Re: Photo contests and copyrights

Bob Maxey <written_by@xxxxxxx> · Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:22:56 -0700

>>>The rules state that participants assign unlimited usage rights to
National Geographic. I may be wrong but this is not the same thing as
selling the copyright (ownership) of the image. What disturbs me about
this contest is that there is nothing in the rules statement about the
photographer retaining the copyright. I almost never enter contests (I
prefer to work for paying clients) but if I did I would avoid any that
do not explicitly state that the photographer retains the copyright
and that the user is simply acquiring usage rights.>>>

 I took a brief look at the page and I think you are wrong, Richard I seem to recall a line about the photographer retaining copyright. I skimmed and I could be wrong, however.

 If you retain copyright, you own the image and you are free to use it anyway you want. If you give NG unlimited rights, they also have the right to use it. You compete with NG and they compete with you.

 You do not need to enter if the rules bother you. Fair or not, they tell you upfront what's what.

 For fun, try looking at the rights Yahoo has to materials posted to these groups. Terms are somewhere on their site and as I recall, you give Yahoo some rights to use almost anything posted to their web site. You also give them the right to assign their rights to others you might not know anything about.

 Bob 
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