Partnership with PicScout Helps SuperStock Defend Rights-Managed Images across the Internet
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 14, 2004. SuperStock, Inc., a subsidiary of a21, Inc. ("a21") (OTCBB:ATWO), a leading online digital content marketplace, today announced an agreement with image recognition solution provider, PicScout. Through the agreement, SuperStock will use the PicScout Image Tracker monitoring service to protect the rights of SuperStock images over the Internet by uploading their copyrighted images onto the PicScout servers. The PicScout servers will then search the web and detect SuperStock images from the database, even if the images have been cropped, resized, or colorized. PicScout will provide detailed reports and enable SuperStock to pursue any copyright infringement.
"Copyright infringement across the Internet is an important industry issue. SuperStock is committed to preventing it and protecting our artists and our intellectual property. PicScout's technology helps us to do just that," said Haim Ariav, President and COO, SuperStock. "Protecting against copyright infringement is a critical component of treating our artists as a top priority -- and not as a commodity. This agreement is part of SuperStock's continuing commitment to our artist partners and their valuable work."
"We are thrilled to add SuperStock to the growing list of PicScout partners," said Eyal Gura, CEO, PicScout. "The Image Tracker Service is the market leader for monitoring and enforcing the use of images in the worldwide digital content marketplace."
About a21
a21 (http://www.a21group.com) is a leading digital content marketplace for the professional creative community. Through SuperStock (http://www.superstock.com), a21 delivers high quality images and exceptional customer service. Together a21 and SuperStock provide a whole new level of image access to the best photographers, artists, photography agencies and customers in the business, offering a valuable and viable choice in the stock image industry.
About PicScout
PicScout (www.picscout.com) is a leading technology provider to the stock photo industry. PicScout's image recognition solution enables the comparison of image databases with individual images on commercial web sites. PicScout's services help stock photo agencies to enforce their copyright develop new revenue sources and increase their customer base. PicScout monitors more than 1 million images for image libraries around the world.
The statements contained in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding a21, Inc. expectations, intentions, strategies and beliefs regarding the future. All statements contained herein are based upon information available to a21, Inc. management as of the date hereof and actual results may vary based upon future events, both within and without the control of a21, Inc. management.
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