Recent Stock Photo Industry Press Releases

PLUS Coalition Expands Board and Welcomes Influential New Directors

Pasadena, CA, Feb. 19, 2008. The Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS) Coalition announced it has significantly expanded its board of directors for 2008. This governing body of PLUS will guide the international non-profit standards organization on its mission to simplify and facilitate the communication and management of image rights.

PLUS directors are noted industry professionals, participating on behalf of leading non-profit associations. Collectively, the PLUS board members represent the interests of all industries involved in creating, distributing, using and preserving images.

ASPP NY Event: Bridging The Gap Between Still and Moving Images

New York, NY, Jan. 16, 2008 (American Society of Picture Professionals NY Chapter Event). Over the years, Ed Kashi and Julie Winokur have worked together on books, exhibitions and photography assignments which have taken them around the world. Their work together has also moved beyond the still image -- into video and other new interactive media.

Their discussions will center around new media and the opportunities it creates for telling stories visually, as well as the implications of our brave new media landscape for the photo industry.

Stock Artists Alliance Raises Issues with Photolibrary´s Index Stock accounting

SAA seeks accountability from the Photolibrary Group on obligations to Index Stock contributors

Atlanta, GA, Dec. 06, 2007. The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) continues direct discussions on behalf of SAA members currently or formerly represented by Photolibrary´s Index Stock brand.

Recent revelations and accusations leave the SAA Board greatly concerned about whether Photolibrary has met its contractual obligation to pay Index Stock contributors all past commissions.

Photolibrary acquired Index Stock in October 2006 and assumed all liabilities and debt of the company which had been in financial distress. Photolibrary stated then publicly that all contributors would be paid in full for all past commissions, following the results of a comprehensive, independent audit by the accounting firm KPMG.

Stock Artists Alliance: Pending Imagestate "Dissolution" Leaves Contributors in the Cold

... without Payments or Images

Atlanta, GA, Oct. 30, 2007. Since Imagestate went into bankruptcy in 2006 and was then purchased by Sheldon Marshall and Heritage Image Partners Ltd., contributor complaints have mounted. The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) has now learned the company is scheduled for "dissolution" on January 12, 2008. With just a few months until operations shut down, the situation has become critical for many contributors. What will happen to long overdue royalties from licenses made since the bankruptcy filing? What will happen to the many thousands of their original images the company still holds?

Open House For Careers in Photography at Hallmark Institute of Photography

Turners Falls, MA, Oct. 16, 2007. Hallmark Institute of Photography, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, invites prospective students and their families to an Open House on Sunday, October 21st, 2007 from 12:30pm - 3:30pm.

Prospective students and their guests will have the opportunity to tour our campus featuring our recently expanded Educational Center.

NPPA & Press Organizations Urge House Passage Of Free Flow Of Information Act

Durham, NC, Oct. 12, 2007 (NPPA). Today the National Press Photographers Association joined with a coalition of news organizations and press freedom groups who sent letters to the members of the United States House of Representatives urging each member to support H.R. 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act, which is scheduled for floor action next Tuesday.

AOP Joins Coalition Calling on Getty Images to Remove RM Collections from $49 "Web Use" License

London, UK, Sept. 21, 2007. The Association of Photographers (AOP) have joined forces with an international coalition of photographic trade associations, led by the Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), to protest at Getty Images plan to launch a $49 web use (500 px wide, 72 dpi) across all licensing models (RM, RR, RF). It's widely recognized that Getty Images are seen within the industry as being the leading supplier of stock images. We expect other image suppliers will quickly follow suit and are deeply concerned about the impact this model will have on those Members who rely on stock.

Getty Images explains its "Revolutionary Online Product"

[This is not an official press release from Getty Images, but an article posted today on Getty Images´ Contributors Webpage explaining "Getty Images' Revolutionary Online Product", signed by Nick Evans-Lombe, EVP, Imagery, Products and Services. It can be regarded as a part of the official response to "An open letter to Getty Images", sent out by AOP, APA, ASMP, CAPIC, EP and SAA to Jonathan Klein on Monday this week]

Seattle, WA, Sept. 14, 2007. There has never been such exponential growth in demand for imagery. This is a good thing. More and more imagery is needed by customers for their projects. This is excellent news. Also, customers' time and budget constraints are greater than ever. Customers need to find the broadest and deepest collections of imagery for all their communications more quickly, more simply and at appropriate price points. This is particularly the case for online usages where volumes are enormous and time constraints are acute. As the global leader in the imagery industry, we recognize our responsibility to respond to these facts in a way that is in the best interests of photographers and customers.

Growing Coalition of Artists' Groups Call on Getty Images to Remove RM Collections from $49 "Web Use" License

Atlanta, GA, Sept. 14, 2007. Earlier this week, six leading photo trade associations sent a joint letter to Getty Images CEO Jonathan Klein objecting to the drastic price cuts and calling for the company to remove all Rights Managed (including Rights Ready) imagery from their new $49 "web use" license product. Since then, more artists' associations have been adding their voices to a growing international coalition now representing the interests of over 35,000 commercial and editorial photographers and filmmakers, photojournalists, illustrators and digital artists worldwide.

Leading Photographer Groups call on Getty Images to remove RM collections from new $49 "Web Use" License

Heavy discounting of premium stock imagery risks future revenue potential from major digital uses, as budgets shift from print to online

Atlanta, GA, Sept. 10, 2007. Heavy discounting of premium stock imagery risks future revenue potential from major digital uses, as budgets shift from print to online. Last week, Getty Images announced a new $49 "web use" license for images from all of its collections, including its highest quality Rights Managed collections. With this move, Getty has effectively slashed the value of commercial web use licenses by up to 96% off their established rates for Rights Managed photography.