Once a photo library, Corbis develops into visual gatekeeper

Corbis, the private company solely owned by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has quietly amassed the world’s largest collection of stock photography and fine art images.

The other large collection is held by another Seattle image bank, Getty Images, co-founded by another billionaire, Mark Getty.

Getty Images’ market share is three or four times that of Corbis, and the company is profitable.

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