This weeks photo comp rights grab…supported by Ffotogallery..?
Written by David WhiteFancy a free night in an hotel on Cardiff Bay? Why not, I’m sure it’s lovely. To win such a treat all you need do is enter a snap of Cardiff Bay into this competition. Just make sure you’ve got model releases for anyone and everyone in shot, because the organisers want to use your images in a commercial context. Yawn. Here we go again. Standard issue rights grab photography competition. The only difference is this time, it’s supported by Ffotogallery, ‘the national development agency for photography and lens-based media in Wales’ Tssk. That’s not good.
“By entering the competition, even if you do not win, you are agreeing that your images can be used on Waterfront Partners promotional materials and those organisations who are part of the Waterfront Partners.”
Here is a link on how to organise and run a photo competition properly. Lets hope the organisers of the above take on board the advice therein.
I have spoken to Ffotgallery and here is their response:
“As discussed, here is the view of the Director of Ffotogallery, David Drake, in response to an earlier query.
‘I appreciate your concerns and although the Waterfront Partners is a non-profit venture (led by Cardiff Council) I certainly wouldn’t wish to see any of the contributors exploited by wider use of their images by one of the commercial partners. We were approached by Cardiff Council to support the project as a way of engaging the wider public in exploring how the Bay might be represented photographically. The project was described in similar terms to the annual ‘Photomarathon’, and as being about participation by amateurs rather than professional photographers. As one of Ffotogallery’s aims is to foster public engagement with and involvement in photography we felt it appropriate to support the project, not financially but through circulating information about it and offering Ffotogallery books to the ‘runners up’. It’s not the kind of project that Ffotogallery would initiate itself (in fact, I’m not keen on ‘prizes and awards’), but it is a populist way of involving people in image making and I think the organisers’ intentions are sincere and honorable. I’m sure their aim is not to gather free images for commercial advertising.
I will therefore query the clause about the potential use of images submitted by the Waterfront Partners outside the Visit Cardiff Bay leaflet and Norwegian Church exhibition, and try to clear this matter up.
I hope you understand our position, and that Ffotogallery’s aim is to develop audiences and creative participation in photography and not to undermine the work of commercial photographers.’”
Good, Let’s hope the offending clause gets dropped. I have to say, I’m not so sure “their aim is not to gather free images for commercial advertising”, but then I’m a cynical old sod.
Discussion (7 Comments)
“By entering the competition, even if you do not win, you are agreeing that your images can be used on Waterfront Partners promotional materials and those organisations who are part of the Waterfront Partners.”
Which, by Ffotogallery’s admission, is Cardiff Council. So they’ll get a nice archive of cleared images to use for anything they want, for as long as they want, without charge.
I’m very surprised Ffotogallery didn’t check the T&Cs in fine detail.
Didn’t notice this either!
“Overnight stay in St David’s Hotel & Spa – Subject to availability “
Thumbs up for raising the matter with them!
I’d just like to make the point that David Drake and Ffotogallery are really moving mountains on behalf of photographers in Wales. Initiating really exciting projects, funding and supporting artists (including me) and really fighting for photographers wherever they can.
I’m sure David Drake will do his best with this comp, but to give further context to the situation in Wales, its worth mentioning that Cardiff Council have always been rights grabbers – the main problem being the short-sighted photographers who don’t care and supply them, the WAG, WDA and WTB, perpetuating their approach
David, you are absolutely right, their support of photographers and photography is exceptional, which is why I put the post up. Maybe if these things were flagged up more photographers wouldn’t be so quick to jump in. Thanks for commenting.
Response from the competition organisers to my query:
Thank you for getting in touch, I’m sorry that this has caused you a problem. We altered the wording from previous competition T&Cs, but after reading it again I can see why some may be concerned.
However I can confirm that we have no intention of selling them on to a third party. The Waterfront Partners are a non profit making organisation, we put that sentence in the T&Cs because previously we have turned the Visit Cardiff Bay leaflet artwork into adverts and we wanted to make sure we could do that again.
All we wanted to do was to show the Bay in a new light – maybe get some fresh new ideas and move away for the traditional images used for tourism literature. I am happy to change the T&Cs, if you think it will help, would this be ok?
By entering the competition you are agreeing that your images can be used on Waterfront Partners promotional materials. These images will only be used by the Waterfront Partners; they will not be sold to a third party.
But just to let you know we have also had some great feedback from camera clubs, and photography enthusiasts who are excited that Cardiff has another competition with such great prizes, so I hope that we can resolve this so that we can continue to run the competition on an annual basis.