Friday, November 27, 2015

ASMP Issues An Alert regarding Their Position on Time Inc. Contract

ASMP issued the following alert to exercise "extreme caution", which we are posting here, in it's entirety on the Time Inc (NYSE: TWX) contract:

Open letter to Time Inc. regarding one-sided independent photographer contract


ASMP has joined with the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the Digital Media Licensing Association (DMLA), American Photographic Artists (APA), and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in a letter to Time Inc. regarding our collective objections to the terms and conditions under which professional photographers are being required to operate come January 1st, 2016. Under the terms of the new contract, first detailed by Photo Business News ( here ), many of the fees and rights demands are unfair to professional photographers and will severely limit the ability of ASMP members to earn a sustainable living. The letter which ASMP co-authored with theNPPA and others can be viewed here.

ASMP continues to work both publicly and behind-the-scenes tirelessly on behalf of professional photographers. Just as it has in the past with Conde Nast, Getty Images, and Knight Ridder.

Founded in 1944, the Society amended it’s charter in 1949 to begin “the fight to represent magazine photographers in matters of wages and working conditions.” In 1967, ASMP issued a “Declaration of Conscience” stating that “reproduction rights and ownership belong to the photographer; that each use of a photograph must be compensated for; that limitations on a photographer’s freedom to reuse his own creations must be related to the purpose and protection of the publication and must be limited in time; and that no ASMP member or unaffiliated photographer should agree to terms inconsistent with the resolution.” A two-year battle with Time Inc. was waged, and many ASMP members jeopardized their livelihoods before this basic right was recognized by the publishing industry. The stock photography business, and the benefits photographers realize from it, is a direct result of ASMP’s stand.
Just as in 1967, when ASMP engaged directly with Time Magazine, and served the interests of not just ASMP members, but all photographers, ASMP continues to work hard to foster good and fair working conditions for photographers in all of Time Inc.’s publications. You can read more about the founding of ASMP and the efforts on behalf of photographers here.

ASMP Executive Director Tom Kennedy states:
“I believe photographers are willing to work with Time Inc. to enable a new management system that would enable better tracking of assignments and to foster a consistent assignment approach across its properties. But it is essential that such an agreement not be done on the basis of an effort to unilaterally impose draconian contract terms that do not take into account the needs of photographers in their employment. I think it is far better to enter into discussions with photographers to produce a fair and mutually beneficial contract solution that also addresses Time Inc. business needs.”

ASMP urges any photographer considering signing this contract to proceed with extreme caution.
Follow updates on Time Inc. independent photographer contract on the current ASMP News page.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.


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