Alamy#Criticism

James West, a graduate of Edinburgh University, was the CEO of Alamy and co-founded the company with Mike Fischer in 1999. Fischer, the ex-chairman and co–founder of the firm, was also co-founder and CEO of RM plc. In 2002, Alamy won an EMMA (Electronic Multimedia Awards) award for technical excellence. The purpose of the award is to recognize excellence in digital media content creation.{{cite web|url=http://www.alamy.com/pressreleases/2002/stock-photography-emma-award-121202.asp|title=Alamy in the news|first=|last=|website=www.alamy.com}} It also introduced a 24/7 high-resolution download tool for customers.{{cite web |url=http://www.graphics.com/news-old/image-search-and-purchase-now-five-times-faster-alamycom |title=Image Search and Purchase Now Five Times Faster on Alamy.com |date=29 August 2002 |publisher=Graphics |access-date= 7 September 2015}} The technical innovation continued with virtual CDs becoming a replacement for RF image CDs.{{cite web |url=http://www.graphics.com/news-old/alamy-launches-virtual-alternative-royalty-free-cds |title=Alamy Launches Virtual Alternative to Royalty Free CDs |date=2 September 2003 |publisher=Graphics.com |access-date= 7 September 2015}}

In 2003, the firm introduced an international distribution network. Based on the resulting increased sales, it increased the royalty payments for its contributors in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.weareoca.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/royalties-information-sheet.pdf |title=Alamy 100% royalties |publisher= Weareoca |access-date= 7 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.epuk.org/news/alamy-under-fire-over-new-search-engine |title=Alamy CEO: AlamyRank "not disadvantaging specialist contributors" |date=16 November 2006 |publisher=Editorial Photographers UK (EPUK) |access-date= 7 September 2015}} Since 2002 Alamy, has paid out over $100 million to its contributors.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}} In March 2004 one million images were available on the site and by October 2007 there were 10 million images online.{{cite web|url=http://www.selling-stock.com/Article/alamy-reaches-10-million-images-reveals-finan|title=Alamy Reaches 10 Million Images, Reveals Financials|author=Jim Pickerell|work=selling-stock.com}} In 2010, the firm created an iPad app to showcase its images.{{cite web |url=http://ipadinsight.com/general/new-ipad-apps-alamy-photo-collection/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023232834/http://ipadinsight.com/general/new-ipad-apps-alamy-photo-collection |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 October 2011 |title=New iPad Apps: Alamy Photo Collection |date=28 August 2010 |author=Patrick Jordan |publisher=iPad Insight |access-date= 7 September 2015}} In 2011, Alamy launched a live news service,{{cite web |url=http://www.stockphototalk.com/the_stock_photo_industry_/2011/10/alamy-launches-live-news-service.html |title=Alamy launches Live News service |date=18 October 2011 |publisher=Stockphototalk |access-date=7 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324112445/http://www.stockphototalk.com/the_stock_photo_industry_/2011/10/alamy-launches-live-news-service.html |archive-date=24 March 2017 |url-status=dead }} and in 2012 it started to accept live news images from mobile phones{{cite web|url=http://www.ephotozine.com/article/alamy-stock-photo-agency-now-allows-mobile-photos-21205|title=Alamy Stock Photo Agency Now Allows Mobile Photos|author=Magezine Publishing Ltd|work=ePHOTOzine}} which upgraded their collection to 25 million images.{{cite web|url=http://archive.aweber.com/microstock-news/PP1IY/h/Record_month_sees_Alamy_hit.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130924120537/http://archive.aweber.com/microstock-news/PP1IY/h/Record_month_sees_Alamy_hit.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2013-09-24 |title=Email Marketing Software from AWeber – AWeber Email Marketing |work=aweber.com}} Also in 2011, the company expanded its international sales unit with teams being introduced in Germany, Australia and The Middle East. In 2012, Alamy introduced the Alamy iQ, video, and creative search results.{{cite web |url=http://cepic.org/news/alamy-shakes-it-alamy-iq |title=Alamy shakes it up with Alamy iQ |date=16 November 2012 |access-date= 7 September 2015}}

In 2015, Alamy's iPhone app Stockimo was shortlisted in The Drum's Marketing on Mobile Awards (MOMAs) for the Best Mobile/Tablet Consumer Facing App.{{cite web |url=http://www.alamy.com/pressrelease/releases/archive/2015/05/29/198.aspx#.WCb0m3rW-9I |title=Alamy’s iPhone app Stockimo has been shortlisted as a finalist in prestigious MOMA awards – In the best mobile/tablet consumer facing app category. |date=29 May 2015 |publisher= Alamy |access-date= 12 November 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thedrum.com/award/141043/winners/2015 |title=MOMAs – Marketing on Mobile Awards – 2016 – 2015 Winners |publisher= The Drum / Carnyx Group |access-date= 12 November 2016}} In 2017, Alamy announced their new CEO, Andy Harding. In 2018, James West resumed his position as CEO. In December 2018, Alamy announced that they would be increasing their commission from 50% to 60% of the sales value, reducing their payments to their contributors to just 40% of the payment received from customers. This announcement was superseded a couple of weeks later by a further announcement that commission would remain at 50% on material that was exclusively available only on Alamy. In February 2020, Alamy was acquired by PA Media Group.{{cite web |title=PA Media Group Acquires Alamy, the Global Stock Imagery Business |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pa-media-group-acquires-alamy-150000997.html |website=yahoo.com|agency=PR Newswire}} Co-founder James West stepped down from his position as CEO but remains as an advisory board member. Emily Shelley is the current managing director of Alamy.

{{multiple image|total_width=250|direction=vertical|image1=Kendra Chan (left) and Karen Sinclair, fish and wildlife biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Ventura, during the biannual brown pelican survey along the West Coast. (34760957745).jpg|alt1=Kendra Chan and Karen Sinclair from USFWS Flickr stream, public domain|caption1=Photo from the USFWS Flickr stream that was made available free of charge with a PD-mark.{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/34760957745/|title=Kendra Chan (left) and Karen Sinclair, fish and wildlife biologists. Photo by Robyn Gerstenslager/USFWS.|publisher=United States Fish and Wildlife Service Flickr stream|date=30 March 2013|access-date=5 June 2018}}|image2=Kendra Chan and Karen Sinclair, watermarked by Alamy, Alamy ID M9YA7W.jpg|alt2=The same image, watermarked by Alamy|caption2=The same image, watermarked by Alamy and sold on their website. It was without attribution to the photographer or source.{{cite web|url-status=live|url=https://www.alamy.com/kendra-chan-left-and-karen-sinclair-fish-and-wildlife-biologists-oxnard-calif-may-6-2017-kendra-chan-left-and-karen-sinclair-fish-and-wildlife-biologists-with-the-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-in-ventura-during-the-biannual-brown-pelican-survey-along-the-west-coast-the-survey-is-conducted-with-the-intent-to-gather-information-needed-to-understand-how-potential-threats-from-changes-in-weather-patterns-prey-availability-or-changes-in-habitat-or-contaminants-could-impact-california-brown-pelican-populations-over-time-image178236349.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604225958/https://www.alamy.com/kendra-chan-left-and-karen-sinclair-fish-and-wildlife-biologists-oxnard-calif-may-6-2017-kendra-chan-left-and-karen-sinclair-fish-and-wildlife-biologists-with-the-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-in-ventura-during-the-biannual-brown-pelican-survey-along-the-west-coast-the-survey-is-conducted-with-the-intent-to-gather-information-needed-to-understand-how-potential-threats-from-changes-in-weather-patterns-prey-availability-or-changes-in-habitat-or-contaminants-could-impact-california-brown-pelican-populations-over-time-image178236349.html|archive-date=4 June 2018|title=Kendra Chan (left) and Karen Sinclair, fish and wildlife biologists. Stock Photo: 178236349 – Alamy|access-date=5 June 2018}}}}

On 16 February 2015, Alamy informed its members of changes to the contributor contract.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112424/http://www.alamy.com/contributor/contract/amendments/160215.asp?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Key%20Changes%20to%20Contributor%20Contract&utm_campaign=Contractual%20ammendments%20-%20Jan%202015&utm_term=Contributors | url=http://www.alamy.com/contributor/contract/amendments/160215.asp | archive-date=2 April 2015 | publisher=Alamy.com | title=Changes to the Agreement, Amendments – 16th February 2015 | access-date=17 February 2019}} These changes were condemned by the photography industry bodies, the National Union of Journalists,{{Cite web |date=11 March 2015 |title=Photographers' council concerned by Alamy contracts |url=https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/photographers-council-questions-alamy-contracts/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324053342/https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/photographers-council-questions-alamy-contracts/ |archive-date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=6 November 2022 |website=nuj.org.uk}} and Editorial Photographers UK (EPUK) who said "Alamy, it seems is trying to establish a perpetual and irrevocable contract with images that they have previously sold on our behalf at a time when this was not the case, which allows them to continue selling them even after the contract with the photographer has been terminated. ... The provision would last for the full term of copyright and we see it as unreasonably extensive."[http://www.epuk.org/news/an-open-letter-from-epuk-to-alamy-regarding-the-new-contributor-contract-terms An open letter from EPUK to Alamy regarding the new contributor contract terms]{{cite web |url=http://www.epuk.org/news/alamy-in-the-rear-view-mirror |title=Alamy in the rear view mirror |date=27 May 2015 |author= David Hoffman |publisher= Editorial Photographers UK (EPUK) |access-date= 7 September 2015}} Alamy responded by stating that the changes only reflect the company work style and do not represent a significant shift.{{cite web |url=http://www.epuk.org/news/alamy-responds-to-epuk-s-open-letter |title=Alamy responds to EPUK's open letter |date=5 March 2015 |publisher= EPUK |access-date= 7 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://cepic.org/news/alamy-makes-change-its-commission-structure |title=Alamy Makes a Change to its Commission Structure |date=20 November 2012 |publisher=Centre of the Picture Industry (CEPIC) |access-date= 7 September 2015}} In turn, their reply was characterized by the documentary photographer and Alamy contributor David Hoffman as "misleading and evasive".{{cite web|url=http://www.epuk.org/opinion/alamy-s-defence-misleading-and-evasive|title=Why I'm leaving Alamy|date=11 March 2015|publisher=EPUK|access-date=4 April 2018}}

Alamy has been criticized for claiming copyright of public domain or otherwise freely licensed images. Carol M. Highsmith sued Alamy in July 2016 for selling photographs without attribution she had donated to the Library of Congress.{{Cite news|url=https://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2016/11/court-dismisses-1-billion-copyright-claim-getty.html|title=Court Dismisses $1 Billion Copyright Claim Against Getty|first=David|last=Walker|date=22 November 2016|website=Photo District News|accessdate=6 November 2022|archive-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901001708/https://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2016/11/court-dismisses-1-billion-copyright-claim-getty.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2999596/Gov-Uscourts-Nysd-460787-1-0.pdf|title=Carol M. Highsmith v. Getty Images (US) Inc.|accessdate=6 November 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.nysd.460787|title=gov.uscourts.nysd.460787|accessdate=6 November 2022|via=Internet Archive}} License Compliance Services, part of Alamy, had also sent an e-mail to the "This is America!" foundation, a foundation that was founded by Highsmith. The e-mail stated: "We have seen that an image or image(s) represented by Alamy has been used for online use by your company. According to Alamy's records your company doesn't have a valid license for use of the image(s)."{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.nysd.460787/gov.uscourts.nysd.460787.1.1.pdf|title=Unauthorized Use of Alamy Image(s) – Case Number 380913878 (Ref: 1031-7385-3953)|via=Internet Archive|accessdate=6 November 2022}} It further demanded a settlement fee of $120 for the infringement Highsmith was accused of. The photograph in question was not an infringement but an original work of authorship of Highsmith. Highsmith's claim was dismissed because she had signed away her copyrights, putting the photographs in the public domain. In 2023, Neue Zürcher Zeitung journalists found works by Iranian artist Meysam Azarneshin on Alamy's website. Although not being authentic photographs, the images were not marked as such or labeled as work of an artificial intelligence. When confronted, Alamy stated that an image in question has not been created by an AI but was a "composite" image, a mix of elements from multiple other images. Alamy responded that it would actively remove AI generated content.{{Cite web|first=Gioia|last=da Silva|url=https://www.nzz.ch/technologie/bildagenturen-vertreiben-kuenstlich-generierte-bilder-zum-nahost-krieg-ohne-sie-als-fakes-auszuweisen-ld.1764934|title=Bildagenturen verkaufen künstlich generierte Bilder zum Nahostkrieg – ohne sie als Fakes auszuweisen |language=de |accessdate=12 November 2023}}

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