Nikon Instruments' annual Small World Photomicrography Competition has become the first major contest to fully meet the new standards for photo contests, which were developed by the U.K.-based professional lobbying group Pro-Imaging.
Hertzliya, Israel-based Visual Photos has opened an office in Moscow. The expansion is a joint venture with Russian partner MediaRight, a content-syndication company with a previous focus on audio.
Swiss photo agency Kursiv plans to release KIM Keywording in early summer. Set to preview in Malta during the CEPIC 2008 Congress, the new software is intended for professional image agencies and photographers with e-commerce offerings as well as corporations that shoot or use large volumes of images.
Corbis is adding high-definition motion content from documentary filmmaker Maysles Films. The brothers behind the corporate name, Albert and David Maysles, pioneered American cinema verité in films such as Grey Gardens.
According to latest information from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, online ad spending has posted record results for the fourth consecutive year. PricewaterhouseCoopers calculates the total U.S. 2007 revenues at $21.2 billion, 26% year-over-year increase.
I believe the gross worldwide revenue generated from the licensing of stock imagery, both still photos and illustrations, is about $1.8 billion annually. This article focuses on licensing rights to stock imagery. The figures include wire service imagery made available through subscriptions and all other subscription products.
Denver-based Thought Equity Motion has become the exclusive global-licensing agent for HD stock footage from select films in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios library.
As the orphan works bill wends it way through the U.S. Congress, it is easy to appreciate what a nightmare it is for book publishers to try to clear rights to certain older images. Last week, Stock Connection became involved in a situation that illustrates the point.
OnAsia has released a significant upgrade to its Windows-based Image Keyworder software that includes a customized Alamy Mode for users submitting images to the UK-based photo agency.
The proliferation of the royalty-free model, strengthened by the advent of microstock, has turned stock licensing into a volume business. Though most severe in creative stock, pricing is on a clear downward trend across most image categories. While there will always be a professional buyer segment that seeks premium imagery and related services, many art directors and designers have shifted from traditional to micro-payment imagery for certain projects.
Microstock sellers insist that simple pricing is a key to their success, but many of the current strategies bely that notion.
This summer, images from the collection of London-based Science Photo Library will be on view in two exhibits in England.
Corbis is seeking to further penetrate the growing editorial market segment in Spain. A new partnership with Spain's editorial-image leader, Cordon Press, takes effect in July.
Asia Images Group, CuboImages and Latinstock will be among the image producers unveiling new collections at the June CEPIC Congress. In addition, industry supplier Akamedia will demo its video-distribution system, which allows an image agency to create its own video offering.