Comments on: Understanding Five Types of Photo Contests http://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html Professional Photography Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jagdish Agarwalhttp://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html/comment-page-1#comment-6626 Jagdish Agarwal Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:11:08 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6992#comment-6626 In India, photography magazines and commercial large companies too have contests where they try to take all rights for all entered pictures. I have tried talking to them but they say that rules have come from their parent companies abroad. So, they end up getting free pictures for their publicity. And photographers loose one more avenue to make some money from their photography. But since there are enough photographers who participate in these contests, the downward spiral for stock photography business continues.jagdish agarwal/ dinodia/ india In India, photography magazines and commercial large companies too have contests where they try to take all rights for all entered pictures. I have tried talking to them but they say that rules have come from their parent companies abroad. So, they end up getting free pictures for their publicity. And photographers loose one more avenue to make some money from their photography. But since there are enough photographers who participate in these contests, the downward spiral for stock photography business continues.

jagdish agarwal/ dinodia/ india

]]> By: Brian Deehttp://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html/comment-page-1#comment-6447 Brian Dee Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:38:11 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6992#comment-6447 Great post, Jeff. I have ordered a copy of Winning Digital Photo Contests and can't wait to read the entire book. Great post, Jeff. I have ordered a copy of Winning Digital Photo Contests and can't wait to read the entire book.

]]> By: G Dan Mitchellhttp://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html/comment-page-1#comment-6436 G Dan Mitchell Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:53:25 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6992#comment-6436 Let me add one more important link as a gateway to a lot of excellent information on this general topic. There is an <a href="http://www.photoattorney.com/2009/04/oprahs-photo-request-grabs-exclusive.html" rel="nofollow">article at the Photo Attorney web site</a> about an "Oprah" contest and its terms. Beyond that, some poking around the Photo Attorney site will reveal other information and links about this topic.You might want to contact that site about this subject since it is one that they are very interested in.Thanks,Dan Let me add one more important link as a gateway to a lot of excellent information on this general topic. There is an article at the Photo Attorney web site about an "Oprah" contest and its terms. Beyond that, some poking around the Photo Attorney site will reveal other information and links about this topic.

You might want to contact that site about this subject since it is one that they are very interested in.

Thanks,

Dan

]]> By: G Dan Mitchellhttp://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html/comment-page-1#comment-6435 G Dan Mitchell Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:49:43 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6992#comment-6435 There are many, many well-known contests with such inappropriate conditions and they have been discussed pretty widely on the net.There is a discussion thread at Luminous Landscape that will provide a bit of info for you are one or two of them:http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=36847I've written about several on my blog - and included links to some articles by others on this topic:http://www.gdanmitchell.com/?s=contest&submit=SearchWhat I have described is actually very common - more the rule than the exception, sadly. I think that it is entirely reasonable that the contest sponsors should expect a limited license to use winning images in ways directly connected with the contest. However, what is far more common are conditions that givea free, unlimited (and uncredited) license...... to the contest sponsors...... and all of their affiliates...... for unrestricted use...... in any form...... for an unlimited term...... for all ENTERED photographs - e.g not limited to winners.This is a fairly widely recognized problem, and photographers should a) be aware of the nature of the contest terms and b) publicize this trend widely and c) warn those who may not understand.Thanks,Dan There are many, many well-known contests with such inappropriate conditions and they have been discussed pretty widely on the net.

There is a discussion thread at Luminous Landscape that will provide a bit of info for you are one or two of them:

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=36847

I've written about several on my blog - and included links to some articles by others on this topic:

http://www.gdanmitchell.com/?s=contest&submit=Search

What I have described is actually very common - more the rule than the exception, sadly. I think that it is entirely reasonable that the contest sponsors should expect a limited license to use winning images in ways directly connected with the contest. However, what is far more common are conditions that give

a free, unlimited (and uncredited) license...

... to the contest sponsors...

... and all of their affiliates...

... for unrestricted use...

... in any form...

... for an unlimited term...

... for all ENTERED photographs - e.g not limited to winners.

This is a fairly widely recognized problem, and photographers should a) be aware of the nature of the contest terms and b) publicize this trend widely and c) warn those who may not understand.

Thanks,

Dan

]]> By: Jeff Wignallhttp://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html/comment-page-1#comment-6433 Jeff Wignall Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:41:36 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6992#comment-6433 This is, of course, an important topic and there is a chapter in the book devoted entirely to finding reputable contests, protecting your rights and knowing what to expect in terms of rights requirements with different contests. In fact, however, of the hundred or so contests that I researched, to my knowledge not a single one was trying to do anything inappropriate with photographers' rights. In fact, most went way out of their way to let the photographers know that they were not surrendering rights.There is a chapter listing contests in the back of the book and none of those contests seek anything more than the right to publish the winners' photos (and perhaps use the photos for promotion for the contest in future years). If a contest seeks rights beyond that, it would be worth writing to the sponsor to have those rights clarified, no question about it.I did come across a few "pretty baby" type contests (as I recall most were in Great Britain for some reason) that wanted "all rights" to the winning photos, but these contests seemed to me like such an obvious scam that I think almost anyone would detect it immediately.I also contacted probably 100+ photographers for the book and none related any bad experiences with contest hosts or rights abuses of any kind.As far as liability for photos, that too is an important consideration. But that is (and should be) a photographer's responsibility from the moment they take the photo. If you don't have the necessary releases of people/property to begin, you shouldn't be trying to publish/sell/enter those photos anywhere. A huge number of the photos winning contests though are of subjects like wildlife, scenics, close-ups, underwater shots where releases aren't involved.It's wise to read all of the legal notices that go with entering a contest and knowing what those rights entail in a broader sense (in terms of liability, as you've said, for example). But for probably 99% of all photos and contests, it's a very safe venture and a great way to get your work shown around the world.If anyone *does* come across a contest that is abusing rights, please send me the info and I'll be sure to check into when it comes time to update the book.jeff This is, of course, an important topic and there is a chapter in the book devoted entirely to finding reputable contests, protecting your rights and knowing what to expect in terms of rights requirements with different contests. In fact, however, of the hundred or so contests that I researched, to my knowledge not a single one was trying to do anything inappropriate with photographers' rights. In fact, most went way out of their way to let the photographers know that they were not surrendering rights.

There is a chapter listing contests in the back of the book and none of those contests seek anything more than the right to publish the winners' photos (and perhaps use the photos for promotion for the contest in future years). If a contest seeks rights beyond that, it would be worth writing to the sponsor to have those rights clarified, no question about it.

I did come across a few "pretty baby" type contests (as I recall most were in Great Britain for some reason) that wanted "all rights" to the winning photos, but these contests seemed to me like such an obvious scam that I think almost anyone would detect it immediately.

I also contacted probably 100+ photographers for the book and none related any bad experiences with contest hosts or rights abuses of any kind.

As far as liability for photos, that too is an important consideration. But that is (and should be) a photographer's responsibility from the moment they take the photo. If you don't have the necessary releases of people/property to begin, you shouldn't be trying to publish/sell/enter those photos anywhere. A huge number of the photos winning contests though are of subjects like wildlife, scenics, close-ups, underwater shots where releases aren't involved.

It's wise to read all of the legal notices that go with entering a contest and knowing what those rights entail in a broader sense (in terms of liability, as you've said, for example). But for probably 99% of all photos and contests, it's a very safe venture and a great way to get your work shown around the world.

If anyone *does* come across a contest that is abusing rights, please send me the info and I'll be sure to check into when it comes time to update the book.

jeff

]]> By: G Dan Mitchellhttp://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-the-five-types-of-photography-contests.html/comment-page-1#comment-6399 G Dan Mitchell Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:56:26 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6992#comment-6399 Thanks for your post on contests. There is one important warning that all photographers who enter contests should heed, especially these days: Read and understand the contest terms!Recently contest promoters have taken to including some very onerous conditions as part of their entrant agreements. In fact, many have dubbed one of the common practices an "intellectual rights property grab." In these contests every ENTRANT (not just winners) assigns the contest organizers - and frequently their associates - an unlimited, cost-free, eternal, uncredited license to use their photography for any purpose. No, I'm not making this up - a contest that you ENTER often acquires full usage rights to all entered photographs without cost.It is also very important to read the liability conditions. Almost all contests assign the the entrant any and all responsibility for any legal challenge to use of the ENTERED photograph - the photograph over which the photographer now has no control. The entrant must defend against any claims at his/her own cost and must pay any damages. It isn't hard to imagine problem scenarios, especially when use is not even limited to the contest sponsors.Please be VERY careful out there!Dan Thanks for your post on contests. There is one important warning that all photographers who enter contests should heed, especially these days: Read and understand the contest terms!

Recently contest promoters have taken to including some very onerous conditions as part of their entrant agreements. In fact, many have dubbed one of the common practices an "intellectual rights property grab." In these contests every ENTRANT (not just winners) assigns the contest organizers - and frequently their associates - an unlimited, cost-free, eternal, uncredited license to use their photography for any purpose. No, I'm not making this up - a contest that you ENTER often acquires full usage rights to all entered photographs without cost.

It is also very important to read the liability conditions. Almost all contests assign the the entrant any and all responsibility for any legal challenge to use of the ENTERED photograph - the photograph over which the photographer now has no control. The entrant must defend against any claims at his/her own cost and must pay any damages. It isn't hard to imagine problem scenarios, especially when use is not even limited to the contest sponsors.

Please be VERY careful out there!

Dan

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