Getty Images shuts down Rights Managed model for a Royalty Free

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash

Getty Images, Inc., stylized as Gettyimages, is an American visual media company, with headquarters in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is a supplier of stock images, editorial photography, video and music for business and consumers with an archive of over 200 million assets. It targets three markets—creative professionals, the media, and corporate. (Source Wikipedia)

The update will come in effect by the end of January 2020 where all the Rights Managed model images will be removed from the portfolio. Only Royalty Free images will be available and the Rights Managed licensing will be permanently taken down.

What does this mean for “customers”?

The Gettyimages Customer is the subscriber who purchases content throughout the website. The Customer will have a simplified, unlimited and unrestricted access to the purchased content, meaning it will become a single, perpetual life-time purchase.

We took the occasion to grab from the EULA (End User License Agreement) of the website the two different licensing models:

Rights Managed/Rights Ready

Limited to the specific use, medium, period of time, print run, placement, size of content, and territory selected, and any other restrictions that accompany the content on the Getty Images website (or any other method of content delivery) or in an order confirmation or invoice. Non-Exclusive, meaning that, unless otherwise indicated on the website, your invoice, sales order or separate agreement, you do not have exclusive rights to use the content. Getty Images can license the same content to other customers. Exclusive licenses may be available for rights-managed content as further set out on the website.

Royalty Free

Perpetual, meaning there is no expiration or end date on your rights to use the content. Worldwide, meaning content can be used in any geographic territory. Unlimited, meaning content can be used an unlimited number of times. Any and all media, meaning content can be used in print, in digital or in any other medium or format. Non-Exclusive, meaning that you do not have exclusive rights to use the content. Getty Images can license the same content to other customers. If you would like exclusive rights to use royalty-free content, please contact Getty Images to discuss a buy-out.

From a Customer perspective the new licensing model responds to an ever changing and demanding market.

Rights Chain

Are You an author or creator of digital content?

How do you manage the licensing or rights of your commissioned works or portfolio?

Let us know or check out our services dedicated to our subscribers.