Not really. In the Shutterstock � Facebook deal the images are used only ones (one time usage) and only on the Facebook site in a smaller size. Unless I�m mistaken, this Fotolia deal is for multiple uses (royalty free) at any size?

That's how I interpret it.

Excuse me but is it possible for BS to offer lower royalties? They added that failed 50,000 DL RC level. And already pay less than SS. How much lower can it go there?

I closed my FT account and I must say, they waited for the end of the month and removed everything and paid me in 30 days. Couldn't have been any smoother or easy.

I closed mine over the partner programs and potential of losing all rights to everything because of mass distribution to unknown agencies, lack of detailed accounting or being able to monitor what was going on with my work. A general plague that's been afflicting microstock.

It would not surprise me a bit to find that SS is offering similar API deals via BS where they pay lower royalties overall.

... Time marches by, and the only difference I see at Fotolia is that they have gone from being an arrogant agency with pretty good sales to becoming an arrogant agency with really lousy sales. ...

It's a shame that an agency that started out with so much promise, and managed to survive a near-death experience with their V2.0 software has been a leader of late in various royalty cutting moves and not much else. They were the agency that really made an effort to do something for the European (non-English-speaking) market - which iStock and Shutterstock sensibly followed.

Good agencies gone bad

Quote from: lisafx on January 17, 2014, 13:07

I remember a few years ago when every new year brought some sort of raise in this industry.  Ah the good old days...

Now each new year brings new ways to devalue our work and cut into our earnings.  Every January like clockwork. 

I really look forward to when my daughter finishes graduate school and begins earning enough to support herself.  Then I will be quite happy to throw in the towel.  It stopped being fun somewhere around 2010-2011.

  Wow, Lisa, I remember when you were just talking about which college your daughter would attend. Graduate school! Time marches by, and the only difference I see at Fotolia is that they have gone from being an arrogant agency with pretty good sales to becoming an arrogant agency with really lousy sales. Matt can whistle past the graveyard all he wants, but it's over at Fotolia.
   Time to open that taco stand I always wanted...

My post may have been misleading...  She's halfway through her junior year of college, but planning on getting a masters degree, so that's when our financial obligation to her ends.  Assuming it ever does.  Anyone with self-sustaining adult kids want to provide a ray of hope?  PLEASE!!
   

They are clearly targeting Shutterstocks bottomline as FT has no stand in the US. And as usual with FT they are targeting our bottomline too with their DollarPhotoClub (ReallyStupidName).
If you love these 28,- Dollar ELs and if you depend on the income stream from Shutterstock you should worry!

Also from their FAQ:

Dollar Photo Club images can be used for any non-commercial projects such as websites, web banners, newsletters, PDF documents, blogs, email, slide shows, standard-resolution TV and video presentations, and cell phone splash screens. Images can also accompany magazine articles, books, advertising, brochures, documents, illustrations, booklets, brochures, billboards, business cards, packaging, high-resolution videos, and presentations where the value of the images is not the main value of the overall project.

What does that last bit mean? (my bolding)

Have you looked at Fotolia�s standard license lately? It says pretty much the same thing. The Dollar Club license looks pretty much the same as Fotolia�s standard license. Actually I�ve noticed quite a few agencies now have this in their standard license. I think there might be a lot of contributors who need to check licenses at their agencies. They have been changing�

double post

@ Pixart
Lol, thanks for posting! I'm not with them but I had really good time reading this... [censure]
 

And "Unlimited print runs, Unlimited image use", it's just extended USE, nothing less!

But the standard licence at Fotolia already offers unlimited print runs - this from the licences page on their site:
"Fotolia�s standard license allows unlimited print runs"  It also covers so many uses like book covers etc that it is a wonder anyone ever buys an extended licence.  I don't allow them with my FT port since I got $5 for one not long after I started.  Dollar Photo Club doesn't seem to offer extended licences that I can see, but when the permitted use of the standard licence is so broad who needs one apart from TShirt and mug sellers?

Quote from: Pixart on February 24, 2014, 13:09

Discover downloads that NEVER expire - cancel your membership and purchased downloads will STILL be there when you need them, always...

Ok, what happends if I quit Fotolia and delete my portfolio. My images will sill be there for future downloads for those who bought them before? Even if I do not work with Fotolia anymore and do not allow them to have my photos on their website and servers? Where and when did I sign this?

It means that just like regular buyers, even if they stop buying at Fotolia, they still have any files they already bought and downloaded.
Some subs sites have clauses that say buyers can't use files in new projects after they stop their subscription payments, but I have no idea how they'd police that.