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Getty Images and SparkRebel Partnership Transforms Content-Sharing Platforms with Innovative Image Solution

Tuesday 11. September 2012 - PicScout ImageIRC(TM) enables seamless image identification, image-crediting and usage tracking for copyrighted material

Getty Images, Inc., one of the world’s leading creators and distributors of still imagery, video and multimedia products, andSparkRebel, a fashion-inspired social-sharing site and shopping destination, today announced a partnership–the first of its kind–that leverages an innovative solution to credit and track shared content. By integrating the PicScout ImageIRC(TM) platform, the world’s most comprehensive image identification technology from Getty Images, SparkRebel and Getty Images are leading the way for content-sharing platforms to create a legal option for users to incorporate high quality copyrighted material while providing credit and compensation to content owners.
Through this partnership, Getty Images and SparkRebel set a standard on how photo sharing and other image-rich community services can implement a seamless solution to support and compensate the copyrighted and creative work of others. Both SparkRebel’s and Getty Images’ proactive integration of PicScout ImageIRC(TM) technology into photo-sharing sites, demonstrates the value of an environment where content is properly licensed to the benefit of platforms, content owners, advertisers, shareholders and investors.
PicScout ImageIRC(TM) platform is the world’s largest index of image fingerprints and metadata thatassures every image gets its credit. Using PicScout ImageIRC(TM), Getty Images will identify and grant licenses to SparkRebel and its users for fashion, beauty and celebrity images represented by Getty Images, that members ‘spark’ (post) to the site after the image has been shared. Getty Images, together with SparkRebel, will ensure that content owners will receive proper credit and compensation. PicScout ImageIRC(TM) currently holds more than 80 million images representing content from over 200 content providers, including content from nearly 200,000 photographers worldwide that have voluntarily submitted their content for indexing through the platform. All ImageIRC content partners will be offered the opportunity to opt their content in for this service.
“The rise of image-rich platforms sites like SparkRebel showcases the power of imagery to drive user engagement in an increasingly visual world, where rapidly growing user-bases share online content at unprecedented speeds,” said Offir Gutelzon, Vice President of Business Development, Getty Images, and PicScout co-founder. “Getty Images’ use of PicScout ImageIRC(TM) demonstrates that technology and content licensing can be mutually beneficial and this partnership sets a new standard for user-curated content sites to legitimize their content streams and business model, while accessing even more content directly from our Connect API service.”
Elad Baron, CEO of SparkRebel added, “We started SparkRebel with the mission to transform the way people discover, share and shop for their favorite fashion products within a visually-driven ecosystem. This partnership helps to fulfill our mission and enables us to proactively protect our members and support content owners with well-deserved credit and compensation. Strengthened by our relationship with an industry leader like Getty Images, we’re well positioned to continue providing our members with the best social shopping experience and create a business model for long-term success.”