Received an email this morning saying Getty and Shutterstock are merging. Since Shutterstock now owns Envato, I’m interested to see how that effects all of us here.
7 Likes
This was expected. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the same thing happened to Pond5 and Envato in the future. Unfortunately, SS gives very little share to authors, does not allow for the production of new quality content, which takes time and money.
1 Like
It says they will be operating under Getty name
Dear Creator/Contributor,
As Getty Images approaches our 30th anniversary, we are excited to share the news that Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced an agreement to merge. The company will operate under Getty Images Holdings, Inc. The official press announcement can be found here.
It’s important to note that it will take time for the transaction to close. The merger is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and the approval of Getty Images and Shutterstock stockholders. As a result, the merger is not closed, and each company will continue to operate independently in the interim, and it will be business as usual with respect to your relationship with Getty Images.
We are undertaking this merger in large part because we expect it to provide expanded reach for your content, support for new asset types and formats and enhanced support and tools to manage your work.
We believe in creativity. We believe in the power of imagery. We believe pre‑shot solutions represent an efficient and powerful tool for our customers. We believe in the opportunity of AI, but the need to compensate creators for the use of their work. These beliefs will not change with the transaction.
Over the coming months, as we move to close, we are committed to sharing updates.
We thank you for sharing your talent, content and trust with Getty Images and we look forward to providing expanded opportunities and capabilities going forward.
Best wishes,
Craig Peters
CEO, Getty Images
1 Like
Envato is not about images man…
it was built on code and code is still what makes Envato even now when all is collapsing.
2 Likes
https://forums.envato.com/t/so-shutterstock-are-buying-envato/488302/48
This thread would give some ideas
How is this mess possible now I am even more confused…
1 Like
Last news: today Getty Images and Shutterstock announced plans to merge under the corporate name of Getty Images Holdings, Inc
Let’s recap:
Getty Images eats Shutterstock
Shutterstock eats Envato
Envato eats … Authors
1 Like
This is good!
Is not the employees you forget that this companies ar ruled by one guy he decides what to do and he just wanted to cash out!
1 Like
… and authors have nothing to eat 
3 Likes
Pond5 and Envato are both owned by Shutterstock
1 Like
Same here:
As Getty Images approaches our 30th anniversary, we are excited to share the news that Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced an agreement to merge. The company will operate under Getty Images Holdings, Inc. The official press announcement can be found here.
Hopefully they wont introduce their tagging system…
Yes, i know. I mean when SS and Envato decide to merge in one site. In any way, the autors will be left with dust particles for breakfast.
2 Likes
That’s not what’s happening with Getty and SS though. Well, there’s nothing to suggest it’s going to happen at this point… maybe in the future.
You mean the individual keyword list? Apparently that’s already being implemented in new Envato uploader. I don’t have it yet but other authors are complaining about not being able to add more than one keyword at a time.
These merges indicate that “Images” business is in a real crises mode. Unfortunately, all the players, from Getty, ShutterStock, Envato Elements are competing against AI for images and it is a war they will never win. Unless there is a class action suit against all AI models using their copyright images to train data and provide derivative works.
Unfortunately, (IMO) both SS and Getty do not understand Themeforest or Codecanyon work. Themes / Code is not a commodity or a point sale business. It is a specialised marketplace business with support contracts, themes / code sell based on after sales support.
3 Likes
It seems that not Even former Envato did not understand how it works, when the new CEO came to power he made such a mess of things and we authors pay the price probably he is enjoying his retirement…
Good point. The way AI has became so smart and so professional to generate realistic image is scary for future authors.
In meantime, in another forum of micro stocks which contributors of Shutterstock and other stock agencies are ‘proud’ that they are being paid a small fee that AI is trained via their images… but how long it is going to last? After 1 or 2 years, AI won’t need more training, so all authors will be with nothing.
Today if I want to generate a Pizza photo, skin care model or any other niche, I can easy do with AI while in the past I had to buy a image from Photodune or other stock agencies. This model has brought this day where it is now, to shut down a lot of sites. Let’s not forget how envato studio has been shut down. It came from Online design editors platforms such as Placeit, then from other competitors while they changed the focus only at Elements.