Growing Coalition of Artists’ Groups Call on Getty Images
to Remove RM Collections from $49 “Web Use” License
Earlier this week, six leading photo trade associations sent a joint letter to Getty Images CEO Jonathan Klein objecting to the drastic price cuts and calling for the company to remove all Rights Managed (including Rights Ready) imagery from their new $49 “web use” license product.
Since then, more artists’ associations have been adding their voices to a growing international coalition now representing the interests of over 35,000 commercial and editorial photographers and filmmakers, photojournalists, illustrators and digital artists worldwide.
- Stock Artists Alliance (SAA)
- American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP)
- Association of Photographers (AOP)
- Advertising Photographers of America (APA)
- Editorial Photographers (EP)
- Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC)
- National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
- Illustrators’ Partnership of America (IPA)
- Association of Swedish Professional Photographers (SFF)
- International Association of Architectural Photographers (IAAP)
- Australian Commercial and Media Photographers (ACMP)
- Advertising & Illustrative Photographers Association of New Zealand (AIPA)
- Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP)
- Professional Photographers of Southern Africa (PPSA)
The joint association letter sent to Getty Images’ CEO states: “As the market leader, Getty’s actions affect the entire industry. We therefore expect that your action of devaluing digital usage risks the long-term earning potential from image licensing.” The letter identified five anticipated consequences: the loss of high-value digital license revenue, devaluation of RM licensing, erosion of prices across the board, reduced return for photographers, and reduced recovery value for images.”
In closing, the letter states: “We are eager to work with Getty Images and other leaders in the industry to find ways to evolve image licensing that address the changing needs of new media customers, and which leverage the distinctive value associated with Rights Managed imagery in a changing marketplace.”
Read the original Joint Association Press Release:
http://www.stockartistsalliance.org/info/news/news.htm#Getty49License
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