My head is spinning!

[xmasbaby]

Ok, 3 sites .. SS, DT and BSP .. all launched extended license options today.  They're all a bit different, but I'm having a hard time getting excited about any of them.
 
Am I missing something?  Everyone is jumping for joy that for a $20 royalty, someone can go make prints, posters, mousepads etc. from our images.  

Am I the only one who feels this is a bit of a rip-off?  Of course, I'd like the extra money, but are we compromising too much now in the name of microstock?  

I'd love to hear some opinions on this, so I can make an educated decision on whether to opt in or out of these licenses.

[Gracey]

Well, these people were using the photos prior to this and selling mousepads, posters, prints etc. and people were getting 20 cents.

Same thing is happening but the photog is getting $20

certainly it's a better deal than the one before. Plus, I think the deal is limited to a certain number of runs...

Actually, I'm considering pulling everything except my isolated stuff from SS - at least anything that has the likelihood of being used for printed posters.

That's not a deal I want to take for artwork. for objects on white, sure thing  

[bennym]

Xmas,
I must have missed that announcement on BSP.....

But this was something that we talked about last year there....
I believe Gracey has it right... there is suppose to be a limited run number, and additional payments for larger runs....

I believe the idea came from a number of request that were turned down because the use didn't fit the tos in place at the time, and a number of photographers were saying why turn sales away....

I think it's an opt in thing too.... but I haven't seen the info yet.....

I think we were all thinking why not expand the terms a little to incude other uses and get a few more bucks too...

[xmasbaby]

Thanks for your thoughts .. here are a few more of mine ..

If an image sold with an extended license, would we be required to pull that image off other sites?  Why in the world would someone pay for extended rights and not have exclusive rights to the image, even if for a short period of time?  If I'm not mistaken, this is how the extended license works on Istock, but I may have misunderstood that point.

So by a limited run, does that mean they can make let's say 10,000 mousepads and then that's it?  How would that ever be policed?  Then they go on to sell them for $10 each, make $100,000 and we got $20?  

I hear what you're saying about the people who were already doing it illegally, but now I think it would actually be easier for someone to get away with it.  The plus at Shutterstock, is that the buyer is required to state the copyright holder's name on the item, but again, it would be impossible to monitor if that was actually happening.

The confusion continues .........but everyone else seems so happy about it, so maybe I'm just reading too much into it or truly don't understand how it works and what the ramifications of such a license really are.

[bennym]

Xmas,
Let me try and explain it.... if I can... hopefully I wont make you more confused  
First... I don't know anything about istock because I'm not a member there.....

I just went and reviewed all the special licenses at BSP....

Basically there are three.... although for different items....
but lets say hats,t-shirt and that group...
your can receive $3.00 per photo used each time that person sells an item with that photo on it.... they sell 10 hats you get $30.00... they sell another 10 hats... you get another $30.00 etc. etc.  They sell one hat you get $3.00

OR
You can get $7.00 per picture used for every 1000 items they sell....

OR
You can get $20.00 and they can sell an unlimited amount of items....

That's basically the way it works.... EXCEPT there is also one other for electronic use
That one is $7.00 for up to 100,000 items.... or $20.00 for over 100,000 items.... I chose the $7.00 on that one....

Personally.... I opted in for the 3.00 per item sold.... They take my photo and they make a hat or a t-shirt.... they print it.... they market it.... they sell it.... I sit back an get $3.00 every time they sell one.... Every sale they make, I get a royalty of $3.00.... song writers only get like 2 cents every time their song is played on the radio and they make millions....

IF the product sells well... yup the guys going to make money.... but so am I.....  every time he sells one item, it's like I just sold 6 photos....

SO that's the option I picked... I don't know why anyone would pick the $20.00 and let them make an unlimited amout of items without another payment...

OH AND NO you don't have to remove your photo from any where and it will still stay in your portfolio and be sold as always too.... under the standard agreement like always.....

It's just a couple of buyers that want to make and sell some items and they give the name of the company too...  so they have come up with a special deal....

I think getting paid per item is the best way to go.... and who'd going to police it you ask....

Well..... don't you think that IF we're getting paid every time there's a sale that BSP is getting a piece of the action too....
No doubt that they have something in pace to track the sales.... they don't want to miss out on a payment I'm sure......

So I hope this helps....
Now it's past my bed time... I'm old and need my beauty sleep... I may have to model in the morning !    

[Ice]

...
your can receive $3.00 per photo used each time that person sells an item with that photo on it.... they sell 10 hats you get $30.00... they sell another 10 hats... you get another $30.00 etc. etc.  They sell one hat you get $3.00

Thanks Benny. I followed your explanation and it makes sense. I have adjusted mine.

Have you tried their referral program? I just signed up my first there. They pay 10% of your referrals sales to you. No bad. The problem I have with DT, it’s only for the first 6 months.

Do you know if iS have a referral program? I have asked them with no answers as yet.

[bennym]

Thanks Ice... glad I could help....

I have referral links on my web site.... but all the photographers and designers I know are already members of all the sites I belong too  


I'm not a member of IS so I really don't know, but maybe someone who is will respond....

The programs can be pretty good... I just have to widen my circle of friends... but I live such a sheltered life....

[PoogeTumgrore]

I want to optimise performance just wondered if anyone had any ideas on how much to skim of the head?

thanks