Contest fine print

Someone sent me info about a photography contest in Redding which was named after the Sundail bridge there. I was curious about the rules and thought I might enter something. When I read the fine print I was rather astonished. Among other things, for any image you enter, they retain the right to use it essentially for any purpose they wish without your consent or payment of any royalties in perpetuity. That's for ever folks. Can't imagine anyone other than a rank amateur agreeing to that. Is this a common requirement?

Peter, All too common

Have a look at this website.

http://artists-bill-of-rights.org/bill-of-rights/bill-of-rights/bill-of-rights/

Recently the San Jose Mercury news ran a travel photo contest that was obviously an attempt to harvest unlimited usage rights from photographers. I sent them a letter drafted by the Artist's Bill of Rights website and let them know that I was advising all photographers I know to avoid their contest. I also let them know that with one stroke of my keyboard I can reach over 1,800 photo enthusiasts in the bay area alone. Futile I know, but it made me feel better.

Bottom line, Do Not Enter Photo Contests without reading the fine print. Congratulations on catching this one. Warn all your friends.

Sounds like the contests are doing what Instagram had tried to do.

It's rampant. Free image grabs masquerading as a 'contest' that you still have to pay an entry fee for! They're everywhere. Since when do artists have to pay for the slim chance of 'winning' a prize? They are supposed to get paid for their work, not pay others! Surprisingly, it was National Geographic that started this policy and many smaller regional galleries have taken their example and used it. It is a big insult to us all.

The rights grab is the primary reason I will not enter contests. I can understand a modest entry fee to cover overhead and /or to be used for cash prizes, but some fees are over the top, in my opinion.

--P