A step ahead for the leader in the microstock photo market: iStockphoto Legally Guarantees All Image, Video and Audio Files in Five Million-Plus Collection.
iStock promises that files purchased and used in accordance with the iStock license, will not breach any trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights or rights of privacy. The iStock Legal Guarantee provides that, if a customer receives a claim, iStock will cover the customer’s legal costs and direct damages to a combined total of $10,000.
From the iStock forum:
iStock has decided to slip on the old leather boxing gloves for you, our deserving customers. Beginning Wednesday, iStockphoto promises that files purchased and used in accordance with the iStock license, will not breach any trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights or rights of privacy. We’re calling it the iStock Legal Guarantee and if a customer does get a claim, iStock will cover the customer’s legal costs and direct damages to a combined total of $10,000. Here’s the best part: it’s on us. Starting Wednesday, every iStockphoto file automatically comes with a free Legal Guarantee.
If you need a little extra peace of mind, the Extended Legal Guarantee, which increases iStockphoto’s responsibility for your direct damages and expenses to $250,000, will be available to purchase.
We are proud of the exacting standards here at HQ and we hope this allows those of you whose companies demand some form of indemnity on images to feel comfortable and confident purchasing from iStock. iStock is thrilled to share our safe, affordable, royalty-free collection with the world.
More info in a full press release on stockphototalk and a first comment by Lee Torrens on microstockdiaries regarding also the Vivozoom's position.
iStock keeps a technical wiki on copyright and trademark issues. You can find a list of 172 trademarked buildings or products around the world.
Update, September 17 2009
If someone could think that iStock's move is a reaction to Vivozoom, now someone else could expect a Vivozoom's reply… here a new press release coming from Vivozoom that widens the guarantee issues talking about online theft that costs the photo Industry up to $10 Billion.
“No one wants to halt the benefits that come with ease of use online,” Gould said. “But photographers and distributors deserve to get paid for their work while our customers deserve the peace of mind. In a culture where theft is euphemistically known as file sharing, how can these working professionals survive when perhaps the most underreported online crime is ignored?”
Full press release on PRWeb
