Hi all,
Greetings from SDC and thanks for the valuable feedback - we hear you. We are definitely not here to get any free photos, we may just need to use the photos to promote this campaign from time to time. However, you guys have pointed out something we might have missed out. Thus we promise that proper credit mention will be given to the photographer should we use his/her photos.
Part of this contest is to have relevant good captions accompanying photos or video clips to share another interesting/unknown facts about Singapore and that is why SDC reserves 60% of rights to determine the winning entry. Hope to see all the entries soon. Take care and keep your feedback coming
I understand the point you're coming from. As an event organiser, even though you may have no intention to sell the entries as stock photos, you would definitely want to play safe, and thus putting such clauses.
However, from photographers point of view, if their photographs are to be used, they would want some credit/settlement as well. Thus the clause has to be fair.
Its only fair that the winning entries shall belong to the organizers, and since they will be receiving prizes/awards. In this case, its great for both parties. And its also pretty much understandable, that the event organisers will award photos that they can use for their publicity as well. And the winning photographers will be more than willing to let you use their images for publicity. Its good for the winning photographers as well.
However, if there's an image the organizers would like to use, but yet still do not think its worthy of a prize winner; in this case
most photographers would rather not let you use it for your free publicity.
In my personal opinion:
"6. All entries submitted shall become the property of SDC and can be used or reused in any manner as SDC deems fit including, but not limited to, sharing with its partners and featuring on online or offline publicity materials."
thats one of the most ridiculous clauses I've seen among the photography competitions.
- By submitting your entry; not only SDC owns the right (also does not mention whether the photographer loses the rights to his own photo, and the way the phrase is very likely that the photographer will have to let go of their copyright just by submitting the image for the competition?)...it has to be very clear who owns the rights to the image.
- ...but also they have the rights to share with their partners (does not also describe whether the word "sharing" involves money/payment/exchange) as they will., for publicity (publicity for what/who) material. And what do their "partners", do with the photos? Will they give credits? or will they abuse the images? or will they sell the photos?
Its bad enough the first part of the clause, but the second part makes it the worst clause ive seen. Apologies for my blunt delivery., but sorry., Im really getting sick and tired of photo competitions with such rules.