Scoopt sells first major cameraphone shot
9 Sep 2005 | 08:03 BST
According to a report in the Press Gazette, Scoopt has just managed to sell an amateur's cameraphone snapshot to the Bristol Evening Post for what the agency described as a "two-figure sum". Hopefully, both weren't zeros. It's the agency's first major breakthrough in this sector.
Anyway, the shot in question was from one Stephen Bell who captured the aftermath of a stolen car that had crashed following a police chase in the Bristol area. Scoopt has effectively obtained a fee - which it shares 50:50 with the photographer - for a shot which would otherwise have remained unused.
Scoopt is claiming some 2,000 members from 64 countries so far. The beauty of its system is that it can accept cameraphone shots submitted via standard picture messaging (MMS). The only prerequisite is that the picture's owner has previously joined Scoopt's network of amateur photographers and signed up - for free.
The INQ learnt of Scoopt's existence at the recent MEX handset forum in London. At MEX, the INQ heard figures given out by Brad Rees of Mediacells - a company which tracks mobile content in the traditional media.
Rees claims that 65 per cent of those involved with London's Tavistock bombing, for example, possessed a cameraphone. Consequently the BBC received 50 images of the atrocities within the first hour of the London outrages. Furthermore, thirty videoclips were sent via MMS to the Beeb.
By comparison ITN received 15 video clips and Sky News broadcast one of its cameraphone videoclips within 20 minutes of receiving it. Scoopt's public launch was actually delayed by the events of 7/7/05 because it didn't want to been seen as benefiting commercially for such a tragedy.
The INQ reckons this is a gift for London's serious party people. All they've got to do is remember the name of the MP [member of Parliament] they just captured emerging from one of Soho's disreputable establishments and they've made a few shillings.
The only catch is that you've got to have signed up (free) with Scoopt before you can actually start to make serious bucks out of your handset's pictures. µ
© 2007 Incisive Media Investments Ltd. 2007