Sometimes people make deals with each other and they don’t tell anyone. Usually, that means they are not proud of what they have done or they are hiding something. Or both.

Take Corbis and Retna USA. They made some type of arrangement but have yet to issue a press release to announce it. A bit like BuzzFoto and Getty, someone is ashamed of the other, or at least to make it public.

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Regardless, now you can find Retna images on the Corbis site. It is probably the same deal that Corbis had made with Zuma a few years back.  The restrictions are clear :

• Not available for licensing to or for use by third parties in Japan.
• Not available for licensing to or for use by third parties in Australia.
• Not available for licensing to or for use by third parties in Germany.
• Not available for licensing to or for use by third parties in Spain.
• Not available for licensing to or use by third parties in Finland.
• Not available for licensing to or for use by third parties in Sweden.
• Not available for licensing to or use by third parties in Denmark.
• Not available for licensing to or for use by third parties in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
• Not available for “royalty free” licensing.

That is probably because some distribution agreements could not be ended. At least not quickly enough.

So what is the big deal you say ? It is becoming more and more current. Smaller agencies use the distribution power of the big two to get more clients. Well, unlike commercial stock, the prices of editorial are very low. After the commission of Corbis and Retna, the photographers are left with not much. Usually, editorial photo agencies that go down that route, are admitting failure. Retna has been in business for 20 + years, longer than Corbis has been around losing money. It should be the opposite, no ? Corbis seeking help from Retna.

But you are right, it’s not a big deal. let’s go see what is on PDN today.