Posted by Mia McPherson on October 7, 2010 at 2:05 PM
David,
A friend of mine entered the NWF photo contest in 2009, none of her images were selected as winners. Later on in 2009 or early 2010 I spotted one of her Reddish Egret images on the index page of NWF.org, then on other pages some of her Brown Pelican images. I wrote her to congratulate her on having the images published on the NWF.org site and she was not even aware that they were using them on the site, they had not notified her or any thing.
This past NWF competition I wouldn't even have considered entering because of that and I let my subscription or membership lapse.
Posted by David Bostedo on October 7, 2010 at 3:02 PM
I don't see a date on that site, but I'm pretty sure that's several years old now. And based on all the stories I've heard like Mia's and about various other contests, I don't think it's had much effect.
Posted by Dan Borzynski on October 7, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Mia -
Did you take the time to write the NWF as to why you did not renew? It is about the only way they might see any connection between their actions and their results.
Doubt it will ever be eliminated, there are just too many people out there who want a chance at some form of publication.
If somebody wants to sign away their rights on the chance of a free trip, etc. that is their affair. What troubles me is few places explain property or model releases. One contest I read went to great lengths to throw any legal responsibilities on the photographer and indemnify the sponsor.
While I know of several instances where work was sold by the sponsoring organization to another firm, without money to the photographer, I haven't heard of any actions against a photographer in regards to releases. In a class I teach, I do warn all my students about releases should they enter a contest. Most are unaware they could land in court.
Posted by Mia McPherson on October 7, 2010 at 7:34 PM
Dan
I've considered writing to NWF.org explaining why I did not renew and I probably should.
I think the NWF is a good cause but harvesting useable images from a contest and then using them on their site without even notifying the creator of the image just seems very wrong to me.
I agree with what Mia said about this seeming very wrong. On the other hand, as I recall, when entering the contest, one of the choices is to donate your images to the NWF. I elected not to donate mine but it may well be that others donate them possibly without even realizing it.
RP
SO many photo contests are practicing this now. I called Joe, the owner of Really Right Stuff, to inquire why their contest did the same thing, and he knew nothing about it! He soon found out that his employee with the task of running the contest had simply bagged the rules and conditions right from the National Geo contest site! Once a big magazine/photography institution acts that way, everyone thinks it's now OK to do the same. TOO many bored lawyers! Another gallery on the central coast of CA held a contest and stated that they have the right to use entered images for whatever purpose helps them, including printing notecards for sale! When is the craziness going to stop?!?!
Posted by David Bostedo on October 12, 2010 at 1:30 PM
When is the craziness going to stop?!?!
When the people holding the contests don't get enough good images due to the "rights grabbing" rules. Whether the rules are that way because they are genuinely trying to get images, or just as a legal CYA, things won't change until the submissions they receive significantly change - which may mean that the real answer is "never".
Discussion
8 replieshttp://www.pro-imaging.org/content/view/1001/245/
A friend of mine entered the NWF photo contest in 2009, none of her images were selected as winners. Later on in 2009 or early 2010 I spotted one of her Reddish Egret images on the index page of NWF.org, then on other pages some of her Brown Pelican images. I wrote her to congratulate her on having the images published on the NWF.org site and she was not even aware that they were using them on the site, they had not notified her or any thing.
This past NWF competition I wouldn't even have considered entering because of that and I let my subscription or membership lapse.
Did you take the time to write the NWF as to why you did not renew? It is about the only way they might see any connection between their actions and their results.
Doubt it will ever be eliminated, there are just too many people out there who want a chance at some form of publication.
If somebody wants to sign away their rights on the chance of a free trip, etc. that is their affair. What troubles me is few places explain property or model releases. One contest I read went to great lengths to throw any legal responsibilities on the photographer and indemnify the sponsor.
While I know of several instances where work was sold by the sponsoring organization to another firm, without money to the photographer, I haven't heard of any actions against a photographer in regards to releases. In a class I teach, I do warn all my students about releases should they enter a contest. Most are unaware they could land in court.
I've considered writing to NWF.org explaining why I did not renew and I probably should.
I think the NWF is a good cause but harvesting useable images from a contest and then using them on their site without even notifying the creator of the image just seems very wrong to me.
RP
When the people holding the contests don't get enough good images due to the "rights grabbing" rules. Whether the rules are that way because they are genuinely trying to get images, or just as a legal CYA, things won't change until the submissions they receive significantly change - which may mean that the real answer is "never".