PicScout has announced that Superstock, Corbis-owned Veer and newer microstock Vivozoom have joined the agencies indexed via ImageIRC. So far, more than 40 agencies have added their inventories to the platform that allows search-engine users to connect with image owners via the ImageExchange search-engine plug-in.
According to PicScout, ImageIRC is growing by the tens of millions of images. The company says it now commands the largest global database of owner-identified images, including rights-managed, royalty-free and user-generated content. In addition to the collections of participating agencies, photographers and other photo-industry partners, ImageIRC has indexed millions of Flickr-hosted images offered under the Creative Commons 3.0 license (which requires attribution and prohibits commercial uses or restrictions of derivative works).
The database is accessible to image users who have downloaded the free ImageExchange Internet browser plug-in, currently in beta for Firefox and in development for Internet Explorer. Potential image buyers using the plug-in will be able to identify licensable images, connect to their owners and purchase rights to use the content.
For image owners, the system drives traffic—on a pay-per-click basis similar to online advertising. Collection owners are charged each time a user clicks on the ImageExchange icon. Agencies may limit the number of referrals per month. Photographers can register directly with PicScout or participate via via partners such as Photoshelter, which has an umbrella arrangement covering its user base.
Separately, PicScout announced that it has reached an agreement with Amana Images. The Tokyo-based company will use the PicScout ImageTracker to monitor image uses. PicScout said its Asia-Pacific business is growing and has appointed a regional sales director, former Corbis Japan executive Naoko Asai, to cover this market.