If the content they shoot is never licensed, it begs the question as to whether or not it is necessary to cover these events, and employ these photographers in the first place. Since the demise of Sapa, publishers have struggled to source comprehensive local photojournalism, and habitual copyright infringement makes the market unappealing for new entrants.
We appreciate the call for leniency in certain cases, and we believe that the discounts given by PicRights, and cited by, speak directly to our commitment to evaluating each use fairly and being accommodating wherever possible. Looking the other way is, however, not an option. We stand unashamedly by photographers and content creators who deserve to be compensated for their work.
It is possible that a legitimate use is inadvertently flagged as an infringement. In our initial notification mail, we always ask the recipient to notify us if they believe they have been contacted in error. We welcome AIP’s [Association of Independent Publishers] offer to advise publishers of how to obtain legitimate free content instead of infringing on photographers’ IP. Further to this, publishers can approach stock agencies for cost-effective and compliant images for their use.