Category: Stock Artist Alliance - SAA
The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) is an international association of professional photographers, illustrators, and other creators of visual works for stock licensing. The mission of SAA is to support and protect the business interests of professional stock Artists worldwide. SAA provides its members with the tools required to create a business environment that enhances their individual ability to benefit from the licensing of their intellectual property. In addition, SAA monitors the industry and serves as an advocate for its members' interests in dealing with agencies and other distribution channels.
Key executives:
Betsy Reid - Executive Director
News
SAA launches PhotoMetadata.org and getMETAsmart tour
The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) , a trade organization for stock photographers, has announced that it has launched a new website located at PhotoMetadata.org and an educational speaking series called getMETAsmart . These intitatives have been launched under an award from the Library of Congress and supported by industry partners, the SAA Photo Metadata Project is on a mission to promote industrywide use of standard photo metadata in every digital image file.
News
Photolibrary responds to allegations related to Index Stock royalty payments
Responding to recent allegations of foul-play made by the the Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), a trade organization for stock photographers,The Photolibrary Group has issued a statement in an effort to “set the record straight on Index Stock legacy royalty payments”. Photolibrary’s chairman Tim Moore states “Photolibrary inherited (and willingly accepted) its obligation to pay outstanding royalties to IndexStock contributors when the Company purchased IndexStock in late 2006. However, until we assumed control of the business we had no real understanding of the complexity of this task. Years of poorly-kept or non-existent contributor records meant that it became extremely problematic and time-consuming for us to match royalty obligations against IndexStock contributors, who in many cases had changed addresses or become otherwise hard to locate”.
News
SAA reports ongoing issues with Index Stock royalty payments
After acquiring Index Stock Imagery in late 2006 PhotoLibrary of Australia made a pledge to Index Stock’s contributors to bring all payments up to date as quickly as possible. Two years later the company appears to have continued struggles sorting out royalties owed to contributors. Last year the company sent a letter to contributors stating that delays in payment were due to issues with Index stock’s accounting records, and the company hoped to complete the process by the end of 2008. Unhappy with the process, the photographer trade organization Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) has conducted its own investigation by contacting 116 of some 1,700 Index Stock contributors. In a recent release the organization stated “We can now confirm that Photolibrary scheduled payment of $560,000 in long overdue royalties due these artists. What troubles us is the vast majority of these payments came only after outside pressure and intervention - not from the company’s initiative”.
News
The Stock Asylum closes and donates archives to Stock Artists Alliance
The Stock Asylum, a stock photography news and information site covering the Stock Photography Industry has announced that it is closing its doors on April 6th. Ron Rovtar the founder and primary author of the site broke the news today stating “After much soul-searching (and more than a few sleepless nights) I have decided it is time to tackle new endeavors that will make it impossible to devote the required amount of effort to a website like The Stock Asylum”. Rather than simply shut down the site Rovtar has arranged to donate its archives of valuable stock industry reporting, analysis and resources to the Stock Artists Alliance (SAA).
News
Photolibrary back to business after Index Stock commission woes
Having wrestled with a PR nightmare over its handling of back commissions owed to photographers of Index Stock imagery, the agency it acquired late in 2006, photolibrary has gotten back to the business of licensing images. In a February 1st letter from CEO Glenn Parker to contributors with the heading “Update for Index Stock Artists,” the company addresses marketing plans for the coming year, which will entail eliminating the use of the Index Stock web-site and concentrating on efforts to strengthen the photolibrary brand. The letter also offers an explanation of where the accounting matter stands vis-à-vis pre-acquisition commissions owed.
EditorialsFeatures
Editorial: photolibrary deserves better
In a complete and concisely worded release, photolibrary answered its critics over its handling of back commissions owed to Index Stock photographers for periods previous to photolibrary’s acquisition of Index in October of 2006. To this writer, the explanations given by Tim Moore, photolibrary’s CEO, demonstrate the company has acted in good faith and continues to do so. Those still inclined to suspect photolibrary of being less than forthright with the Index contributors would do well to consider the following:
News
Obituary: Jane Kinne, friend
The photography community mourns the loss of Jane Kinne, who passed away early Saturday morning. Mrs. Kinne spent over fifty years as a photo agent, consultant to photographers and agencies, and an expert on copyright and other legal issues concerning images and image reproduction. Along the way, she brought her boundless and positive energy to bear on the creation and management of several photo industry trade associations. Most importantly, as a good friend and mentor, she gently but firmly coaxed from those of us lucky enough to know and work with her, an eagerness to bring our own positive energy to the business at hand.
News
SAA claiming Imagestate dissolution leaves contributors unpaid
As reported previously on AboutTheImage, Imagestate had faltered in 2006 and the brand name and assets were purchased by one of its founders Sheldon Marshall as the CEO of Heritage Image Partners Ltd. After the acquisition Marshall merged the two businesses (Heritage Partners & Imagestate) under the name ‘Imagestate Media’ and according to a press release from October 12th 2007 the old Imagestate PLC, a company under the control of the receivers will cease to exist on January 12th 2008. Following this news the Stock Artist Alliance (SAA) issued a press release claiming that “With just a few months until operations shut down, the situation has become critical for many contributors” who according to the SAA have long overdue royalties from licenses made by Imagestate.
News
News Brief: photographer associations protest Getty’s $49 web-use fee
After learning of Getty Images' new across-the-board web-use fee of $49 for a 500KB file from any Getty collection, several photographer trade organizations have sent a joint letter to Getty CEO Jonathan Klein a letter of protest suggesting the company consider retracting the move, especially where it concerns rights-managed and rights-ready images. The full text of the press-release follows:
News
SAA releases comprehensive infringement study
The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) a not-for-profit photographer advocacy organization, has released a comprehensive study of the issue of unauthorized or infringing use of stock images on the world-wide web. The study, which SAA performed in partnership with the usage tracking technology company, PicScout, examines and analyzes the results of tracking 20,000 rights managed images from Getty Images and Corbis for four months in 2005. The results show a startling rate of unauthorized use, both by inadvertent additional use to legally licensed rights and by simple theft of intellectual property.
News
SAA and ASMP receive Preserving Creative America initiative award from Library of Congress
The Stock Artist Alliance and American Society of Media Photographers have been selected among eight partnerships awarded for preserving digital media by the U.S. Library of Congress. The partnerships are each awarded to address different aspects of preservation, to help ensure the survival of digital media. The SAA has been recognized previously for the publication of its "Metadata Manifesto" in 2006 and the award be used to develop online resources and professional seminars to promote the importance of metadata for the long-term usability of digital photographs. The ASMP will use its award to expand and promote the Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines, with recommendations for refined production workflows, archiving methods and best practices based on image use and capture methods.
News
SAA release free RM price calculator
The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) has released a rights managed price calculator and made it available to download from their web-site free of charge. The software streamlines the RM pricing system called PLUS Packs™ developed by the Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS.) The software, PLUS Packs™ Calculator is an open source tool SAA created to promote the adoption of the PLUS pricing standards by more licensors and licensees of RM stock imagery.
News
Stock Artists Alliance opens arms to all professional photographers
The Stock Artist Alliance (SAA) a five year old trade organization for Stock Photographers has announced that it has recently voted to accept any professional photographer who is involved or interested in stock photography as a member. Previously the organization only accepted members who were in the business of licensing rights-managed (RM) images. The new change implies that photographers who offer images with royalty-free (RF) or micropayment models will be accepted as members. However, the SAA stated in a press release that it will continue to “advocate that the best business models for photographers are ones that manage usage and protect their intellectual property”.
News
October meeting of photo industry associations considered a success
Last month we reported about the planned meeting of representatives from eighteen photo industry trade associations to address issues of common interest and set plans for collective action on such issues as licensing and technical standards and so-called “orphan works” legislation in the US. The meeting took place as scheduled in New York City on October 31 and was deemed a huge success by all who attended. The leadership of ASPP and PACA initiated this historic meeting, which was hosted by the Society of Illustrators.
News
SAA launches magazine for stock photographers
The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) has launched a new educational magazine titled Keywords to share the breadth of knowledge SAA with other photographers. The new publication intended to be a guide to the business of stock is available for download online free of charge. The first issue is entitled “Stock Essentials.” offers more than 50 pages focused on the fundamentals of stock licensing, definitions, insights, resources, and visual inspiration, from SAA members who share their expertise about all aspects of the industry.
Features
Stock Artists Alliance offers London seminars
The Stock Artists Alliance is invading London with seminars for stock photographers looking to update their knowledge of the stock licensing industry and plan for the future. The day long program is taking place on 14 February 2006 and will feature a morning presentation, afternoon panel session and include networking opportunities. Photographers are invited to attend one or both sessions.
The morning Presentation entitled Thinking Stock will be presented by SAA Executive Director Betsy Reid and provides an orientation to the quickly changing industry of stock photography. In the afternoon there will be a Panel Session called Straight Talk about Stock presented by members of the SAA Board of Directors. Click here for more details or email to register.
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