June 29, 2007
Global Digital Copyright Project Sees Progress
The World Association of Newspapers and associated publishing and media groups working on the Automated Content Access Protocol announced that the project is running on schedule and will be completed by the end of 2007.
ACAP is a new standard that will allow online content providers to communicate licensing and permissions information to search engines. It permits content providers to control how search engines index such content. For example, it can allow indexing only by search engines that have paid royalties or limit the timeframe. ACAP would also ensure that all images are properly attributed.
ACAP is designed to encourage content dissemination while avoiding legal disputes between content providers and search engines. The project's partner organizations and members include the biggest names in global media, such as Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Scholastic, Reuters, PLUS Coalition and the World Association of Newspapers.
Shutterstock Inventory Grows, Fotolia's Shrinks
By: Julia Dudnik Stern
The library of micro-payment photo provider Shutterstock has doubled in 10 months, bringing its number of photos, illustrations and vector graphics to 2 million. At this time, Shutterstock leads the microstock community in inventory size, closely followed by Fotolia and iStockphoto.
While Shutterstock reports growing by 25,000 images per week, Fotolia's numbers have dropped with its recent site upgrade. Fotolia removed all images from its inventory that did not sell for 18 consecutive months. The decision reduced stock from just over 3 million to an estimated 2 million images in total.
Barcroft Launches Video Division
By: Julia Dudnik Stern
Barcroft Media, a North London picture and features agency, launched a new video portal, Barcroft.tv. The new service offers stock footage from the UK and elsewhere. Clips are available for immediate download at both Web and broadcast quality. The current inventory focuses on celebrity appearances in the London area.
LuckyOliver Announces Partnerships
By: Julia Dudnik Stern
LuckyOliver, an up-and-coming microstock Web site with a fun carnival brand, struck three partnerships with photo search engines. LuckyOliver images will now be indexed by Pixsy Corp., a photo and video search company that recently signed agreements with a21 and iStockphoto.
LuckyOliver will also be represented by ImageTrail and PictureSandbox. ImageTrail specializes in affordable stock by indexing the inventories of top microstock sites. PictureSanbox works with users of photo-sharing sites to enable them to license their work as stock.