Photog Accuses Getty of Loaning Images to CafePress Instead of Licensing Them

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Photographer Remi Thornton recently terminated his contract with Getty after finding out that the agency was allowing online retailer CafePress to use his images on potential merchandise without paying an up-front licensing fee.

In fact, according to Thornton, CafePress has an exclusive agreement with Getty, which allows them use any of the agency’s Royalty Free stock to populate their store, while only paying the photographer if the merchandise featuring their image actually sells.


http://www.petapixel.com/2013/04/06/getty-allegedly-allowing-cafepress-to-borrow-images-instead-of-licensing-them/

http://remithornton.com/news/13768623/terminated

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Just another example of how Getty treats its contributors and another piece of ammo for us.  Cafe Press is just doing what Jonathan Klein said to do in his TechCrunch video, take and use our images up until the point you make money on them.  I see this agreement being used as a defense much like the TechCruch video.

[Oscar Michelen]

It's a shame Getty has such a huge market share already that one photog leaving won't have an impact - the word needs to spread of how they treat their contributors

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

I have a feeling it will happen.

It's a shame Getty has such a huge market share already that one photog leaving won't have an impact - the word needs to spread of how they treat their contributors

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Here's another blog post regarding Getty allowing Cafe Press to "borrow" images.. In this article the photographer severed ties with Getty Images, was consequently banned from the Getty forums for bitching about the measely % Getty pays, and to boot still had his images appearing on Cafe press as well as in ads on facebook and other places.. It's worth the time to read some of the comments from other photogs, seems many are truly pissed about this and have severed ties with Getty....

Last week photographer Remi Thornton penned a post about why he quit working with Getty Images. Remi alerted photographers to a new scheme by Getty Images whereby they were “loaning” photographer images (without pay) to Cafe Press for marketing purposes. The idea is that Cafe Press could use photographers’ images without paying, unless a sale was made, then a photographer might receive a royalty.

Allowing Cafe Press free use of photographers’ images for marketing did not sit right with Remi or other photographers, Remi felt that Cafe Press should have to pay a royalty for using the image at all and not get to use the images to market Cafe Press for free.

On March 25th, I submitted my own resignation to Getty Images. Shortly thereafter on March 27th I received acknowledgement from Getty along with the following:

“As per your recent request where you expressed your desire to terminate your outstanding contract with Getty Images, this is your official notice of termination of the Agreement between yourself and Getty Images, which had a Commencement Date of 3/11/2009.”

A few days later my images disappeared from Getty’s website for sale.

http://thomashawk.com/2013/04/how-to-lose-control-of-your-photos-with-getty-images.html