Ok, so it isn’t bigger then Twitter but for the advertising and publishing industry it is much more important. Picture Licensing Universal System or PLUS for short was borne from the industry wide need to standardize the language of usage that manages image rights around the world.
From the PLUS website:
The PLUS Coalition is an international non-profit initiative on a mission to simplify and facilitate the communication and management of image rights. Organized by respected associations, leading companies, standards bodies, scholars and industry experts, the PLUS Coalition exists for the benefit of all communities involved in creating, distributing, using and preserving images. Spanning more than thirty countries, these diverse stakeholders have collaborated to develop PLUS, a system of standards that makes it easier to communicate, understand and manage image rights in all countries. The PLUS Coalition exists at the crossroads between technology, commerce, the arts, preservation and education.
What? Essentially it is a system that takes all the guess work and possible confusion out of the equation when two parties are talking in regards to image rights. Creators and clients know exactly what one another means, even if the two don’t speak the same language. PLUS uses a numeric system as coding for usage which is internationally recognized- that is unless your client is from another planet (I know you have all said it at least once before but I mean literally from another planet).
PLUS is industry neutral, it works to the benefit of all parties involved. Your clients get as much from using it as you do. Not only does it standardize the language of rights but it can also help a client from using an image by mistake (less time and money spent on possible litigation; trust me, we clients like that) and it can help artists talk to a client when an image is misused.
According to Jeff Sedlik, President and CEO of PLUS:
“With PLUS Glossary version 1.0, anyone, anywhere can find a universally accepted definition for any image licensing term in seconds, for free, 24/7. We are already moving ahead with development of other features, including the PLUS License Format and Media Matrix.”
I know in the next while we will be talking more about the PLUS system here at HMAb and hopefully a lot of you have already checked it out. If not I urge you to go to the website www.useplus.com and poke around. Encourage your clients to go there as well. Encourage them to use it. One day soon it will be everywhere.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree Heather. After reading a lot of the PLUS literature, I asked the same thing – umm, what?
I’ve been trying for quite some time to adopt this system. However, I sure wish there were clear and concise instructions and samples on how exactly a photographer can put this system into operation.
Yes that may the one sticking point the website is dense but once you get it, it is as simple as pie! This is certainly something we can talk with Jeff about.
Give me a holla and we can go through it if it is still confusing.
Thanks for the post Myles.
We here at Westside Studio attended the “No Uncertain Terms” meeting in January. We left feeling very energized and excited about slowly implementing a new “language” into the industry. I think we’ve been waiting a long time for this.
Without any hesitation we met as a studio and changed our language right from the first point of contact, the phone call. Continuously mentioning the PLUS system and urging our client to clarify their “Licensing” needs, it made us work harder for them and be confident of what they wanted.
We have changed our Production Estimate language as well. Not longer are we calling it “Usage Fee”. It’s a License for the image, the time and media it’s used in. It brought immediate attention and allowed us the opportunity to speak to that when reviewing an estimate on the phone.
We, as an industry, need to be particular and professional when using PLUS. If we don’t, it won’t catch on and seem as user friendly as it is. This will catch on.
I would love to discuss this with anyone interested in chatting or with questions. I am here at Westside anytime you’d like to talk.
We can talk about PLUS … and the weather.
Thanks again!
This is fantastic Caitlin- it’s great to hear that a big studio like Westside is adopting PLUS. Sounds like it might be as simple (initially at least) as using the particular language when discussing anything that relates to licensing. If the Art Buyers do the same, this should spread quickly through the industry. I’d encourage anyone with questions to follow up with HMAb or with Caitlin (as per her generous offer above) and we will collectively get you the information you need.
I just spoke with Jeff Sedlik, co-founder of PLUS who called me from DC, from a Copyright conference. He has been assured that the Orphan Works legislation will pass. This makes it vitally important for everyone to do everything they can to clearly identify their images.
PLUS is one of a number of things that can be done to identify who the original owner of an image is, who purchased the license, and what the license agreement is.
And yup, Peter, it’s like learning a new language, except you’ll probably only have to really get to know the top 20 most frequently used terms, and the rest are a click away. You and your regular clients will quickly figure out which terms cover the licensing for most of your assignments.
Some of our clients are most looking forward to the terms being contained in the meta-data. No more lost paperwork stuffed in old dockets. Buts that’s still a few months away.
When we get to start using PLUS in software is anyone’s guess. It might be in the next update for CS4, or we might see it first in DAM systems.
In the meantime we can all just start using the language and working out what our own top 20 are. Have a dialogue with your clients. It’s good business, and it protects both you and them.