AOP Joins Coalition . . .

Stock Asylum Staff Report
Sept. 24, 2007

The Association of Photographers, an international group based in London, has joined a coalition of professional organizations that are opposing Getty Images' $49 web-resolution pricing scheme. Taken together, coalition members represent some 50,000 image creators.

"AOP members who contacted us have been vocal about expressing their disagreement with Getty’s move and the long-term effects it will have on their business," said the organization in announcing the move. "Many of them tell us that they no longer want to submit to Getty and several big names are now reconsidering their relationship with Getty."

AOP quoted one member who said he had three web sales with Getty last month for a total of $3,361. "It seems that this member would have to sell these images around 23 times to break even with this 'average' month of his," AOP asserted.

Getty Images announced recently that it will license web resolution stock photography of about 500 megabytes for $49. "All you need is a little pocket change," proclaims the Getty images web site.

Under the new program, rights-managed and rights-ready imagery would be licensed for three months. Royalty-free imagery, which is licensed for an indefinite period, is also included in the program, but the photographers's groups have not complained about this part of the program. Some low-resolution royalty-free images have for some time been sold at prices slightly higher than $49.

Originally, Getty said the rights-managed and rights-ready images would be licensed for a year, but reduced the time frame after complaints from photographers' groups. Rights-ready is a simplified variation of a rights-managed product.

In announcing its participation in the coalition headed by Stock Artists Alliance, AOP Quoted a number of its photographers. Some of the comments express long-standing frustration with the world's largest stock distributor.

"I have been becoming increasingly disenchanted with Getty for some time and this $49 'promotion' is the final straw. I find it truly insulting that I might receive approximately£9.80 per image sold. I do not want to be associated with a company who would sell off my work in such a cheap and crass manner," said award winning photographer George Logan.

"I am terminating my contract with Getty Images, and I would like to ask other GI photographers to examine this situation carefully and then respond appropriately," added AOP member Jo Sax.

" I feel this whole Getty saga is deplorable. Their desperate scramble to placate shareholders is detrimental to the whole industry and this makes me question whether public ownership is the best business model for our industry," said photographer Frank Herholdt.

Interestingly, shares of Getty Images stock has been falling since word of the $49 program came to public attention.

The AOP web site is at: http://www.the-aop.org.

Getty Images is at: http://www.gettyimages.com.

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