Following discussions with the Stock Artists Alliance, Getty Images has announced significant changes to its $49 “web-resolution” license. The major changes include a three month term limit, maximum usage size of 180x150 pixels and limits on distribution. 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.”

Stock Artists Alliance Press Release

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

After two months of ongoing and productive dialog with 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 of artist groups’ key concern was this product should “be restricted to short-term, highly limited, low-value usages and does not provide a substitute for high-value commercial and advertising online use licenses.”

Getty Images acknowledged the seriousness of concerns the group raised, and has engaged in productive dialog with SAA to rework the product to address those points.

Highlights of Changes
The major changes to the RM and RR products - compared in the chart below to the products as originally presented - mean they are now clearly and narrowly defined, limited not only to a three month term, 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
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
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.

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
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.”

Read other releases and related information to this issue:
http://www.stockartistsalliance.org/info/news/news_Getty.htm

Getty Images Press Release

Getty Images Announces Early Success with Online Image Product and Additional Product Refinements

Customer and Photographer Feedback Help Shape Enhanced Web-Resolution Licensing Terms

London - 19 November, 2007 – Getty Images, Inc. (NYSE: GYI) today announced that customers are enthusiastically embracing its recently launched Web-resolution product which was created to address increased demand for fresh, high-quality and simple to use imagery for online usages. The new product enables customers producing content for the rapidly expanding online market to use award-winning imagery from the broadest and highest quality collection in the world in their media and advertising.

“We created a brand new product, at a compelling price point, for an entirely new market, and customers are responding,” said Nick Evans-Lombe, executive vice president of imagery, products and services at Getty Images. “The Web-resolution product is in its early days, but demand is already very strong. We are bringing new customers into our business through this product, who are then licensing more broadly across other collections and other usages. Getty Images continues to be a catalyst for change in the industry, creating opportunities for our photographers and the broader photographic community.”

Since the launch of this new product, the company has attracted thousands of new customers, and has seen a significant increase in volumes of the new Web-resolution product. Furthermore, customers licensing the new product are also licensing imagery across the Getty Images portfolio.

“Getty Images was able to provide us with the new, low-res file size images for a large project we recently did,” said Kylie Anderson, resource manager at Agency.com. “We were able to find the quality we needed in their library at the right price and received quick and friendly service – our client was very impressed with us!”

Getty Images today also announced new refinements to the Web-resolution product. The refinements address photographers’ specific concerns around licensing terms for online imagery while providing an opportunity for them to benefit from the exponential growth of the online market.

“We have had very positive dialogue with our photographer community, and this input has been invaluable in helping us evolve the product,” said Paul Banwell, director of photographer relations. “While keeping an important and relevant product for customers, the refinements address photographers’ concerns specific to licensing duration, distribution and usage for the rights-ready and rights-managed products, while the royalty-free product remains unchanged.”

“We are pleased the outcome of our direct dialog and Getty Images’ open-minded approach is an improved license product that resolves many of the concerns raised by photographers and our coalition, and expands new licensing opportunities for a growing market for very small digital uses where this type of product makes sense,” said Betsy Reid, Stock Artists Alliance’ executive director.

For more information about the Web-resolution file format, visit www.gettyimages.com .

About Getty Images
Getty Images is the world’s leading creator and distributor of visual content and the first place creative professionals turn to discover, purchase and manage imagery. The company’s award-winning photographers and imagery help customers create inspiring work which appears every day in the world’s most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and Web sites. Headquartered in Seattle, WA and serving customers in more than 100 countries, Getty Images believes in the power of imagery to drive positive change, educate, inform, and entertain. Visit Getty Images at http://gettyimages.com.

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