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The Facts
A Look Back
Photocase was founded in 2001. The community quickly became hugely popular, especially among students. In 2005, credits were introduced and Photocase became a commercial platform. Microstock was new and rolled up the market with favourable prices. Business was good. But from 2015, the first clouds appeared. This occurred because the market became increasingly polarised, which was particularly noticeable among the smaller agencies. In 2019, we managed to restructure the company as a team by taking drastic measures.
Why, how and what for?
Sales then stagnated for five years, which must be seen as a success given the simultaneous development of the industry. Corona came, then a war in the neighbourhood - but what hit us as a company the hardest was the emergence of easily available free images, flanked by an economy that just doesn't want to grow anymore. Now we are at a point where we have to pull the emergency brake. Unfortunately, there is no utopia for Photocase, no plan B. In fact, things could only get worse, because the deluge of AI images has only just begun.
What now?
Instead of simply stealing away and immediately shutting down the site, we have chosen a different, Photocase-typical way - an openly communicated, respectful departure. We don't want to leave anyone out in the cold. Although this decision means a further investment for us, we believe in fairness and transparency, and so these values should accompany us to the bitter end. We therefore ask you to use up any remaining Credits and download quotas by 20 December 2024. After this date, it will no longer be possible to redeem them.
Important information
Your previous image purchases - including those made up to 20 December 2024 - will of course not lose their validity and you can continue to use the images legally after that date.
You can still buy images and credit packages. However, newly purchased credits are only valid until 20 December 2024.
Kai, Xavier and I are very upset that the closure is really happening now. We love Photocase and the company has been an important part of our lives for a long time, to which we have contributed a lot of energy, emotion and commitment. Thank you for the wonderful co-operation.
If you have any questions or need to discuss, please write to me ([email protected]).
Goodbye, arrividerci and au revoir
Yours, Dittmar Frohmann (and Kai and Xavier)
PS: You might consider downloading the licence documents.
What happens to my downloaded images?
All images downloaded by 20.12.2024 have a valid licence and may be used in accordance with the licence conditions in effect at the time of download. This also includes future projects. You may want to consider downloading the licence documents. Here is a link to download your licence documents.
Can I still buy images now?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, we'd love you to do so. All images downloaded until 20.12.2024 have a valid licence and can be used without any problems after the closure. You should therefore take the opportunity now to download content that will soon no longer be available.
What happens to my credits?
Please redeem all credits and download Credits by 20 December 2024. Credit packages that have not yet been started can be returned as long as they are not older than one year. All remaining Credits will be cancelled and can no longer be redeemed.
What happens to my data?
All accounts and data, provided they are not subject to a retention period, will be deleted on 20 December 2024. Please download your licence documents before then.
What else?
See you soon. We ♥️ you!