Do pay sites give free passes to content providers?
 

Do pay sites give free passes to content providers? Like, if you pay a content provider, do you give them a free pass to every site you buy a license to use their content on? Does anyone who owns a pay site do this?

in 10 years, I have never done it, nor was it ever requested...

I have given temp access to a few providers, to show them what I was after so they could shoot it correctly for me. But in no way as you mentioned above, and none as really asked for it that way.

This has never been requested by surfers

coming from a content provider - yes generally. Often it's just a temporary pass, but if you are leasing content from providers, they generally want to make sure you are linking to them properly (for your benefit), also allowing them to make suggestions about how you present their content (again for your benefit, and partially for theirs)

I'm just talking about a licensed set of photos, nothing to do with feeds.

most of my customers give me a free pass for their sites - without me asking for it. for me it's important to get an impression what kind of style the content has to be shot - so I appreciate that.

no harm in free passes...

for pics? I've never heard of a content provider *requiring* a free pass, but if its a friendly request then he might just want to see what other types of content you have in your website.. most guys that sell content dont go in your site to spank off, they see enuf porn as it is :)

A content provider never ask to have access. Thats not even a normal thought that cums to mind...

No, I have never given a pass to a company that I bought content from. I have given out temp passwords when I have bought live feeds or added a new cam system. I see no reason why a content company would need a pass to my site just because I bought their content.

A content provider can include whatever they want in their licensing terms. If you accept those terms, that's the deal.

Many SPONSORS require that you provide access to any members areas you may have (on demand) or they can close your acount (TOS).

It is reasonable for a content provider to perform risk management BEFORE choosing to put their content into your hands. Once you have their content, unlike a sponsor however, a content provider determining that you may be violating your license agreement has less effective recourse than a sponsor (who can close your affiliate account).

Because of the rampant copyright infringement and fraud related to content, I only produce and provide my content on a very limited (or exclusive) basis to players I know.

-Dino

I've given comp passes (although not necessarily lifetime ones) in the past to models or photographers I work with on an ongoing basis, but not someone I bought one set from.

I understand that a content provider or anyone really can include whatever terms they want in any deal they make of any kind. I know most people would see a requirement like that in a content provider's license and just buy and use the content and ignore the terms they did not like. I feel like my word is my bond and I'm not going to agree to that term, so I will most likely not be able to use content from a provider who requires it.

To me, a requirement like free lifetime passes buried in a license is just a way to be able to revoke anyone's license whenever the provider feels like it, as most people will probably not even notice such an unusual requirement much less comply with it. Makes me wonder how good a provider's paperwork with models and such is if they think they may need to pull all licenses in the future.

It's all about relationship building. Those who foster good faith, don't require as much 'paperwork' - I've done 'handshake deals' involving tens of thousands of dollars at a time (no paperwork) and they all worked out well.

Unfortunately, as evidenced by many of the threads here, there is a full mix of participants and a significant part of that player group leans more to tricks and going for the 'fast buck' approach (and screaming bloody murder for the most trivial resolvable issues) - many are reluctant to even discuss their business in person (they stick to email only).

It's these elements plus the fraud from countries with statistically bad reputations (I empathize with the exceptions in those places) that make it more important to establish long-term mutually beneficial relationships.

Baby-steps at first, and progressing from there at a mutually comfortable pace. When a deal stops feeling like a 'Mexican standoff', you know you have reached a better place in your business relationship. The more of those you have, the greater your opportunities will be.

-Dino

We never ask for passes... no need :thumbsup

A photography content provider has to have good paperwork. The majority of our content is produced in-house and we are very careful to dot our i's and cross our t's and we expect any content provider we work with to do the same. 2257 is not about having a good handshake relationship with your talent. Many of my models are good friends of mine, but I still keep their paperwork on file. It is a basic requirement of doing business in this industry.

We've run membership sites since 1999 and I've never seen a lifetime password put in a license agreement by a content provider before.