[Rant] Always read the fine print

A recent photography competition organised by Tourism Australia and The Australian newspaper - 'Wish You Were Here: Tourism Australia Photographi Competition' -asks for entries on the theme of "People on holidays" with categories for Nature, Outback, Cities and Beaches. You could win a camera, photographic gear or even holidays. Sounds good! Until you read the fine print in the Conditions of Entry, which states thus:

"Each entrant assigns to the Promoter all copyright and other intellectual property rights in each photo and description sent in as part of an entry in this competition. Each entrant acknowledges that the Promoter, as owner of the copyright in the photographs and descriptions, may reproduce the photographs and descriptions in any media or marketing for any purpose without permission or payment. The entrants agree to waive all their rights, including moral rights, in the photographs entered by the entrants in this competition."

So, for a few thousand dollars in equipment and holidays, the promoters become owners of free stock photographs taken by others - photographs which could essentially make them hundreds of thousands given the demand for quality stock images of Australian scenes for travel brochures, expos etc. Given the enthusiasm in which such competitions are often received, they stand to make a tidy killing from this simple competition.

Lesson here: Read the Conditions of Entry. Find out what you are surrendering before you send in your photograph/s. You could well be signing away your intellectual owenrship of the photograph/s - surrendering your moral right as the photographer and owner of your photographs, no longer being able to use them without seeking permission (and paying) for their use.

Be aware.