A new service that gives bloggers and other online publishers access to copyrighted news and creative images free to use alongside their editorial content, is available in public beta at http://www.picapp.com/.

PicApp enables bloggers to choose from extensive collections of millions of copyrighted images being updated by the thousands each day that have been licensed from Getty Images, Corbis and other prestigious image agencies to visualize the content on their web sites. Each image is accompanied by a non-intrusive ad to drive royalties to the related content partners, instead of the traditional license fees.

Bloggers covering the day-to-day trials and tribulations of the U.S. presidential race, for instance, could find up-to-the-minute photos of the candidates on the campaign trail at PicApp.com. Celebrity junkies can get their fix of Hollywood photos from PicApp. Sports writers can get play-by-play action photos of current superstars, like Tiger Woods or Roger Federer, as they make history to supplement a news story.

Plenty of topical photographs, such as themed images for the passing St. Patrick's or upcoming Mother's Days, are also available.

Interested bloggers can go to www.picapp.com to start getting images to enhance the content at their sites right away. Since the start of closed beta, PicApp has had an enthusiastic response from bloggers, according to Gura. Usability of the service has also increased, as bloggers have provided their feedback.

Labels: Industry News