BEWARE - Contest Rules

[Sime]

nah - its common... everyone is out to make a buck

"Yes, that's my photo, it's just that, urm, when I took it there wasn't a spacehip in the top window of that house and that man only had two arms"...

[Darryl]

I think that NG's usual wording as posted by porterd should be enough to protect both parties. I bet the lawyers got into the act and worded it to absolutely strip the original owner of any right whatsoever to the image to protect the larger and most likely well legally represented company from the poor individual, low income, overtaxed and brow-beaten lowly photographer

Burn down their stone and steel company fortresses, I say. Pitch 'em an ass.

Things are getting a little too jabberwonky these days.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by Major_Small

I don't really think this is anything too crazy. They just want tight control over the images they publish.

Nup, I think that any time someone wants me to hand over complete copyright to my image with such slight compensation, it's a bit crazy Licensing it I can deal with, but they'd better be providing me with something a bit more significant than my image in a magazine in order to get the copyright.

And reading those T&C I wonder if this would mean that any image that has been on Flickr would be ineligible since your image cannot have been previously published in any media.

you warrant and represent that: ... (b) it has not been previously published or distributed in any media

Now mind you, the bit I really dislike in this aside from giving them every and all right to your photograph is the fact that they don't even have to say that it is your photograph (emphasis my own).

By submitting a Photo, entrant irrevocably grants Sponsor and its agents an
unlimited, worldwide, perpetual, unconditional, gratis license and right to edit, modify,
adapt, publish, broadcast, reproduce, encode, store, copy, transmit, post, publicly display,
exhibit, and or otherwise use or reuse (without limitation as to when or to the number of
times used) the Photo (in each case, as submitted or as edited/modified in any way by the
Sponsor, in its sole discretion) in any way, in any media (including but not limited to the
Contest Web site) without limitation, without attribution or compensation to the entrant ...

Not something that I'd be very thrilled with!

[photobyfelix]

Porterd2nz said:

"Are NG actually hosting this contest, or someone else? I just can't see them throwing away that big a chunk of goodwill, and it seems to be a very juvenile mistake for them to make."

The contest I reference is at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/bestbuy/contest.html

The contest is on page 107of the November/december 2007 issue of NG Traveler magazine - they collect the photos, and administer the contest - seems NG is running that show. I think Bestbuy is proably financing the effort but it is NG who is out there saying you lose the copyright if you submit.


Felix

[xxpinballxx]

I am not sure but I think getting one of my pictures plastered all over National Geographic would somehow be enough compensation. Now if I were a big time photographer to begin with it would be a different story but then again would I be entering the contest if that were the case?
Sometimes you gotta give to get and this is giving alot but the payoff is pretty great too.
People in the music industry often start out playing gigs for free to get the name of their group out there. Alot of business starting out offer a service for free to get a contract if they like the results. Not too crazy to me at all.

[waffles]

But that's the thing, they don't have to say whose image it was.

[xxpinballxx]

It is a contest for best image and I have yet to see a contest where the winner was anonymous. Might just be me....?
if there is no winner announced then there really isnt a contest. they may keep the rights to the photo but Im sure they will credit at least the first initial posting of the shot. I can't see anyone entering a contest where there isnt an acknowledgment.

[Nicole]

In my mind, it's the fact that they don't *have* to credit me, so in all honesty, me knowing that my picture is there when everyone else may not know it's mine? Not so much compensation. Of course, it's up to each person to decide how much compensation is enough. The price there is just a little too steep for me. I would never, ever, give away an image that I love to a contest with these kinds of rules, and while NG may want to keep control over the images that the publish, I won't be handing over full right to a photograph any time soon.

[xxpinballxx]

well i'd be willing to bet my camera they credit the photographer upon the decision of the winner. They don't have to plaster your name above the shot in each place they publish it or use it but I am sure for the contest results they will. Its a contest! No one would enter with knowledge that there would be no reason other than self knowledge of winning. Thats like a beauty contest with sealed results at the end. I think NG and BestBuy are a bit brighter than that to think people would not want a mention. They didnt get to where they are in business by being naive and ignorant.
On another note I would never take a photo I "Love" and send into any contest what so ever. Only photos I would enter are photos taken to enter. I think everyone is taking what they are saying to an extreme....
Saying that they want rights to the photo and can alter or edit or whatever is not saying they are out to get your prize winning photo only to make money at your expense. there are plenty of legal reasons for them wanting the rights and anyone who's gotten burned, which I am sure they both have been sued more times than we can count on all our fingers, want to cover their assets so to speak.
I mean I could go on flickr take a photo edit metadata and make it mine sell it and make money. If thats all they want then they have all the opportunity in the world. Im sure they get many 1000s photos every week sent to them.
I think its alot more paranoia than anything.

[Major_Small]

again, it's a "cover your ass" type thing IMO. They probably put that in there in the case they use your image somewhere and forget to credit you for it. I'm sure they didn't put that in thinking "we're not going to credit them".

and as for "no compensation", if you lay the FUD down for a second and read the rest of the terms:

8. Prizes: ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: A Trip for four (4) to Alaska for an Alaskan cruise. Trip
package includes roundtrip coach-class air transportation for four (4) from a major airport
near winner’s home (determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) to Juneau, Alaska; eight
(8) days and seven (7) nights accommodations on board the Sea Lion or Sea Bird ship
(determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) (two rooms, double occupancy); select meals
(determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion); and a $150 Best Buy Gift Card. Winner must
travel on dates determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion and must be taken by no later
than December 31, 2008. Trip must be booked at least twenty-one (21) days prior to
departure. Trip subject to availability and blackout dates. Travel must be roundtrip.

Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $24,150.

over $24k for a single shot? sign me up

If all you're interested in is your name on the image:

14. Winner List/Official Rules: For the winner list, send an email with Subject Line: “You
Go Great Places Vacation Photo Contest,” to WinListRequests@eprizefulfillment.com.
Requests must be received by July 31, 2008. Official Rules will be available at
http://nationalgeographic.com/bestbuy during the Contest Period.