Photo Competitions

[na4m]

Photo competitions are pretty common. But there is a dark side if you're not careful

For instance - one of the major stock image libraries Corbis recently started a photo competition called "I am Buried" that is causing quite a stir for it's onerous Terms & Conditions (T's & C's). This competition's T&C's are being characterized by many stock image photographers as a blatant image/intellectual property "rights grab".

An extract of Corbis's T&C's for this contest states:

"By providing Sponsor with your Submission in this Contest, you agree to exclusively and irrevocably assign, convey and transfer to Sponsor any and all right, title and interest in the Submission, including the copyright, right of publicity, moral rights and any ideas included in the Submission and understand that you may be required to sign a document to this effect.

You understand that this assignment shall give Sponsor sole ownership over your Submission and that Sponsor, therefore, shall have the right to transfer or assign any part or all of the Submission, without limitation. Sponsor also shall have the right to edit, adapt and publish any or all of the Submission, and may use it in any media including, without limitation any new technologies that are yet to be developed, without attribution or compensation to the entrant, his/her successors or assigns, or any other entity. Further, this assignment shall give Sponsor the right to use the Submission in perpetuity and throughout the universe without further consideration."

Further info: http://www.stockphototalk.com/the_st...-i-am-bur.html

I've seen other photo competitions with T & C's that also require the photographer to give away much of the rights to the images entered in competitions or upon winning any prizes.

So - if entering photo competitions read and understand their Terms & Conditions or you may have a terrific image with no residual value to yourself after entering it in the contest.

-Phil

[daveb]

"the right to use the Submission in perpetuity and throughout the universe without further consideration"

I wonder what would happen if I slid this into a model release :)

[Bruce M. Morris]

Throughout the universe?? Are they planning on submitting to the Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy?

[iCe]

When I see "photo contest" I cringe (and hit delete). A lot of people are giving away their work for the sake of nothing.