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.
This report includes: a21 Completes Acquisition of Superstock, ArtToday.com Changes Name to JupiterImages, ZUMA Launches Reportage Division, MAC Use By Creative Community, Creatas Chooses Linux for Storage and Delivery, Decline In Use Of Film, New England Stock Victims Group, and CA Annual Competition.
Getty has announced that editorial sales will be their major focus in 2004 and currently estimates that they have about 10% of the market. This story outlines some of the challenges we think Getty will face in trying to expand their market share. The problem is not just one of marketing, but in having the type of content that editorial users -- particularly book publishers -- need. This also points to an opportunity for others trying to sell into the Editorial space.
E-Data Corporation has commenced litigation against Getty and Corbis in the Netherlands and the UK for infringing its European patent known as "the Freeny patent" which covers the downloading of information (such as photographs) from the internet in a form that is reproducable. E-Data is seeking a royalty of 5% of gross sales for sales made during the last 3 to 6 years as well as for future sales.
This story has items on: Corbis and Reuters Announce Global Alliance, Back Issues Of TIME Go Online, Adobe Considering Marketing Digital Images, and Virtual Picture Desk Handles Focus On Sports.
Image Source has launched a ground-breaking new images licensing system called Easy Rights(tm). ER let them offer exclusive rights to images that will eventually be sold as RF. Approximately 2000 images on their site at any given time will be available for ER licensing.
This story has items on Masterfile and Zefa Expand Partnership, Southern Star Group Merges with Oxford Scientific Films, New Kodak and Canon digital SLR's, Index Expands International Distribution and STEP Advertising Design Competition.
Alamy Images has announced that its 2003 revenue from licensing stock imagery grew 400% over 2002. In April the company will expand its business by opening a sales office in New York and a technology development operation in India. I will also expand its customers service operations in the U.K.
In this issue you will find stories on Getty's Flexible License Packs; Corbis 2003 Sales of $140 Million and Non-Profit Donation; Image State Revenue Down; Getty 2003 Summary; Alamy Announces Expansion; Exclusive Royalty Free At Image Source; Communication Arts 2003 Survey; Corbis & Reuters Alliance; OnRequest Partner's With Photonica; Masterfile & Zefa Expand Partnership; Developments In Asia; Adobe To Market Digital Images and the latest on the NFL Archive Move.
This story contains items on Index Stock Imagery Marketing Scholastic images, AsiaWorks offering images from Asia, more on the NFL's efforts to move it photo archive, Freelancers Drop Appeal Against Boston Globe, and Veer Signs New Provider.
Getty reported fourth quarter revenue of $134.4 million up 13% from Q4 2002 revenue of $117.2 million. Total revenue for 2003 was $523.2 million a 13% increase over the $463 million in 2002. Radical adjustment in search results last August improving RM sales relative to RF. Signs of economic recovery, but number of images licensed still trending down.
This story provides the full text of remarks by CEO Steve Davis at the 1st Corbis Annual Meeting. Video clips of Corbis images are not included, but the text of speakers that were presented on video is included. Highlights were $140 million in revenue for 2003, expanded image use by emerging markets and increased emphasis on providing a broad range of services to customers.
Corbis waived more than $1 million in licensing fees to non-profit organizations around the world in 2003. The company announced that it will extent free access to Bettmann Archive Images in 2004, donating another $1 million to help non-profits tell their stories.
At its first-ever annual meeting held in New York on January 15th Corbis announced that 2003 revenues were approximately $140 million. This was 20% above 2002 revenues of approximately $116 million. Bill Gates said Corbis would not go public in the next three to four years but there is likely to be ''diversified ownership'' at a later date.
This issue discusses: OnRequest Images Partners With Photonica; ImageState 2003 Revenue Down; Corbis Makes More Restructuring Moves; Masterfile Integrates RF and RM; Zefa Adds Retrofile Collection and Thinkstock Launches RF Footage Site.
Communication Arts has released data from its 2003 subscriber study indicating the use of royalty-free stock continued to grow at the expense of rights-managed stock and assignment work. The number of people using stock remained flat, though overall volume usage has increased slightly.