Masterfile and PicScout to focus on Europe too
Düsseldorf, April 2006: The picture agency Masterfile is now extending its successful partnership with PicScout in North America to cover Europe, too. Masterfile has been using PicScout’s image tracker service for North America to identify images that are being used on websites without the picture agency’s permission since 2004. The technology is so advanced that it even recognizes cropped sections of images or pictures where the size and/or colour have been altered significantly. Masterfile has efficiently utilized the PicScout service to increase its customer base, enforce its copyrights and recapture lost revenues for its contributors. Says Tomas Speight, Senior VP of Masterfile International: “With the establishment in January 2006 of Masterfile's new European headquarters in Düsseldorf, it makes sense for us to use the PicScout service in Europe in order to tackle the problem of our images being used on the Internet without a license here as well. Apart from the obvious benefits to us, we also take the responsibility of protecting our photographers’ copyright very seriously.” The damages suffered by picture agencies as a result of unlicensed image usage in each main European market are estimated to be in the tens of millions euros. “We were very happy to see Masterfile’s efficient compliance workflow and glad our Image Tracker service has added value to their North American operation. As our data analysis shows similar piracy rates both in Europe as in North America, we feel confident in our ability to show continued detection growth", says Maya Bar, Director Marketing and Sales at PicScout.
About PicScout
PicScout [www.picscout.com] is a leading technology provider of the stock photography industry. The company offers solutions for image owners to control and protect their images in the information age. PicScout's image recognition solution enables the comparison of image databases with individual images that are being used in commercial web sites. Based on this technology, PicScout provides a number of services to the stock photography industry. These services enable stock photo agencies to enforce their copyrights, better control their assets, develop new billing methods and increase their customer base. PicScout manages more than 5 million images for the world's most prestigious
image libraries.
About Masterfile Corporation:
Masterfile Corporation [www.masterfile.com] is the world’s leading independent photo agency. The European headquarters has been in Düsseldorf, Germany, since January 2006. Additional branches are in Milan, London and Paris. Its wide array of pictures includes top-quality collections of rights-managed and royalty-free photos by internationally recognized photographers. The company’s excellent services are based on personal customer service, fast picture research, including the specially developed SimSearchTM tool, as well as the instant digital delivery of the picture material on the Internet. Company headquarters is in Toronto, Canada. There are independent sales partners in 30 additional countries.
Press contact:
We would greatly appreciate brief notification of publication or if we are mentioned in your publication. If you need additional information or photo material, please contact the European Masterfile’s Publicity Department.
L*ÉTOILE PR
Schanzenstr. 20, 40549 Düsseldorf, Germany
Contact person: Tina Husemann / Direct: +49 (0) 211 58 00 56 54
Mobile: +49 (0) 177 67 25 403 / Email:
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Contact:
Masterfile European Headquarters
Schanzenstr. 20, 40549 Düsseldorf, Germany
Direct: +49 (0) 211 957 700 / Email:
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www.masterfile.com