Benchmark Industry Survey of CEPIC by German professor of Economic Geography

Coordination of European Picture Agencies (Press, Stock, Heritage) is conducting a second, large-scale survey which will cover around 1,600 picture agencies across Europe.

"This survey complies with the highest standards of academic research. Data given to us will be anonymized and will be treated fully confidentially" refers CEPIC President Alan Smith.

This research is based on a Web-based survey that takes only around 15 minutes to answer and that can be found in three languages at :
English : http://www1.ku-eichstaett.de/MGF/geo/wirtschaftsgeographie/cepic/ 
German : http://www1.ku-eichstaett.de/MGF/geo/wirtschaftsgeographie/cepic/de 
French : http://www1.ku-eichstaett.de/MGF/geo/wirtschaftsgeographie/cepic/fr

The data gathering process and its analysis is being conducted by Dr. Johannes Glückler, Professor of Economic Geography at the Catholic University of Eichstätt Ingolstadt (Germany) and the first results will be presented at the next CEPIC congress that takes place in Malta on Wednesday 4 June 2008. Full data will be given soon afterwards to those who take part in the survey.

"The last international and systematic market analysis dates back long ago: CEPIC conducted the first European survey in the year 2000" remembers CEPIC’s President Alan Smith. "The picture market place is undergoing major change. Yet, we are missing a detailed understanding of the market dynamics, the commercial situation of the picture agencies and the business impact of major technological and commercial trends". Alan Smith hopes that "the results will give us a benchmark to go forward from and will provide benchmarks in the discussions with the trans-national bodies of the European Union (EU) and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) whose decisions effect our business environment. Moreover, it will help picture businesses to know their market environment more profoundly and to learn how to respond to the current challenges".

"We all hope to get a richer and more profound understanding of the European picture market place" - says Dr. Johannes Glückler, Professor of Economic Geography at the Catholic University of Eichstätt Ingolstadt (Germany). Professor Johannes Glückler has already made an intensive study of this industry in Germany and two years ago delivered an influential paper in Cambridge University; he has also conducted an industry survey for the industry's German National Association, BVPA.