Template Monster - Will No Longer Associate with Ultravertex.com!
July 3rd, 2006 in NewsTemplate Monster has severed its agreement with Ultravertex.com. Ultravertex.com, an image provider for webpage designers, had been a supplier of images for Template Monster clients for several years. That relationships were based on an agreement whereby Template Monster purchased an exclusive license from Ultravertex.com which entitled Template Monster customers to a free account.
In a very disappointing situation Ultravertex.com would not allow our customers to use their accounts to download graphic image files. Numerous complaints and requests to Ultravertex.com have gone unanswered, according to many Template Monster customers. The free accounts had been given to Template Monster customers as a bonus for making purchases.
Template Monster tried to investigate this situation but has received no response from Ultravertex.com. Template Monster was recently made aware of Ultravertex.com’s alleged misuse of images that they do not own. Because of this very serious situation, and Ultrvertex.com’s unwillingness to respond to Template Monster inquiries, we give notice to everyone involved that we have dissolved our agreement with Ultravertex.com and will not have any dealings with them.
“We are extremely upset with this situation,” says David Braun, CEO of Template Monster. “The free account with the image provider was a great bonus for our clients. Unfortunately, we have no other choice but to break off this partnership in order not to mislead our clients. We are very sorry about the situation but we do promise to provide a similar bonus for all of our clients as soon as possible.”
Template Monster made the decision to break off the agreement and believes the only solution to these issues is to go to court. Currently Template Monster has removed all the links to Ultravertex.com from the TM websites. And Template Monster strongly recommends to all of its clients not to use any images from Ultravertex.com.
July 4th, 2006 at 12:54 am
I think this is OK since the search function is very bad at ultravertex (never found the graphic I needed).
I hope TM will find some other agreement to offer addtional service to customers. Without the Ultravertex service is the package is very small for orders via affiliate sites…
July 4th, 2006 at 3:37 am
I think it’s great that TemplateMonster is willing to take a stand against a former partner of theirs in favor of ethical business practices. It is especially heartening that TemplateMonster, unlike many corporations today, has proven that their customers do have a voice and can influence the direction of TemplateMonster’s actions. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for TemplateMonster. I think this can be a catalyst for even bigger and better things - no better time than now!!
July 4th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
I am glad the association has ended. I found Ultravertex did not supply any quality images plus as stated by Olaf the search function was terrible. I look forward to the next partnership as from my association with Template Monster they always seem to find new ways to raise the standards of what a great web template supplier provides. Keep up the good work.
Regards
Adam
July 4th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
Ultravertex never really had that great of a selection to begin with. Alot of so called print quality images were grainy and sometimes out of focus. Also the inability to download the same image twice (in case you accidentally lost or deleted an image) was extremely stupid and poorly planned. Although I really liked the idea of TM doing this I’m not sad to see this agreement severed. Hopefully TM can partner with another company and propel this idea again (perhaps gettyimages would be interested).
July 4th, 2006 at 3:18 pm
I know I won’t lose any sleep over this. As John mentioned the inability to download an image twice was just plain dumb. I remember the last time I tried logging in at UV they kept telling me my account was inactive, even though I’d just purchased a TM template 24 hours earlier.
July 5th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
When affiliating with people who don’t want to cooporate is no longer doable, there is only one way to act. I believe Templatemonster has done the right thing!
I’m going to delete all links from our website for Ultravertex as well!
Templatechicken
July 6th, 2006 at 1:42 am
I think that it’s the only right thing to do, and i feel that TM will easely find a better supplier! They were not realy that great after all….
July 7th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
That is too bad it ended this way. good for templatemonster for taking a stand! maybe templatemonster can work out an aggeement with a microstock site like dreamstime.com.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
I am not surprised. You never have to deal with russians, they are chaotic and unpredictable.
July 19th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Waht we have to post here, is about the decision of TM with their partners, and not about Russians.
That´s wy so many people hate USA today !!!
I love the work of TM, and all your associates !!!
Great deicison of TM.
But, PLEASE, do not say anithing about others…..
PS.: I am not Russian…I am Brazilian !!!
July 21st, 2006 at 2:05 pm
“perhaps gettyimages would be interested” - i don’t think so..
Iriada - your opinion is unbased on facts, merely stupid.
July 23rd, 2006 at 12:57 am
“Regarding the posting by “”IRIADA”" July 18; to make such remarks about someone based on their ethnicity is RACIST. Just as with the contributor on July 19, I am also not Russian, I am Irish.”
July 25th, 2006 at 12:39 am
I’m russian and I found the comment funny, lol.
July 25th, 2006 at 3:31 am
haha, you are leaving the topic. The truth is that we need another image provider for our customers. It was a good added value to the templates.
July 26th, 2006 at 6:36 am
why you wait. talk with other stock provider. CORBIS, Getty Image, Veer, and many… talk with them.. this is open WORLD so business open too. and you are not going to make it free so.. many provider waiting for you.. search them
thanks… by the way i’m not Russian too. that’s doesn’t matter…
July 28th, 2006 at 1:22 am
i always knew that Ultravertex got something rare in their business, because they offer almost 10,000 photos, and when you navigate in the site, are less than 500… is very bad that one service like that don’t give to their customers the respect and the good service that their pay…
good choice TM Team, i’m sure that very soon you’ll find a better images provider!!
August 1st, 2006 at 3:20 am
Hi Guys, I need help. I have received a bill today from some lawyers in London for about £2000 for stealing an image copyrights from Corbis.com for a photo that I downloaded from Ultravertex.com. Only when I received the bill from them I visited the site, I did not know what’s going on between Template Monster and Ultravertex and when I looked today on the news that they’re not partners anymore. Can someone give me a clue on this? I have to pay the bill until 8th August.THANKS,
August 1st, 2006 at 5:34 pm
You can dispute the charges, as you got the image from UltraVertex. They are responsible for any images they have given to the public. The only thing Corbis can do legally is have you take the image down from where you have it. (Because UV stole the image without permission.) Ask a lawyer for advise.
August 1st, 2006 at 5:45 pm
Bertie, we cannot provide you with Ultravertex contact info as we do not have it.
You may contact our copyright officer - Steve Chizmar at steve.chizmar (at) templatemonster.com for a consultation.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Is Ultravertex still in business? If so, do they automatically charge you for a paid membership once the free 6 month account expires? I can’t access their site and I don’t have any of their contact info for cancelling.
August 8th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Is there a way we can be notified if/when a new partnership with an image provider is established? (Other than having to keep checking back?) Any thoughts on if your current customers will be given free access to a new partner?
August 25th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
I used an image I got from Ultravertex on my site after getting the ‘free’ account when I bought a template. I have just received a lawyers letter on behalf of Corbis sueing me for breach of copyright requireing an immediate payment of £1128. I suggest you remove any Ultravertex images immediately.
October 28th, 2006 at 2:51 am
“I am glad the association has ended. I found Ultravertex did not supply any quality images plus as stated by Olaf the search function was terrible.” I TOTALLY AGREE! I think I did hear somewhere that there was a partnership in the works but cannot recal at the moment. i will post when I remember.