- Long time readers of this blog do know that I sometimes (e.g. 1; 2) write about a more or less reliable technology called CBIR (content-based image retrieval). Apart from the use in the Stock Photo Industry, there is a terrific article in CNET news.com entitled "Tech's part in preventing attacks" looking at recent developments at PixLogic, A4Vision, etc. Similar a recent report on a new LTU deal ("Advanced Image Search Technology...").
- Years ago, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute, MediaSec, developed SysCoP, a system for copyright protection. It was said that the product was able to detect copyright infringement even in printed newspapers and magazines; however, the product uses watermarks and a hand scanner, and this, for various reasons, doesn´t seem to be very clever and smart today. Similar (the purpose, not the technique) PicScout is now starting to check magazine ads and print ads (Stock Asylum, "PicScout Will Monitor Magazines") after an agreement with Inquiry Management Systems. Thx to Paul Bloore of Idee Inc. and his short demonstration at the recently held CEPIC in Prague, I learned that Idee has developed a similar service the company calls "Espion Monitoring Service".
- Enough hard core stuff. Will of Photo Archive News has again convinced an other "image warehouse" owner (Gwyn Headley of PhotoLibra) to respond to his email interview: " I drink, I smoke, I go out with women. There is no hope for me."
- Recently Brent Phelps has published a new blog in "Engadget Style" called About The Image. Phelps is a product manager working for Index Stock Imagery, but this is not disclosed on the website.
- Gomera is a new independant photography magazine. Check out Issue One.
