{{Short description|Microstock photography website}} {{Lowercase title}} {{Multiple issues| {{Promotional|date=August 2016}} {{Update|date=October 2013}} }}
{{Infobox company | name = iStock by Getty Images | logo = | former_name = iStockphoto <small>(until 2013)</small> | type = Subsidiary | genre = Microstock photography | foundation = {{Start date and age|2000|05|14}} (as iStockphoto) | founder = Bruce Livingstone | location_city = Calgary, Alberta | location_country = Canada | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = | products = | services = | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = Getty Images | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{Official URL}} | footnotes = | intl = }}
'''iStock''' is an online royalty free, international microstock photography provider based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
== History == The company was founded by Bruce Livingstone in May 2000, as '''iStockphoto''', a free stock imagery website supported by Livingstone's web development firm, Evolvs Media. iStock pioneered the crowd-sourced stock industry and became the original source for user-generated stock photos, vectors and illustrations, and video clips. It began charging money in 2001 and quickly became profitable.<ref name="ST-05-28-07">{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Kim |title=Microstock photography represents a new business model |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microstock-photography-represents-a-new-business-model/ |newspaper=Seattle Times |date=2007-05-28 |access-date=2020-02-17 }}</ref>
On February 9, 2006, the firm was acquired by Getty Images for $50 million USD. Livingstone promised that the site would continue "functioning independently with the benefits of Getty Images, yet, very importantly for them and us, autonomy."<ref>{{cite web |title=iStockphoto Joins Getty Images |url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/istockphoto-joins-getty-images-as-explosive-growth-continues-expansion-into-social-media-nyse-gyi-579577.htm |publisher=Marketwire |archive-date=9 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509192327/http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/istockphoto-joins-getty-images-as-explosive-growth-continues-expansion-into-social-media-nyse-gyi-579577.htm }}</ref>
On September 18, 2006, the site experienced the first benefits of the new ownership:<ref>[http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=217 istockphoto.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015170446/http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=217 |date=2006-10-15 }} – Language features announcement</ref> a controlled-vocabulary keyword taxonomy borrowed from Getty Images.
''iStockpro'' was a more expensive version of iStockphoto that was never as popular. It closed in 2007, having become redundant after the acquisition by Getty Images.
On April 1, 2008, Getty Images disclosed, as part of its agreement to be sold to a private equity firm, that iStockphoto's revenue in 2007 was $71.9 million USD of which $20.9 million (29%) was paid to contributors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=67521 |title=iStock contributors make $21 million in 2007 |publisher=iStockphoto Forums |access-date=2008-04-01 |date=2008-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405183450/http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=67521 |archive-date=2008-04-05 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shankland |first=Stephen |date=2008-04-02 |title=iStock Reveals Revenue, Photographer Payouts |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/istock-reveals-revenue-photographer-payouts/ |publisher=CNET |access-date=2020-02-17 }}</ref>
Founder and CEO Livingstone left iStockphoto in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shankland |first=Stephen |title=iStockphoto founder, CEO leaves Getty |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/istockphoto-founder-ceo-leaves-getty/ |publisher=CNET |date=2009-03-23 |access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref> He went on to co-found competitor Stocksy United in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purvis |first=Mifi |date=2013-10-11 |title=Calgary's iStock Founders Are Back in Competition with Getty Images |url=https://www.canadianbusiness.com/technology-news/a-disruptive-explosion-of-images/ |publisher=Canadian Business |archive-date=2021-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225143349/https://www.canadianbusiness.com/technology-news/a-disruptive-explosion-of-images/ }}</ref>
In 2013, iStockphoto was rebranded as '''iStock by Getty Images''', removing the word 'photo' to convey that the company offers stock media other than just photography, such as vector illustrations, audio, and video.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Ben |date=2013-09-23 |title=iStockphoto rebrands as iStock, and introduces a new logo featuring 'Getty' |url=https://thenextweb.com/dd/2013/09/17/istockphoto-rebrands-as-istock-and-introduces-a-new-logo-featuring-getty/ |publisher=The Next Web |access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref>
In 2020, iStock began offering weekly complimentary stock photos from its exclusive Signature collection, as well as monthly free illustrations and video clips.
== Contributors == iStock works with over 300,000 contributors globally, thousands of which are exclusive and create content solely for the platform. Contributing photographers apply by uploading 3–6 sample images, illustrations, or videos to the Contributor by Getty Images app, which is available on App Store and Google Play. The content is reviewed, and if successful, applicants are invited to become either a Getty Images or iStock contributor.
Contributors receive royalties each time their content is licensed. Royalty rates start at 15% for photos and 20% for illustrations and videos, with exclusive contributors earning between 25% and 45%.
In an address to its community entitled "2008: A Year in Review and a Look Ahead″,<ref>[http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=80935 2008: A Year in Review and a Look Ahead]– Executive Forum Post {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108234141/http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=80935 |date=2017-01-08 }}</ref> the firm's CEO mentioned that the company was paying out 'almost' $1.1 million per week in royalty payments to contributors.
== Ownership of material controversy == [[File:Roommate poster.jpg|thumb|This background of a movie poster for the 2011 film ''The Roommate'' was provided by iStockphoto. The image is that of the Christy Administration building at Southwestern College. The college believes this image was used without their permission.]]
The 2011 film ''The Roommate'' obtained photos from iStockPhoto for its promotional material. One of the photos used as its backdrop was the Christy Administration Building from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. The college administration voiced concern that permission to use the photograph of the building was not properly obtained and is investigating the legality of its use.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.winfieldcourier.com/articles/2010/12/03/news/news/doc4cf932cdb33af858348853.txt |publisher=The Winfield Daily Courier |title=Image of SC building on movie poster |date=December 3, 2010 |first=Allen |last=Twitchell |access-date=January 17, 2011 }}</ref> {{As of|2011|02|08|df=US|post=,}} no lawsuits have been filed but discussions continue to take place.{{Needs update|date=May 2025|reason=What was the result of this dispute?}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winfieldcourier.com/articles/2011/02/08/news/news/doc4d5183cc7aa41324106218.txt|publisher=The Winfield Daily Courier|title=Movie poster image remains a concern for SC administration|first=Allen|last=Twitchell|date=February 8, 2011|access-date=February 10, 2011}}</ref>
== iStockvideo == On July 31, 2006 iStockphoto announced the development of a new branch, iStockvideo, to sell stock video clips in a variety of formats from web-size, through NTSC and PAL up to HDV and HD sizes.
== iStockalypse event == The iStockalypse was founded in 2005, as an official multi-day iStock photography event offering premium training.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 2011 |title=iStockphoto Launches iStockalypse Milan |work=Entertainment Close-up}}</ref> It is held several times a year for contributing artists and photographers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kattleman |first=Terry |date=February 1, 2006 |title=iStockphoto; Stock Photography: Two stock companies from opposite ends of the stock spectrum, both making major inroads in a crowded marketplace |work=Creativity}}</ref>
Since the first event in Las Vegas, iStock has visited Seattle, Boston, Ljubljana, Prague, Austin, Barcelona, Marseille, Buenos Aires, Malta, Berlin, Calgary, Istanbul, Cannes, Tokyo, London, Milan, Singapore, São Paulo, Los Angeles and Paris. In March 2015, the event was organized in Dubai to get authentic, local shots of the city and its people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 5, 2015 |title=IStockalypse shoots Dubai |work=Campaign Middle East}}</ref>
== Recent updates == * On '''1 January 2025''', iStock updated its royalty rate card for contributors. Non-exclusive contributors’ downloads no longer affect their royalty tier.<ref>{{cite web |title=iStock Rate Card, effective January 1, 2025 |url=https://contributors.gettyimages.com/article_public.aspx?article_id=5210 |website=Getty Images Contributor Portal |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref>
* iStock’s content license agreement was last updated in October 2024, introducing new clauses for AI-generated content, including AI Generator subscription terms and specific rules for photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, and music assets.<ref>{{cite web |title=iStock Content License Agreement (Last Updated October 2024) |url=https://www.istockphoto.com/legal/license-agreement |website=iStockphoto.com |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref>
* As of 2023-24, contributors have raised concerns that iStock and its parent, Getty Images, have not yet fulfilled an earlier pledge to compensate contributors for inclusion of their existing work in training datasets for generative AI.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where’s the Pay? iStock/Getty’s AI Compensation Pledge Still Unfulfilled |url=https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2024/11/05/wheres-the-pay-istock-gettys-ai-compensation-pledge-still-unfulfilled/ |website=Brutally Honest Microstock |date=5 November 2024 |access-date=12 September 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.istockphoto.com}}
{{Photography}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2000 establishments in Canada Category:Archives in Alberta Category:Companies based in Calgary Category:Crowdsourcing Category:Internet properties established in 2000 Category:Online content distribution Category:Getty Images Category:Online mass media companies of Canada Category:Privately held companies of Canada Category:Stock photography Category:Photo archives in Canada