAP Adopts PLUS

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 389 Words | Posted 6/23/2008 | Comments
The Automated Content Access Protocol project, which aims to devise a universal standard for the automated expression of permissions online, is adopting the semantics of the Picture Licensing Universal System. PLUS standards have been developed to standardize the communications and management of image rights and to simplify automation of related processes via machine-readable licenses.

Getty Stockholders Approve Buyout

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 91 Words | Posted 6/20/2008 | Comments (1)

Image Source Highlights Fair-Trade Collection in Promotional Catalog

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 528 Words | Posted 6/20/2008 | Comments
London-based royalty-free producer Image Source has published Sneak Preview, a promotional catalog featuring a selection of the latest images added to its collection. Alongside its own production, the company is prominently featuring fair-trade brand World Portraits.

Global Fund, Magnum Launch Access to Life

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 114 Words | Posted 6/19/2008 | Comments

ImageSpan Secures $11 Million Financing

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 70 Words | Posted 6/19/2008 | Comments

Corbis Rebrands Rights Services Division

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 197 Words | Posted 6/19/2008 | Comments
At Cannes Lions 2008, the 55th International Advertising Festival, Corbis announced the separation of its rights-services division into a separate business entity. Rebranded as GreenLight, the company is also adding a talent-negotiation service that will help advertisers secure sports, film, television, music and other celebrities for promotional activities.

About Michael Masterson

Michael Masterson has a broad range of experience in marketing, business development, strategic planning, contact negotiations and recruiting in the photography, graphic design and publishing industries. In addition to his long experience at the Workbook and Workbookstock, Masterson owned and was creative director of his own graphic design firm for several years.

Masterson has been a speaker or panelist at industry events such as Seybold, PhotoPlus Expo, Visual Connections and the Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) national conference. He is currently the national president of the American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP). He also serves on the board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council in his Los Angeles community. He chaired the marketing committee for the Los Angeles Conservancy, a historic preservation advocacy group, for many years.

He currently heads Masterson Consulting, working on projects ranging from business development for creative companies and sourcing talent for them to promoting and marketing industry events as well as providing resume and professional profile services for job-seekers. He can be reached at zvpunryqznfgrefba@tznvy.pbz.