Masterfile signs image monitoring agreement with PicScout

Herzeliya, Israel - 01/03/2005 - Masterfile has signed an agreement with PicScout to use its Image Tracker monitoring service. The service will cover the entire Masterfile rights-managed collection for North America, including all images from Masterfile's strategic partner, zefa. Image Tracker technology will add another layer of protection for Masterfile's clients, artists and partners. According to Masterfile President, Steve Pigeon: "Masterfile has one of the industry's tightest rights management systems, staffed 24 hours per day. We have full-time infringements research personnel who police print media for unauthorized use of our images and generate significant annual revenue for Masterfile and our artists. PicScout will enable us to enhance our rights management capabilities by providing comprehensive coverage of the Internet".

"We are thrilled that Masterfile which is renowned for its commitment to protect the rights of its images has selected our service. Masterfile is the ninth agency to adopt our service this year." Added Eyal Gura PicScout's CEO.

The Image Tracker service is being adopted by stock photo agencies around the world to monitor and enforce the use of rights -managed images over the Internet. The service is based on PicScout's proprietary image recognition and crawling technology. Agencies upload their copyrighted images into the PicScout servers which then crawl the web and detect images from the database, even if they have been cropped, resized, or colorized. PicScout then provides detailed reports and the copyright holders pursue the infringers.

About PicScout
PicScout 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 1 million images for the world's most prestigious image libraries.

About Masterfile
Masterfile Corporation is a global visual content provider, with an exceptional collection of Rights-Managed and Royalty-Free images by world-class artists, including the fabulous "zefa" collection from Europe. The images, covering a wide range of subjects, are stored digitally, showcased, licensed and delivered instantly to business clients worldwide via the Internet. Headquartered in Toronto, Masterfile has offices in New York, Chicago and Seattle, plus independent agents in 35 other countries..
For further information contact us at:

Masterfile Corporation
Steve Pigeon
President
Telephone: 416-929-3000 ext. 2243
Toll Free: 800-387-9010
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PicScout
Ze'ev Rozov
VP Sales & Marketing
Tel +972-9-9548005
Cel +972-54-4402626
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit us at www.picscout.com