Why the C6 pictures suck for site owners like me...
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Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
Why the C6 pictures suck for site owners like me...
I posted this on GMI...
I have seen several post by people wondering why we don't have the pictures of the C6 that are floating around...so I am gonna set the record straight. GM has embargoed all information on the C6 until January 4th. Embargoes were intially unsed to release the pictures to the magazines with enough time for them to get into print around the time that the Embargo is lifted. Meaning GM had to release the pictures to Car and Driver last month so they could have them in print by the Jan 4th embargo date. Now that the internet has come along it has also been a way for GM to let all sites get the same news at the same time. With embargo dates, everyone posts pictures and info at the same time so everyone gets the scoop.
Several issues have happened that have turned the C6 into a media fiasco. Here are a few facts on the situation.
1. The pictures you see one a certain Corvette site are embargoed General Motors promotional pictures. They are copyrighted by GM, and they control how and when they can be used. That certain Corvette site..no matter where they got them from broke the rules. In doing so they not only got the scoop of the year and sent thier traffic through the roof.....they also slapped every rule abiding site in the face. I have had the pictures of the Corvette and other NAIAS cars for a month now, and have not posted them because I was following the rules. I have worked hard to get this website access to such materials because GM always is weary of the internet and generally places sites last on the food chain. I am quite angry that the Corvette site posted these pictures because it makes it much harder for any site, like GMI or Cheers and Gears to be taken seriously at GM. It's very possible in the future GM could exclude many websites from access to embargoed material over this incident. In short GMI will not link to those pictures because first off, it is still breaking the embargo, and secondly, I am not going to reward the site that broke the rules with traffic from my site.
2. Car and Driver and apparently a few other magazines went to press early this month (how convenient!) and these embargoed pics are showing up in peoples mailboxes early. Now people are getting the magazines, scanning the pictures, and posting them all over the internet. This too is wrong, because you are posting copyrighted material. I wonder how many sales Car and Driver is loosing because their whole blockbuster C6 article was posted on the internet. Some sites may allow it, but GMI can not afford to be held liable if Car and Driver or such got angry.
I know everyone is excited, but would it really have hurt to wait to more weeks and do things right. The Corvette site basically broke the rules and is getting rewarded with traffic out the *** for it.
Either way GMI will have Vette pictures soon as the embargo is lifted...
I have seen several post by people wondering why we don't have the pictures of the C6 that are floating around...so I am gonna set the record straight. GM has embargoed all information on the C6 until January 4th. Embargoes were intially unsed to release the pictures to the magazines with enough time for them to get into print around the time that the Embargo is lifted. Meaning GM had to release the pictures to Car and Driver last month so they could have them in print by the Jan 4th embargo date. Now that the internet has come along it has also been a way for GM to let all sites get the same news at the same time. With embargo dates, everyone posts pictures and info at the same time so everyone gets the scoop.
Several issues have happened that have turned the C6 into a media fiasco. Here are a few facts on the situation.
1. The pictures you see one a certain Corvette site are embargoed General Motors promotional pictures. They are copyrighted by GM, and they control how and when they can be used. That certain Corvette site..no matter where they got them from broke the rules. In doing so they not only got the scoop of the year and sent thier traffic through the roof.....they also slapped every rule abiding site in the face. I have had the pictures of the Corvette and other NAIAS cars for a month now, and have not posted them because I was following the rules. I have worked hard to get this website access to such materials because GM always is weary of the internet and generally places sites last on the food chain. I am quite angry that the Corvette site posted these pictures because it makes it much harder for any site, like GMI or Cheers and Gears to be taken seriously at GM. It's very possible in the future GM could exclude many websites from access to embargoed material over this incident. In short GMI will not link to those pictures because first off, it is still breaking the embargo, and secondly, I am not going to reward the site that broke the rules with traffic from my site.
2. Car and Driver and apparently a few other magazines went to press early this month (how convenient!) and these embargoed pics are showing up in peoples mailboxes early. Now people are getting the magazines, scanning the pictures, and posting them all over the internet. This too is wrong, because you are posting copyrighted material. I wonder how many sales Car and Driver is loosing because their whole blockbuster C6 article was posted on the internet. Some sites may allow it, but GMI can not afford to be held liable if Car and Driver or such got angry.
I know everyone is excited, but would it really have hurt to wait to more weeks and do things right. The Corvette site basically broke the rules and is getting rewarded with traffic out the *** for it.
Either way GMI will have Vette pictures soon as the embargo is lifted...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
So....what's your point? I hate to sound unsympathetic and I applaud your decision not to post embargoed pictures on your site but, you knew the rules when you started GMI and you also had to have known that others would get "the scoop" out to the public before you simply because they are individuals that don't have to play by the rules. Contrary to what you apparently think there are others who are in the same position you are. No point in whining about it.
My advice to you is to keep bringing people the real-deal on the news inside GM, including future products, that these other people can't get and not concern yourself so much with "looking good" and trying to toot your own horn by being first on the scene with pictures of a car everyone will see in a couple of weeks anyway.
My advice to you is to keep bringing people the real-deal on the news inside GM, including future products, that these other people can't get and not concern yourself so much with "looking good" and trying to toot your own horn by being first on the scene with pictures of a car everyone will see in a couple of weeks anyway.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,428
tons of people had the pics, a majority of them on the web. no one said anything out of respect for whom the got them from. one just slipped into the wrong hands. and who cares car and drivers sales. they give bad opinions, wrong advice, and then get paid by the car company to make it sound good. i can't believe anyone actually buys magazine from them.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,215
From: Coppell, Texas
Originally posted by Z28Wilson
So....what's your point? I hate to sound unsympathetic and I applaud your decision not to post embargoed pictures on your site but, you knew the rules when you started GMI and you also had to have known that others would get "the scoop" out to the public before you simply because they are individuals that don't have to play by the rules. Contrary to what you apparently think there are others who are in the same position you are. No point in whining about it.
My advice to you is to keep bringing people the real-deal on the news inside GM, including future products, that these other people can't get and not concern yourself so much with "looking good" and trying to toot your own horn by being first on the scene with pictures of a car everyone will see in a couple of weeks anyway.
So....what's your point? I hate to sound unsympathetic and I applaud your decision not to post embargoed pictures on your site but, you knew the rules when you started GMI and you also had to have known that others would get "the scoop" out to the public before you simply because they are individuals that don't have to play by the rules. Contrary to what you apparently think there are others who are in the same position you are. No point in whining about it.
My advice to you is to keep bringing people the real-deal on the news inside GM, including future products, that these other people can't get and not concern yourself so much with "looking good" and trying to toot your own horn by being first on the scene with pictures of a car everyone will see in a couple of weeks anyway.
None of this should come as a shock. C6 pics have been a hot commodity since the first spy shots came out. (I know there's a big difference between a spy pic, and a pic owned by GM, but future Vette pics of any kind will always be highly sought after.) Don't be so naive that all of the internet would follow the rules. I do commend your efforts at abiding by what GM had stipulated in releasing the pics.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
Furthermore if GM really wants to keep these pics under wraps until some specified date...why in the heck would they release them at least a month before that date and then put some silly "embargo" on them? Release them to all the media on the 4th of January and they can have them up on their site within minutes.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,139
From: Commerce, mi, USA
I agree completely with Formula79. Thanks to a couple selfish rule-breakers, the carefully planned media 'splash' that would have magnified the effect of the introduction has been muted. I'll admit I was very interested in the pix, and looked at them... but people are being very irresponsible nowadays with proprietary info on the web. Incidentally this happened with the 05 Mustang too.
What enthusiasts don't realize is they are simply shooting themselves in the foot with such behavior. If new vehicle introductions get short-circuited by a few over-eager fools, it reduces sales volume and helps keep prices high for the vehicles, their parts and of course then insurance too.
Think before you post things to the internet. Thanks Formula79 for being one of the few responsible ones I've seen.
What enthusiasts don't realize is they are simply shooting themselves in the foot with such behavior. If new vehicle introductions get short-circuited by a few over-eager fools, it reduces sales volume and helps keep prices high for the vehicles, their parts and of course then insurance too.
Think before you post things to the internet. Thanks Formula79 for being one of the few responsible ones I've seen.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 578
From: N. Providence, RI
As a member of the media, i can say that preview photos and promotional items are always mailed long in advance, and not just for cars...Movies, music, books, video games, even toys are sent to newspapers and magazines...The practice probably dates before the era of instant internet media, but most car magazines i know layout and print about 5 weeks in advance...
But in light of all these early leaks, they might stop sending them out so soon in the future...
But in light of all these early leaks, they might stop sending them out so soon in the future...
Prominent Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,282
Cheaters....
Hopefully, those who break the embargos won't be included in the distribution next time.
I saw the 35th Anniv. Camaros some two weeks before their release in Carlisle, PA.....but kept the pics to myself.
Play by the rules or be left out next time.
The magazines had to know that the mailing date preceeded Detroit/LA shows by a full two weeks!
It does matter.
I saw the 35th Anniv. Camaros some two weeks before their release in Carlisle, PA.....but kept the pics to myself.
Play by the rules or be left out next time.
The magazines had to know that the mailing date preceeded Detroit/LA shows by a full two weeks!
It does matter.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
Originally posted by Z28Wilson
So....what's your point? I hate to sound unsympathetic and I applaud your decision not to post embargoed pictures on your site but, you knew the rules when you started GMI and you also had to have known that others would get "the scoop" out to the public before you simply because they are individuals that don't have to play by the rules. Contrary to what you apparently think there are others who are in the same position you are. No point in whining about it.
My advice to you is to keep bringing people the real-deal on the news inside GM, including future products, that these other people can't get and not concern yourself so much with "looking good" and trying to toot your own horn by being first on the scene with pictures of a car everyone will see in a couple of weeks anyway.
So....what's your point? I hate to sound unsympathetic and I applaud your decision not to post embargoed pictures on your site but, you knew the rules when you started GMI and you also had to have known that others would get "the scoop" out to the public before you simply because they are individuals that don't have to play by the rules. Contrary to what you apparently think there are others who are in the same position you are. No point in whining about it.
My advice to you is to keep bringing people the real-deal on the news inside GM, including future products, that these other people can't get and not concern yourself so much with "looking good" and trying to toot your own horn by being first on the scene with pictures of a car everyone will see in a couple of weeks anyway.
I don't care some much as myself...but every GM or auto news site has been sitting on these pictures for months and not posted them. Now I have had to explain to my members how a site like DigitalCorvettes got pictures before my site and all and why I can't let them be posted on my site.
It's not a matter of trying to look good...it's a matter of following the rules.
The C6 is the biggest GM story of perhaps the last 5 years, and me and every GM site owner had those ready to go...only to be bent over at the last minute. Last I checked that guy had like 900 people online at once....I am pretty sure that is not his normal traffic.
What really threw a wrench in things is the magazines that went to press early this year....
I can't imagine GM would want the C6 floating around 2 weeks before its intro.
Also individuals have to play by the rules too. The press pictures are copyrighted GM material...meaning they control how and when they are used.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
Originally posted by Z28Wilson
Furthermore if GM really wants to keep these pics under wraps until some specified date...why in the heck would they release them at least a month before that date and then put some silly "embargo" on them? Release them to all the media on the 4th of January and they can have them up on their site within minutes.
Furthermore if GM really wants to keep these pics under wraps until some specified date...why in the heck would they release them at least a month before that date and then put some silly "embargo" on them? Release them to all the media on the 4th of January and they can have them up on their site within minutes.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,472
From: South Bend, Indiana
Originally posted by Magnum Force
i feel for you, formula79...not much for me to say about you keeping your end of the deal while others didn't...at least you're building up good karma
i feel for you, formula79...not much for me to say about you keeping your end of the deal while others didn't...at least you're building up good karma
...and maybe this will help you get big exclusives in the future too.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,748
From: New England
sad really..but anything with pics like the C6 its a hot comodity and any wesite with them will put them out..copywritten or not...you do have more inside true info than anyone and that helps flexh out the C6...but pics ohh well..why cant you post them now since they are common knowledge to anyone interested in the new Vette..shouldnt be your fault for posting them a week later..sucks I feel bad.. sorry
PS: to get back..first 5th gen Camaro blow your website up and just post the pic..you might go to jail but think of the blaze of glory you will go down in..
j/k
PS: to get back..first 5th gen Camaro blow your website up and just post the pic..you might go to jail but think of the blaze of glory you will go down in..
j/k