APA Takes Position on Getty Contract and Endorses and Encourages Stock Artists Alliance
The Advertising Photographers of America (APA) is greatly encouraged by the courageous leadership shown by StockArtistsAlliance members in their efforts to educate and inform the stock industry about fair and equitable terms and conditions of proposed contracts. The SAA1s Steering Committee and its members have contributed valuable information and insight for all individuals involved with evaluating the current state of the stock photography and illustration market.
APA fully and enthusiastically supports and endorses the SAA efforts.
APA also wishes to extend congratulations for SAA1s well-reasoned and articulate letter to Getty Images Management: and their important contribution to understanding the Getty Contract in their 3Ramifications of Signing Getty Images �New Contract12 Report: prepared by Mary Luria of Davis and Gilbert in New York City. We believe this report should be read by ALL STOCK INDUSTRY MEMBERS, not just photographers contemplating the signing of the Getty contract.
While APA has not "officially" reviewed the proposed Getty Images contract, it is very clear than this contract is a major problem for the industry. Merely the length of the document and noted contradictory language makes it impossible to evaluate the contract without a legal background. This puts individual photographers in a very weak position. The proposed contract and its apparent characterization as being "non-negotiable" on its important fundamentals sets a very poor precedent for contracts for photographers in general. If Getty Images intends to present this contract on a "take it or leave it" basis, APA advises photographers to seriously evaluate the full ramifications and implications to themselves and the industry before signing the document.
Photographers have weathered a trying time as various independent stock agencies have consolidated into only a few large "mega-agencies." Now that there are just a few big players in the stock photography industry, the entire nature of "image creators" has been transformed. However, it should be noted that media and content have never before been so valuable.
APA encourages all photographers to exert greater control over their licensed works and to enter into ONLY those agreements that fairly and honestly are in THEIR best interests.
Regards, Jeff Schewe ____________________________________ Jeff Schewe - APA National President president@apanational.org www.apanational.org
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Posts: 107 | Location: Bloomington, IL USA | Registered: 25 June 2001
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