Robert Beck of Young & Rubicam receives the 2007 Alfred E. Neumann Award for Outstanding Achievements in Protecting Copyright and Promoting The Arts
This thread "MTV don't pay!" on Flickr started with these lines from Robert:
"I am a television producer at Young & Rubicam in New York City (www.yr.com) and I would like to gain permission from you to use one of you images titled "Faces" for a public service announcement commercial (PSA) for our client MTV. The PSA is for energy/emission awareness and the purpose of the commercial is to try and get more people to help conserve energy. [...]
The commercial is scheduled to air starting the week of May 1st on MTV so we are in a bit of a rush to get your permission."
"Please respond to me at: robert.beck@yr.com and I can then email you a photograph release form you can sign and send back to me. [...]
If you do not to reply to this message before April 27th, 2007 at 10:00AM EST you hereby waive all rights to approve for use the above mentioned photograph in the MTV commercial."
This email was sent to the Flickr user Mark & The Zebra who added later in the same thread (compiled):
"A billion dollar advertising agency came to me on behalf of their multi billion dollar client wanting something for nothing and I told them where to stick it.
Do you really think MTV want to get people to use less power by switching off the tv?
I'm sure that "Young & Rubicam" are not making this advert on behalf of MTV out of the goodness of their hearts & I'm also sure that MTV aren't going to broadcast it solely for the wellbeing of the planet.
The above is not a negotiation but an all out rights grab for no compensation - exposure and attribution do not constitute compensation.
Unfortunately, it's even less than that! ... Adverts don't have credits so I wouldn't even get attribution ... .
I guess they think the "kudos" of having my image appear on a channel I don't watch in a country I don't live in would be enough."
Here´s the response as of Friday from Robert Beck to another photographer, contributing to a microstock agency, who was also contacted by Young & Rubicam:
Hi
Sadly I cannot offer you compensation for this image. We have asked everyone to donate their images free of charge for this worthwhile cause. Even my firm, Y&R, is not getting paid by MTV for this work [which makes me want to cry]. So far, all contributors have been very generous with their images and I cannot set a precedent by offering you money for yours. I am not asking for your to stop using the image as you can do whatever you want with it even if we do use it.
I respect your decision and I hope you respect my position on this. If you have a change of heart please let me know. As you already know we would love to use your image but it will have to be donated.
Thanks.
Robert Beck
Robert, unless you do not to reply to this posting before April 29th, 2007 at 10:00PM EST, you hereby declare to fully accept the Award and assure to fully understand the consequences.
Congratulations and warm wishes are highly appreciated.
Please email them to: robert.beck@yr.com.
Related:
- Advertising Agency DDB Berlin Refuses To Pay For Possible Photo Usage In Advertising Campaign: The Very Special Story Of A Superb Flickr Photo (Sept. 29, 2006)
- Lorenzodom/DDB Berlin: Follow-up On Previous Story (Oct. 01, 2006)
- MAX Magazine Feels Really Sorry: How To Use Flickr Photographers To Maximize Your Company´s Profit (July 24, 2006)
