Getty Images water marking and selling Romanov/Royal photos.

[rosieposie]

So I was browsing Romanov photos and came across a photo with Getty Images water mark.  I clicked on the link and was shocked to see a huge collection of Romanov photos which are water marked and sold by Getty.  I scoffed at how they are selling the images especially famous images when we can get the images else where for free.    Oh and they have watermarked images where members from here have colorized their images.  It is so shameful.   What is your thoughts? 

[JGP]

So I was browsing Romanov photos and came across a photo with Getty Images water mark.  I clicked on the link and was shocked to see a huge collection of Romanov photos which are water marked and sold by Getty.  I scoffed at how they are selling the images especially famous images when we can get the images else where for free.    Oh and they have watermarked images where members from here have colorized their images.  It is so shameful.   What is your thoughts?

See interesting attached article from the LA Times regarding Getty Images:

Getty Images will bill you thousands to use a photo that belongs to the public. Is that legal?
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-getty-photos-20160801-snap-story.html

[Ally Kumari]

Oh and they have watermarked images where members from here have colorized their images.  It is so shameful.   What is your thoughts?

Let me just share this: some of my very old (and horrible) colourings were apparently downloaded by Russians and SOLD to German archives who then published them on their website as ORIGINALS. I contected them about it, saying those were just my colourings, they were not originals at all (plus they really were awful). But they said the Russian collegues told them they were real so I can stuff it. Till this day those old colourings of mine are making rounds on the web, because some "historians" say they are real.

That is why I always watermark my colourings with my name.

[rosieposie]

Ally do you remember years ago where someone set up an OTMA website and used your colourings, Holly's colourings and got images from OTMA scrapbooks and Alexander Palace site.  The webmaster/mistress said that she was related to the Romanovs and the Hermitage gave permission for them to use the photos.   Even though she was called out, she kept denying stealing colourings.  Ah good times. 
I just think it is ridiculous that a major stock pile company is saying they licence out Romanov photos to publications.  I checked on most of the photos the dates of the photos are wrong, and the fees are expensive.  :/

[Ally Kumari]

OH MY GOD EVEN GARF IS USING THOSE OLD HIDEOUS IMAGES OF MINE NOW!!!

http://tass.ru/spec/romanovy

[Carolath Habsburg]

Gosh... they should, at least, pay you .

[Ally Kumari]

Gosh... they should, at least, pay you .

I´m really not worried about that. Till this day I am NOT sure how copyright works with these images, plus really, those old ones of mine were hideous.

But it does bug me they are used as if they were true autochromes or whatever... It is misleading. They should at least put some notice that this is a digitally enhanced image from modern day.... that would be enough.