| GETTY IMAGES SIGNS ARNOLD NEWMAN,
BUYS VCG FROM UNM
In an exclusive agreement, Getty Images, Inc. is representing the
work of noted photographer Arnold Newman. The agreement calls for the Seattle-based
e-commerce company to offer Newman’s work through Liaison and its gettysource
channel, making reproduction rights to the images available to the press and media
worldwide.
Newman, who began his 62-year career in 1938, has seen his work
appear in magazines (such as Esquire, The New Yorker, Vogue and Vanity Fair)
and international exhibitions (including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute
of Chicago and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London) and has photographed every
American president since Truman.
In a separate announcement, Getty Images confirmed the acquisition
of Visual Communications Group, its largest competitor, from United News and Media PLC.
The acquisition, estimated to have cost $220 million, will leave the publicly held Getty
Images with a collection in excess of 70 million images and more than 27,000 hours of
footage.
Getty Images can be found online at www.gettyimages.com.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BRACES
FOR COURT BATTLE
Can a magazine or publishing company publish a photo in 1979 and
republish it electronically in 2000 without asking the photographer’s permission?
Several dozen photographers are battling that practice with their class action suit
against National Geographic, a magazine well known and respected worldwide.
The lawsuit recalls the recent Tasini case, wherein the courts ruled
that publishers may not reuse (electronically or otherwise) previously published photos
without the consent of the photographer (specifically, a freelance photographer who was
under no work-for-hire arrangement with the periodical).
The National Geographic lawsuit was launched by photographers
and writers after they were offered (and rejected) only token payment for their photos and
articles used in the publication of The Complete National Geographic—110 Years of
National Geographic Magazine on CD-ROM, which includes photos taken as far back as 100
years ago. A later version of The Complete National Geographic has also been
published in DVD format.
The photos in question are by independent photographers who were not
staff members and were not employed on an agreed-upon work-for-hire basis with the
magazine.
The lawsuit, filed in late 1999 in U.S. District Court in New York,
alleges that a 1996 for-profit division of the non-profit National Geographic Corporation
has republished the magazine’s pages in electronic format.
The suit seeks to stop the sale of the product, which, according to
promotional literature, "contains 178,567 pages with spectacular photographs, 9,048
fascinating articles and 100 years of classic advertising."
PPA JOINS ANTI-PIRACY FIGHT ONLINE
Professional Photographers of America, the world’s largest
photographic and imaging trade association, has announced its plans to join forces with
the Copyright Assembly, a powerful confederation of prominent U.S. companies and
associations. The decision was made as part of PPA’s ongoing effort to defend the
rights of its member photographers, and to lend assistance to the Assembly’s growing
efforts on Capitol Hill.
The Copyright Assembly, unveiled earlier this year, seeks to address
the issues of copyright protection in a technologically evolving world—specifically,
copyright protection on the Internet. The group is made up of an unprecedented mixture of
associations and media and entertainment giants, including the Motion Picture Association
of America, ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX and NBC. Professional sports leagues in the Assembly
include Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League,
National Hockey League, NCAA, NASCAR and the PGA and LPGA Tours.
PPA is the only photographic association in the Copyright Assembly
and expects to have a very high profile on Capitol Hill, beginning with meetings with
members of Congress.
ONLINE PHOTO LABS TO SEE
$4.4 BILLION BY YEAR 2005
As the world goes digital, a revolution is occurring in the
photofinishing industry. A new study from InfoTrends Research Group reveals that in 2000,
13.9 billion amateur digital images will be created through digital cameras, scanners and
film digitization services in the United States alone. This will result in 5.4 billion
photographic prints from digital files. Worldwide online photofinishing revenues are
projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 92 percent, reaching $4.4 billion in 2005.
Consumers wishing to print digital images have several options
available to them, including home printers, online photofinishers and retail solutions. A
host of players have entered the online photofinishing industry in order to capitalize on
this tremendous market opportunity. Dot-com photofinishers such as Shutterfly and Ofoto
are using their venture funding to drive aggressive promotions and marketing campaigns in
order to gain consumer mindshare.
Traditional photofinishers such as Kodak do not intend to be left
behind as the paradigm shift occurs; rather, they are leveraging their established brands
against industry newcomers. Meanwhile, photo-finishing equipment manufacturers and other
back-end technology providers are empowering retailers with online solutions.
JAPAN DIGITAL CAMERA SHIPMENTS SURGE
Digital still camera shipments by Japanese makers surged 81 percent
in October-December 1999, according to the Japan Electronic Industry Development
Association.
The association attributed the increase to strong export demand
generated by the launch of less expensive models overseas.
In 1999, Japan’s 20 digital still camera makers shipped 4.82
million cameras. Olympus Optical Co Ltd., Canon Inc. and Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. are the
leading makers.
SHUTTERFLY TEAMS WITH YAHOO!
Yahoo! Inc., a global Internet provider, has selected Redwood City,
Calif.-based Shutterfly as a provider of digital print services for Yahoo! Photos. Under
the new program, the 120 million customers of Yahoo! can order and share 35mm color images
over the Internet.
CORBIS DOES 360 WITH NEW PANORAMICS
Design professionals can now license 360-degree panoramics as part
of Corbis Images’ extensive selection of photography and fine art.
Seattle-based Corbis Images (www.corbisimages.com) has launched a
new online gallery of 360-degree immersive images —
dynamic, full-circle panoramic views. The first 360-degree panoramic offering in the stock
photo industry, these images offer views of some of the most memorable locations across
the country.
Released in tandem with the introduction of red, a stock photography
print catalog and CD featuring a full range of contemporary images, the panoramics were
developed to meet the growing needs of media clients around the world. The diverse
collection includes images shot by some of the leading photographers in today’s
commercial marketplace, including Eric Poppleton and Randy Farris.
ALCHEMEDIA OFFERS PROS
FREE WEB PORTFOLIOS
Alchemedia has announced the launch of Clevercontent.com. This new
service introduces photographers, artists, designers and content developers to technology
that safeguards their images, allowing them to post their best material without fear of
unauthorized usage. The venue, free of the distraction of banner ads and heavy interfaces,
lets design firms, picture editors and other image buyers focus on the creative work
itself.
To introduce themselves to Alchemedia’s technology and the
Clevercontent.com concept, photographers, artists, designers and other content creators
can sign up for a free portfolio.
Artisans receive a personal URL, a biography page and a showcase for
their protected, optimally sized images online. Content buyers can use a search engine on
Clevercontent.com to locate artisans, art types, images or subjects by name.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CREATIVES MERGE FORCES
Three major players in the Pacific Northwest’s creative
services industry have merged. Wy’east Color, Inc., Photogroup, Inc. and Market Place
Design, a division of Photogroup, will combine their talents and employees to offer
customers a comprehensive package that includes design, photography, pre--press, printing
and image management. The companies will continue to do business under their existing
names and will continue operating out of their Portland, Seattle and Bellevue locations.
BLUE EARTH PROPOSAL
DEADLINE APPROACHES
The Seattle-based Blue Earth Alliance (BEA) invites proposals from
photographers working on documentary projects about endangered environments and threatened
cultures. If a project is accepted, BEA’s 501(c)(3) status is extended to the
project. The photographer can then apply for grants earmarked for nonprofit organizations
or approach individuals and businesses for tax-deductible contributions.
The application should include the following: a brief letter (not
more than three pages) describing the proposed project and previous work; a resume; a
proposed budget, including a fee for the photogra-pher’s time; a detailed shooting
schedule; a list of who will be approached for funding; 20 duplicate slides of recent
work; three references with addresses and phone numbers; and a self-addressed stamped
envelope for return of the slides.
The next deadline for consideration is June 1, 2000. The proposal
should be sent to Blue Earth Alliance, c/o Benham Studio Gallery, 1216 First Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98101. Additional information can be found online at www.blueearth.org.
BEA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping
photographers document endangered environments, threatened cultures and social issues. It
considers proposals twice each year, with deadlines of June 1 and October 1. Currently, 12
photographers are shooting projects accepted by BEA, with topics ranging from global
warming to migrant communities in the Midwest.
GLAZER’S AWARDS $500 SCHOLARSHIPS
Two Art Institute of Seattle students, Kim Carey and Cheryl James,
were awarded $500 scholarships by Glazer’s Camera Supply of Seattle. Both students
are part of the school’s two-year Commercial Photography program.
AUCTION EARNS $80,000 FOR
‘YOUTH IN FOCUS’ TEENS
The fourth annual Double-Exposure auction benefitting the
Seattle-based Youth in Focus organization drew an audience of more than 350 and donations
of $80,000. Held March 9 in Seattle, the auction featured jury-selected works by
professional photographers. Youth in Focus equips at-risk youth, ages 13-19, with cameras,
film and the ability to use basic black-and-white photography.
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