10 Jul 2008 Getty and Flickr
Interesting times.
“We intend to launch our Flickr collection in the coming months with tens of thousands of images, with thousands more added to the collection each month.” – Bridget Russell, Getty Images via Thomas Hawk
“Financially for us is not significant, but it’s strategically extremely important.” – Getty co-founder and Chief Executive Jonathan Klein, via SeattlePI.com
“Flickr users, many of whom are amateurs, will be paid in the same manner as professionals if their images are used commercially.” – SeattlePI.com
“The relationship, in the licensing piece, is purely between the photographer “ the Flickr member “ and Getty Images itself.” – Kakul Srivastava, Flickr General Manager, via Daryl Lang’s interview at PDN
“In order to get paid and allow their images to be used, Flickr members must sign a Getty Images contributor contract”. – Cnet
“As much as Getty would like to position this move as an open embrace of the community, it’s not. Instead, it’s a way to lock out competition, and allow them to continue with status quo.” – PhotoShelter blog post ‘How Getty is Killing the Stock Photo Industry‘.
Flickr FAQs | Yahoo Press Release
Image Thomas Hawk
Jim Talkington
Posted at 15:16h, 10 JulyIt’s an interesting development, not fully unexpected, I’d imagine.
It seemed a matter of time before the vast Flickr photo resource was opened to monetization. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, this affects the standards of what has been (till now) an open photographic community. Getty has been granted to the first key to entry, will more follow?
pdtnc
Posted at 17:33h, 23 JulyThat is interesting… could mean the start of an influx of Flickr photographers into stock after a couple of sales via Getty, though I suppose that all depends on what the Getty / Flickr user agreement / Contract reads.
If it ties the photographer down to being exclusive with Getty it would be good for Getty, but potentially bad for the Photographer unless the Getty earnings are good enough.
Photographically the Image buyer will have a free-er reign on the genre and type of images they buy, not all buyers will want the ‘stock – Stock Photo’, so hopefully a wider gamut of styles will work their way into popular design. I’d say this is a BIG plus for photography!
Things depend on how it works with Flickr, if its just Getty’s Image monkeys that sift through Flickr’s photographers it might limit the variety of work available to buy. But if the ability for a buyer to state interest in a particular shot or photographer is available, which in turn alerts the Getty Image monkeys to inspect and add the proposed image to the Getty/ Flickr pot, it should be good.
Overall I guess it could create more competition among the already established stock agencies…… lets wait and see.
My Flickr shots probably won’t make the grade! 🙂