Some photographers in the U.S., meanwhile, are suspicious of Corbis's attempts to sell the contract as photographer friendly with clauses barring charge-backs for scans and catalogues, and a pledge not to manipulate news pictures. He also objects to a contract option granting photographers faster payments if they accept 48 percent rather than 50 percent of sales. It also assures that if we fail to collect, photographers won't be responsible for that. He adds that Corbis is giving photographers the faster payment option because some photographers have expressed interest in it. Davis, Borst, director of photography Peter Howe and other Corbis executives have met with photographers to solicit feedback about the contract.
Photographers say their objections are falling on deaf ears.
How many sign the new contracts remains to be seen. Sygma has had four owners in the last five years. For Sygma photographers to be mistrustful is no surprise, especially if you're a French photographer and Sygma is now an American-owned agency. But Croan predicts that the agency will win over photographers soon enough through its actions. That a number of photographers think just the opposite underscores just how much work is left for the agency to do.