London-based law firm Mishcon de Reya is joining the PicScout legal partner program, which helps the company’s image-tracking clients pursue compensation for use of their visual assets. Mishcon is known for intellectual property litigation, particularly through its TULIP—turning profit into loss—program, which PicScout says is reminiscent of its own “every image gets its credit” motto.
PicScout says it now commands the world’s largest index of fingerprinted and owner-identified imagery through its Image IRC platform. The company is expanding its legal partner services to its stock-agency and photographer clients. PicScout’s ImageTracker product provides clients with usage information that helps ensure, including through legal means, that images are properly licensed.
PicScout chief executive Offir Gutelzon says Mishcon has an efficient process for handling illegitimate commercial image uses. Law frm partner Adam Morallee adds: “Mishcon has long had a reputation for taking a principled stand; treating intellectual property infringement like any other form of theft. We have always sought to ensure that rights owners are fairly compensated for their losses.”
Morallee says Mishcon de Reya has recovered hundreds of millions of pounds for its clients, who include businesses in the fashion, pharmaceutical and IT industries, as well as artists and authors. The firm also has ongoing cases in the photo industry.
PicScout will be on hand at the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies’ Picture Buyers’ Fair on May 19–20 in London.