The Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS) Coalition:
“is an international non-profit initiative on a mission to simplify and facilitate the communication and management of image rights.”
If you haven’t already seen it, check it out (www.useplus.com)
After specifying licensing details with a client, PLUS lets you generate a machine-readable license and embed it (via XMP) into the image file.
The benefits for photographers:
• PLUS attempts to standardize licensing terms in contracts, eliminating confusion between you and clients.
• PLUS licenses are written in the PLUS code, which can then be translated into the native language of the client. Useful for images that get used worldwide.
• The license details travel with the images. Allows clients to view the details of the image license and “discourages innocent infringement” of copyright.
The site says it enables you to track an image and how it being used, but I haven’t found out how yet.
With big names involved in the collaboration (Adobe, IPTC, Getty, Jupiter, Photoserve, etc.), it’s sure to be the standard.
