As promised, Getty is heavily promoting its new $49 price for Web use of any RM, RR or RF image in its collection. But some suppliers are rebelling. There is an asterisk after the $49* that says, "...does not include images from Image Source or Arnold Newman Collection, or select editorial images."
Image Source refused to allow sale of its images at this price to avoid undermining its relationships with other distributors and its own direct sales to customers. Industry rumors have it that Getty is now punishing Image Source by lowering its position in the search return order, which will undoubtedly lead to fewer Getty sales overall for Image Source for all types of uses.
As part of their contracts, RF image partners have some rights to set prices for the licensing of their images. Many appear to be unhappy with Getty's recent move, but so far no others have joined Image Source in refusing to allow their images to be licensed in this way.
One partner offered the following analogy for Getty's new strategy. He said, "It's like going to Morton's Steakhouse to get a hamburger. If Morton's wanted to increase volume, they wouldn't start offering Big Macs for $49. If someone wants a Big Mac, they will not go to an upscale steak house to get it, they will go to McDonald's and get it at the McDonald's price."