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Dialog between SAA-led Coalition and Getty Images Results in Much Improved $49 License Product

This story is the continuation of our earlier article on Getty's $49 "web resolution" license, which was first proposed in early September, 2007.

After two months of ongoing and productive dialog with a coalition of artist groups led by the Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), Getty Images today announced significant changes to its $49 “web-resolution” license for both Rights Managed and Rights Ready imagery.

The SAA-led coalition’s key concern was this product should be restricted to short-term, highly limited, low-value usages and should not provide a substitute for high-value commercial and advertising online use licenses. Getty Images acknowledged the seriousness of the group’s concerns and engaged in productive dialog with SAA to rework the product to address those points.

Highlights of Changes

The major changes to the Rights Managed and Rights Ready products — compared in the chart below to the products as originally presented — mean they are now clearly and narrowly defined. The image licenses are limited, not only to a three-month term as Getty originally proposed, but also by additional parameters that effectively constrain usage.

Limitation of size
A maximum usage size of 180x150 pixels is now clearly defined. This clearly limits this license to secondary or spot usage.

Limitation on Distribution
In the original product, distribution was unlimited, allowing $49 licenses for major commercial campaigns. The revised product effectively eliminates this loophole. Distribution of a single web ad is now limited to one website only. Distribution of a single promotional email is limited to 10,000 recipients for RM, and a single email blast for RR. Use on a website is limited to a single page, and not unlimited pages as in the original product.

	RIGHTS MANAGED	RIGHTS READY
ORIGINAL	use for one commercial or editorial website, web ad, email, mobile or multimedia for one year	use in web or electronic media for commercial or editorial projects for one year
REVISED	Commercial: One of the following uses at a size up to 180x150 pixels: use on any single page in one corporate or promotional Website for up to three months or one Web advertisement on no more than one Website for up to three months or one promotional email sent to no more than 10,000 recipients for up to three months. Editorial: Editorial use on any single page of one editorial Website at a size up to 180x150 pixels.	Electronic or web — single use at a maximum of 180x150 pixels in web or other electronic media for commercial, editorial or internal projects for up to 3 months. Example uses: • Use on a single corporate, editorial or promotional website or intranet • A single web ad on one website • A single bulk email

SAA Executive Director Betsy Reid says the organization’s leaders are pleased the direct dialog led to “an improved license product that resolves many of the concerns raised by photographers and our coalition. It expands new licensing opportunities in a growing market for very small digital uses where this type of product makes sense.”

Looking Forward

A bigger-picture issue that SAA has been raising is how traditional RM licensing systems can be innovated to better meet the changing needs of customers who are increasingly moving from print to digital media. SAA is engaged in broader discussions around this critical issue with Getty Images and other key players across the stock industry.

SAA President Roy Hsu explains, “SAA is committed to maintaining the momentum from the ongoing dialog started here on issues central to the long-term business interests of both artists and distributors.”

The Coalition Members

The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) is the only trade association dedicated to the business interests of professional stock photographers, supporting its global membership with substantial information resources and ongoing advocacy initiatives.

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the premier trade association representing the interests of publication photographers for over 60 years.

The Association of Photographers (AOP) is a UK based professional trade association with in excess of 1800 members working in the fields of fashion, advertising, editorial and design. Established in 1968, the AOP brings professional photographers together, protecting their rights and promoting photography.

The Advertising Photographers of America (APA), the leading trade association representing the interests of advertising photographers, works to improve the environment for success in the industry and champions the rights of photographers worldwide.

Editorial Photographers (EP) is an organization of 2,000 of the top magazine and news photographers from around the world dedicated to improving business practices and contracts.

The Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC) was founded in 1978 to safeguard the rights of photographers and illustrators and digital artists working in the Canadian communications industry.

The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is dedicated to the advancement of photojournalism, its creation, editing and distribution, in all news media. Our 10,000 members include still and television photographers, editors, students and representatives of businesses that serve the photojournalism industry.

The Illustrators’ Partnership of America (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the intellectual property rights of its members and creating a mechanism to professionally administer collective management of individual illustrators’ rights.

Founded in 1895, the Association of Swedish Professional Photographers (SFF) is Sweden’s oldest and largest organization for professional photographers with over 2,200 members working in the areas of advertising, news, fashion, portrait, art, industry and nature photography. SFF’s main task is to improve and develop photographers’ working conditions.

The International Association of Architectural Photographers (IAAP) is a trusted forum that brings together architectural photographers worldwide, as well connects buyers to the most talented architectural photographers for their projects.

Australian Commercial and Media Photographers (ACMP), established in 1991, acts as a united voice for Australian professional working photographers.

The Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association of New Zealand (AIPA) was founded in 1978 to promote more communication and higher standards in commercial photography, with a focus on copyright issues and education.

Founded in 1965, the Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP) provides market information, advice and support to around 6,000 freelance photographer members. BFP members are primarily involved in supplying images to the UK publishing industry and to stock libraries.

The Professional Photographers of Southern Africa (PPSA) is only national institute for professional photographers in Southern Africa.

The Graphic Artists Guild is a national union of illustrators, designers, web creators, production artists, surface designers and other creatives. The Guild is committed to improving conditions for all creators of graphic art and raising standards for the entire industry.

Pyramide Europe exists to promote and protect the rights of photographers and other visual creators in the European context, providing a voice for creators in discussion with the European Commission. Members: Pyramide France, Pyramide Spain, Pyramide Finland, Pyramide Greece, Pyramide UK & Ireland, and Pyramide Netherlands.

FREELENS was established in 1995 by photo journalists to rectify the progressively worsening conditions under which they were forced to work. Today, the professional association has over 1,600 members, making it the largest group of photo journalists in Germany.