Author Topic: Would you sell full rights to an image (Read 8522 times)

jasben · « **on:** April 10, 2011, 07:24 »

Hi, I'm new to this forum.

I've have had a couple of small ports at IS, SS, Dreams for a while now.
I have recently been offered 3k for full rights to one of my images at one one of the stock agencies,
it is however one of my best earners.

In it's first year it's looking like earning me arounf $800+ from just 2 stock agencies. I figure it's around 3 years of possible earnings of whats been offered. Question is... should I sell for a quick buck or let it ride for 5+ years, and possibly earn alot more.

I would be interested if any other Stock submitters have been in a similar situation.

elvinstar · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2011, 09:26 »

I guess it depends on whether you would rather have a bird in the hand ($3K) or two in the bush (possible future sales). Nobody can make that decision but you. Congrats on the offer either way!

caspixel · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2011, 09:47 »

How can they buy "full rights" to it when it's been sold so many times before?

pancaketom · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2011, 09:51 »

would that be 3K for you or some percentage of that? if 50%, that is only 1.5K, and < 2 years earnings on 2 sites - I wouldn't sell for that. Think of what number would be an offer you couldn't refuse and request that (or increase it so your %age would be that #).

Blufish · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2011, 10:18 »

Quote from: pancaketom on April 10, 2011, 09:51

would that be 3K for you or some percentage of that? if 50%, that is only 1.5K, and < 2 years earnings on 2 sites - I wouldn't sell for that. Think of what number would be an offer you couldn't refuse and request that (or increase it so your %age would be that #).

What he said.

mlwinphoto · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2011, 10:24 »

Caspixel has a great question.

$3,000 for complete rights is a joke, IMO. The last one I sold all rights to (granted, several years ago and things have changed since then) was for $25,000. You can do better than what they are offering.

If you aren't desperate for cash right now and you feel the image could net you more $ over the long term I would decline the offer.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2011, 13:47 »

Quote from: caspixel on April 10, 2011, 09:47

How can they buy "full rights" to it when it's been sold so many times before?

Buying copyright or 'full rights' does not have anything to do with a promise of exclusivity.

caspixel · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2011, 15:26 »

Quote from: sjlocke on April 10, 2011, 13:47

Quote from: caspixel on April 10, 2011, 09:47
How can they buy "full rights" to it when it's been sold so many times before?

Buying copyright or 'full rights' does not have anything to do with a promise of exclusivity.

What does it mean then? They can already pretty much do anything they want with it with either a standard or extended license (aside from using it as a logo or a testimonial, but why would anyone want to do that with a stock photo that has already sold to others anyway?). So what would be the point of owning the copyright?