Getty Images has announced that it has acquired
PicScout, a leader in identifying image use, metadata and licensing information on the web. Founded in 2002 by Offir Gutelzon and Eyal Gura the company is based in Herzliya, Israel and has 60 employees. The PicScout brand will remain, and the R&D team is expected to remain in Israel.
PicScout digitally fingerprints images that are supplied to them by stock agencies and maintains a database of those fingerprints. Its
ImageTracker, software searches the web for matches to the images in its database. The software can find matches even if the images have been cropped, blurred or rotated and the company reports matches to the copyright owners. Its
ImageExchange product is an add-on to Firefox and Explorer browsers. It can identify copyrighted images in real time and supply users with information about where to legally license rights to use each image."
This acquisition will enable Getty Images to amplify its digital content licensing expertise and leverage PicScout's technology in developing new image identification tools and stronger content licensing support for the industry. Getty will invest in PicScout's technology and continue to work across the entire image industry, to improve and expand protection of Intellectual Property.
"As the access to digital imagery becomes even easier, the ability to safeguard and manage creators' content has become more critical than ever," said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images. "This acquisition will enable us to bring a vital service to a greater number of imagery agencies and companies around the world and make it possible for them to successfully manage the licensing of the content they represent."
Offir Gutelzon, co-founder and CEO of PicScout added, "With the vast expansion of digital devices and platforms, technology solutions are required to ensure every image gets its credit, which enables a connection to licensors wherever the images are used online. The acquisition will make it possible for PicScout to accelerate its position as a market innovator and as one of the world's largest indexes of owner-identified images. It will allow PicScout to continue its rapid support of content owners and content users, who seek an integrated solution for image identification and use."
According to
Globes Israel’s Business Arena annual turnover is estimated at $5 million and Getty is believed to have paid $20 million for the company. Previously, PicScount had filed a prospectus with the Israel Securities Authority to raise $5-10 million at a company value of $20-30 million in an IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). The plan was withdrawn in September 2010.