I had a guy approach me yesterday at a juried art show I was accepted into. All my prints were printed in the darkroom on fiber and I have maybe 2-3 of each. He says he wants to buy my "images". I laughed and told him I only had prints. He said he wanted to get me to scan 10 of the images and sell the "unlimited printing rights" to those images to him. While I could still do hand prints, I would have no say what the photos would be used for. I had to decline on principle for a few reasons: 1. I didn't want someone else printing my stuff digitally and not have my personal control over the quality, materials, interpretation, etc. 2. I wouldn't want to lose control of where that image is used if I don't support the company, advertisement, etc. and 3. I know that when someone tells you that they "want to buy it outright" and not give you percentages or commission of the sale, they're going into it knowing that there's more money to be made...afterall, why would they gamble on something they are likely to lose at? and 4. Mass producing my images is not my style.
Although this is different, the concept is similar. They're taking the art away from the artist and making money off it with doing very little work and not being at all involved in the creation of the work. In this case/thread you showed us, you even lose your own right to re-print the image. But, I guess if you're hard-up, everyone's gotta make a buck. Some would argue that it's "getting you name out" or "lots of people get to enjoy your images", but I can't buy into that. I think it's things like this that take the soul out of photography and turn it into a display/decorative product rather than an art.
