Nederlands
English
On December 19, 2013 nature stockphoto agency ‘Foto Natura’ went bankrupt. Although ‘Foto Natura’ was possible in heavy weather because of years of mismanagement, the breakpoint was the Belgian photographer David Patyn who pulled his right through a lawsuit. ‘FotoNatura’ was convicted in the short term to paid approx 5,000 euros and this meant the final ending of the stock agency: www.kvk.nl/handelsregister/zoekenframeset.asp?zk=0&url=https://diensten.kvk.nl/TST-BIN/FU/TSWS001@?BUTT=350230150000.
Research
The ‘Fotografenfederatie’ (The Dutch Photographers Federation) is planning to conduct an investigation about possible irregularities and suspicions of violations of the rights of photographers by ‘Foto Natura’. The owner of the bankrupt ‘Foto Natura’ also owns four other companies that reside at the same address. The former owner of the bankrupt ‘Foto Natura’ is suspected of still selling licenses through these companies. For a list of these four companies: www.oozo.nl/insolventies/zaanstad/wormerveer/wormerveer-noord/faillissement/779968/foto-natura-bv.
Some photographers stated they had to sign contracts with the other companies of the owner of Foto Natura. So their work can still be sold by those companies.
Request of the trustee in bankruptcy
Contact with the office of the trustee in bankruptcy, Siebert & Becker Lawyers, showed that it is advisable for all of the photographers who have ties to ‘Foto Natura’, and did not have received a letter about the bankruptcy, are willing to report there, in their own interest. This can be done by mail: [email protected] or by telephone: +31 23 531 00 60.
International commotion
‘Foto Natura’ had also agreements with agencies abroad who represented her there. A number of agencies now pay directly to the photographers who supplied images via ‘Foto Natura’.
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Meanwhile, within CEPIC (Coordination of European Picture Agencies Stock, Press and Heritage) seems to be a discussion on the behavior of '‘Foto Natura’, wich was one of the biggest Dutch wildlife agencies. CEPIC is a federation of nearly a thousand agencies and image libraries in over 25 countries in Europe, within and outside the European Union. CEPIC also has affiliates in North America and Asia. The President of CEPIC, Alfonso Guttierrez, has already publicly commented on the matter, including the interational Linkedin group ‘Stockphotography, buy and sell Images’.
Aldabra fiasco
Less well known is that ‘Foto Natura’ was involved in the highly controversial ‘Aldabra Project’. Some wildlife photographers were promised ‘mountains of gold’ by ‘Foto Natura’ if they took part in the ‘Aldabra team’. The team was supposed to produce photographic documentation about the Seychelles Island Aldabra. All usage rights would be sold and transferred to the ‘Aldabra Foundation’. Before they could participate they had to pay a deposit of about $7000 each to ‘Foto Natura’.
In 2005, the ‘Aldabra Foundation’ was established in the financial paradise Switzerland. The purpose of the Foundation was to maintain and monitor the specific nature of the unspoiled Seychelles island of Aldabra. Involved in the establishment were the much discussed Liliane Bettencourt, the richest woman in France and owner of L'Oreal, as well as her right hand Carlos Vejarano. Vejarano was appointed as a board member and CEO of the ‘Aldabra Foundation’. For the background and events surrounding Liliane Bettencourt: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liliane_Bettencourt.
Money laundering
Carlos Vejarano was arrested in July 2012 by the French police for money laundering, and he was detained. He resigned from the board of the ‘Aldabra Foundation’. Part of the suspicion was the ‘Aldabra Foundation’ was set up to serve as a cover for money laundering. An article of September 2012 in the ‘Seychelles Weekly’ gives more background: www.seychellesweekly.com/September%2012,%202010/top1_aldabra_foundation.html.
Despite promises, the photographers mentioned say they never have seen a single penny for their many days work. The successful Aldabra exhibition in Paris in 2007, which was extended until the end of January 2008, due to great success, for participating photographers was partly a disappointment. Although Vejarano would have made an agreed payment to ‘Foto Natura’ of $50,000 for licensing, none of the photographers received the money to wich they were entitled to. PhotoNmagazine.eu is in possession of a copy of this agreement.
Sad
It is a real sad case that only has losers, despite the sincere efforts of a number of photographers, apparently by monetary gain.
Again: if something’s is too good to be true then it is not true.
The remaining Board members of the Aldabra Foundation are also involved in the Seychelles Islands Foundation, the SIF, that resides on the Seychelles.
