The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) has called on Photolibrary to answer serious allegations that the company has not paid $2.2 million in commissions due to Index Stock image contributors. Four major North American photographer associations have affirmed their support for SAA’s actions to seek full accounting and payments of any monies owed to contributors. Advertising Photographers of America (APA) National President Martin Trailer stated, “APA supports the actions of SAA to investigate the accounting procedures of Photolibrary, parent of recently acquired Index Stock. APA believes the allegations made by Photolibrary’s controller are serious enough to justify a full review of the company’s accounting practices.”

Stock Artists Alliance Press Release

Photographers Groups Call on Photolibrary to Answer Questions About Index Stock Payments

The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), now joined by four leading North American photographer associations, continues to call on Photolibrary to answer serious allegations the company has not paid $2.2 million in commissions due Index Stock contributors.

This week, boards of directors from the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), Advertising Photographers of America (APA), Editorial Photographers (EP), and the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC) affirmed their support for SAA’s actions to seek full accounting and payments of any monies owed to contributors.

Each association has also issued member alerts, encouraging Index Stock contributors to contact group leaders. Each has supported SAA’s call for transparency and further investigation. Together with SAA, they plan to file a joint complaint to the Picture Archive Council of America, supporting the investigation already begun by PACA’s Ethics and Grievance Committee. 

ASMP issued the following Statement of Support: “To ensure continued and high-quality image contributions to distributors and fair compensation for photographers, the American Society of Media Photographers believes that the photographer/distributor relationship must be built on the cornerstones of transparency, trust and integrity. To that end, we support the investigation into the allegations made regarding various irregularities in the accounting practices and distributions made by Photolibrary/Index Stock and look forward to a speedy and equitable resolution.”

APA National President Martin Trailer stated, “APA supports the actions of SAA to investigate the accounting procedures of Photolibrary, parent of recently acquired Index Stock. APA believes the allegations made by Photolibrary’s controller are serious enough to justify a full review of the company’s accounting practices. With the scandalous days of creative accounting still fresh in many minds, APA applauds and supports the actions of SAA on behalf of all professional photographers.”

SAA President Roy Hsu stated, “SAA is proud to have ASMP, APA, EP and CAPIC joining us in our call for Photolibrary to publicly answer allegations against them and share those answers with all contributors, past and current. Together, we will closely watch this situation and share with each other what we see and learn.”

Associations seek straight answers from Photolibary
On behalf of Index Stock contributors, SAA, ASMP, APA, EP and CAPIC are asking Photolibrary to address the following

- Photolibrary needs to provide every Index Stock contributor, past and current, with a full and accurate accounting of all outstanding debt, based on the findings of the independent audit.
- Photolibrary then needs to promptly pay in full all outstanding commissions.
- Photolibrary then needs to respond to contributors about the other serious allegations of currently faulty accounting methods and practices that, if true, would result in ongoing problems in their reporting and payments to contributors.

For more information, see SAA’s Dec. 6 release: http://www.stockartistsalliance.org/info/news/news.htm#photolibrary

Contact
Betsy Reid, SAA executive director: [email protected] (404) 881-6482

About SAA
SAA is the only trade association dedicated to the business interests of professional stock photographers, supporting its members with information resources and ongoing advocacy initiatives. More information about SAA is available at www.stockartistsalliance.org

About ASMP
The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the premier trade association representing the interests of publication photographers for over 60 years through information, education and advocacy.  www.asmp.org

About APA
The Advertising Photographers of America, 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. www.apanational.com

About EP
Editorial Photographers is an organization of top magazine and news photographers from around the world dedicated to improving business practices and contracts. www.editorialphoto.com

About CAPIC
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. www.capic.org

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