Imageline and Web 2.0

In order to survive as long as we have (we’ve been in this industry for over 25 years), Imageline has had to be both creative, resilient, and unique. We have waited for the interactive Web 2.0 for many, many years. We think it is finally here to stay. Creative expression, open communications, self-publishing, and the ability to monetize an idea is now available to almost anyone. There are now close to a billion people with online Internet access worldwide. These are exciting times.

Our unique, proprietary production process

Imageline is very unique in the way we create original clip art illustrations and designs for use in both printed media and online. Our highly skilled digitizers and color optimization specialists use a detailed and complex process to construct the individual polygons (based on mathematical algorithms and codes generated in programs such as CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Draw, Flash, Dreamweaver, and others) piece by piece and then assemble the digital artwork back together to form a finished vector-based electronic clip art illustration, animation, or page design. Envision a puzzle with hundreds of small pieces that have to fit together perfectly, and then look beautiful when assembled in the end with all of the “seams” between the pieces removed, to get some idea of the "process".

Over the years, we have employed some of the finest designers, conceptual artists, cartoonists, digitizers, and illustrators in the world. All of our work has been done by in-house personnel, or through “work-for-hire” agreements, ensuring Imageline that all of our original and digital artwork can be protected. Each illustration maintains its own copyright life, which in the U.S. is 70 years from the death of its creator. Although 3-4 professionals work on each Imageline illustration, the final product is owned exclusively by Imageline, or one of its related companies and/or shareholders.

From conception, to design, to layout, digitization, colorization, and testing, the process of constructing a finalized Imageline exclusive illustration, design, or animation can take several hours, several days, or even several weeks in some cases. Each of our original illustrations is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, usually in collections to expedite both the administrative process and to lower the costs. Each of our copyrighted works take as long, or longer, than other copyrightable material (such as songs, photographs, poems, short stories, video clips, magazine articles, etc.) to produce.

By spending the time to do this creative process right from the very beginning, Imageline produces electronic images unmatched in both aesthetic quality and technical precision by most other developers in our industry. Imageline images can be scaled perfectly to any size, from an icon or postage stamp to a full page display or a billboard. They work on both Windows and Macintosh platforms, are easy to edit, and can be transmitted quickly over networks or other online distribution systems. They are well suited for distribution to mobile devices as those opportunities present themselves more clearly over the next few years. But, unlike the vast majority of our competitors’ images, the Imageline clip art illustrations and designs (unless tampered with) can be easily recognized if they end up in the hands of anyone without a valid license. This is one of the primary advantages of embedding the digitized file instructions, and production codes, into the actual images. It creates a certain kind of “fingerprinting” that most users will not try to circumvent or remove ... especially the honest ones.

We were the pioneer ... and we have the arrows in our back to prove it

Imageline pioneered the development of electronic clip art illustrations, design templates, and personal computer based animations for the IBM PC platform back in the early to mid-80’s. We were there when the PC revolution began (we produced some of the original Charlie Chaplain animations for IBM) and we have been there all along the way. Our superior quality and unmatched attention to detail was apparent from the very beginning, and led to license, development, and marketing agreements with virtually every major software company, hardware manufacturer, and Internet service provider in our industry. From IBM, to Lotus, Microsoft, Apple, HP, Adobe, Computer Associates, WordPerfect, Softkey, Broderbund, Avery, Paper Direct, Expert, Deneba, Z-Soft, Datacal, Tiger, Claris, Xerox, Borland, SPC, Corel, Power-up, AOL, IMSI/Masterclips, Parsons Technology, Aldus, DEC, Micrografx, and others … they all had one thing in common … they licensed top quality graphic arts content from Imageline..

In early 2000, Imageline decided to terminate all licensing agreements with third parties and convert its sizable proprietary libraries of electronic images, designs, logos, and animations to optimized Internet formats. We had restricted Internet exploitation of our images all along, even by our authorized distributors and licensees. Plans to launch a new Imageline online delivery system were put into place in 2001. The decision was made to transition from software box publishing and third party distribution to our own development and distribution systems that the Internet made possible. Broadband delivery was the key to our future success ... and had finally arrived … as well as the enhanced efforts of ourselves and others to curtail Internet based piracy. We set out to clear the Internet from as much piracy, particularly "intra-industry piracy", as we possibly could. This was no small feat, especially since Imageline was, and still is, just a small development company located in central Virginia.

Our new plan was to offer top quality images online at reasonable prices

Until just recently, we thought we had finally made sufficient progress to complete this transition and re-introduce our new products and services to the market. We had not wanted to introduce our new digital images to our customers while pirated versions of the same image could be easily attained online for "free" via the Internet. Unfortunately, all of our plans have once again been forced to be put on hold as we research and document the newly discovered massive distribution networks of pirated works through the online channels of Google and others. Hundreds, if not thousands, of modern day pirates have taken it upon themselves to designate other people’s property to the "public domain", and use the free distribution of the public domain property to attract advertisers. Imageline images, perhaps because of the quality, have been one of their favorite targets … unfortunately. We are overwhelmed by what we have learned in just the last few months. We have laws (both civil and criminal) in this country (and increasingly in other countries as well) against this kind of unlawful behavior, but the laws must be better enforced.

Only time will tell whether our ongoing anti-piracy efforts have made, or will make, a difference for the copyright industries we represent. It seems when we catch one pirate and shut down his/her operation, five more spring up almost overnight. The host system operators (the Google’s of the world) need to step up and do what is right. Their financial and operational support of this unlawful activity is unconscionable in my view, and in the view of virtually every legitimate copyright holder I’ve spoken with over the past six months. I sure hope Congress, the DOJ, and these large public technology companies (with huge war chests) step up to plate soon and do what is needed to stop these crimes, as there has never been a better time to deliver high quality, reasonably priced, electronic graphic arts content to an eager, hungry, and appreciative audience around the world.

And there has never been a more dangerous time for the copyright industries in this country either ... one of the few industries who still pave the way with innovation, valuable products and services, and set the example for quality throughout the world. Imageline will continue this charge (the mission is critical) and appreciates any assistance we can get along the way.

Our commitment to this industry

Throughout our 25-year history Imageline has never once been accused of copyright infringement. We are very proud of this record and wonder how many software, hardware, or Internet companies that have been in business for this long could make that claim. We have had to enforce our copyrights far too many times to count, however, and have never lost a case. We have also never brought forward an infringement claim that was not thoroughly researched and valid. We intend to do everything we can in this new global digital economy to help others adopt this same respect for the copyrighted works that make this country so unique and so great … and the envy of other countries around the world. After all, it is our Constitution that grants these protective rights to those who produce copyrighted material and artistic expression in this country, not right wing or left wing politicians.

Long live Web 2.0. We look forward to being an important part of this revolution as well.

Thank you for your continued support of Imageline.

George P. Riddick, III
Chairman/CEO