Comments on: Beware of the Comp http://nickminers.com/2010/01/beware-of-the-comp/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:37:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ed http://nickminers.com/2010/01/beware-of-the-comp/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Ed Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:52:50 +0000 http://nickminers.com/?p=938#comment-128 The Beeb's T&Cs appear to be the worst - a virtually complete assignment of copyright, including sublicensing to other organisations and for other (perhaps commercial?) purposes. The Times' T&Cs seem to limit usage to the Times itself, for publicity and news purposes only. 'Publicity' is slightly ambiguous here - can one assume it means publicity for the competition only? I suspect this T&C was drafted pure out a desire to cover their backs, not to exploit as the BBC one. However, I agree with your remarks about the advisability of entering competitions in these circumstances. Your point that if your photograph is good enough to win you deserve a fee is a good one. However, the winners at least win something and get the exposure. Others may find their images being used for commercial purposes down the line and get nothing at all for it. The Beeb’s T&Cs appear to be the worst — a virtually complete assignment of copyright, including sublicensing to other organisations and for other (perhaps commercial?) purposes.

The Times’ T&Cs seem to limit usage to the Times itself, for publicity and news purposes only. ‘Publicity’ is slightly ambiguous here — can one assume it means publicity for the competition only? I suspect this T&C was drafted pure out a desire to cover their backs, not to exploit as the BBC one.

However, I agree with your remarks about the advisability of entering competitions in these circumstances. Your point that if your photograph is good enough to win you deserve a fee is a good one. However, the winners at least win something and get the exposure. Others may find their images being used for commercial purposes down the line and get nothing at all for it.

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