ImageSpan Builds on Momentum with New CEO Appointment and Growth Financing

SAUSALITO, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- ImageSpan Inc., creator of LicenseStream, the market-leading licensing and royalty payment automation platform for media, today announced that it will build on its growth with the appointment of Kurt Garbe as chief executive officer and the completion of a new round of growth financing led by previous investors Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments (BDMI) and CityLight Capital. Garbe succeeds ImageSpan founder Iain Scholnick, who will continue serving as chief platform officer.  

"ImageSpan with LicenseStream addresses the core problem confronting media companies and other owners of premier content today -- how to protect and fully monetize the value of their content at a reasonable cost as it gets distributed across the Web," said Garbe. "As media companies, publishers, record labels, movie studios advertising agencies and other content owners seek new ways to leverage their existing content and grow incremental revenues, LicenseStream offers the right solution at the right time."

Garbe brings a unique blend of experiences that will drive ImageSpan's growth. As CEO of SolutionSet, and in a prior position as chief operating officer of USWeb creating the largest pure-play internet services firm, Garbe developed a deep understanding of the needs of content users and providers. As entrepreneur-in-residence at Adobe, Garbe drove the development of a new ad-based service for publishers. He also gained experience in growing software as a service businesses as CEO of Movaris and COO of Asera.

"ImageSpan is transforming the way digital assets are monetized by providing innovative new ways for content owners to increase revenues from content they already have," said Keith Titan, a principal at BDMI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company. "Media companies, publishers and various communities of content creators are eager for simple solutions that are quickly deployable which is why our core product LicenseStream is experiencing rapid customer adoption. That makes this an ideal time for a seamless transition to an executive with a proven track record for scaling Internet-based services companies." Titan serves on the board of directors and led the CEO search process.

ImageSpan's LicenseStream automates the costly processes of content licensing and royalty settlement, creating new efficiencies by making content the storefront with defined ownership and rights embedded, enabling flexible pricing based on use.  By making content the storefront, LicenseStream accelerates transactions and frees resources to develop new distribution and marketing channels.  

Scholnick, who as chief platform officer for ImageSpan will focus on strategy and on expanding ImageSpan's products and partnerships, said Garbe's talents are a good fit for the company at this point in its evolution.

"Kurt's arrival and the new financing come at a key time to build on the success of LicenseStream's adoption by marquee partners and customers that include arvato finance services, Digimarc, PhotoShelter, The Chicago Tribune, the McEvoy Group and the Missouri History Museum," said Scholnick. "Kurt's vision, and his solid reputation for driving exceptional business growth in emerging technology companies, will help ImageSpan accelerate its rapid growth and move to the next level."

Garbe joining the company coincides with new financing, reflecting continued investor confidence in ImageSpan's market leading solutions for monetizing digital content. Proceeds of the financing will be used to fund expansion of domestic and international sales and marketing activities, and continued development of LicenseStream products and services.

About ImageSpan

ImageSpan, the creator of LicenseStream, is the first comprehensive platform that allows owners of digital content to efficiently license, transact and monitor all forms of electronic media. The platform both significantly extends the reach and revenue potential of companies already licensing their content online and establishes new revenue streams for companies looking to digitize and distribute their traditional analog material.  LicenseStream also enables customers to detect and curb unauthorized usage of their content.

The LicenseStream platform is strengthened by business partnerships with Digimarc and arvato finance services, a division of Bertelsmann AG.  Several of the world's marquee publishers and media companies, including the Chicago Tribune and the McEvoy Group – a publisher whose brand media properties include SPIN magazine and Chronicle Books – already have begun to develop new revenue streams and drive incremental sales via the LicenseStream solution. For more information, please go to www.imagespan.com or call (866) 240-8243.

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SOURCE ImageSpan Inc.