[Leica] Show Us Your Canada competition (Was- Why I haven't entered photo contests)

[timatherton at theedge.ca (Tim Atherton)]

> On the Canadian pro photo list there has been a discussion over a
> contest being held by Heritage Canada ...A GOVERNMENT AGENCY  ...with
> much the same terms.
>
> It's little more than a government weasel figuring out how to build a
> stock photo library for free.

It's the Show Us You Canada competition linked to the Canadian Pavilion at
Expo 2005 in Japan

I'd also add that Heritage Canada is also partly responsible for copyright
in Canada and current copyright reform and are supposed to be strengthening
and safeguarding the rights of creators and artists, especially
photographers.

The competition also actively encourages entries from professionals - and
for the one in however many hundred thousand chances of winning a trip to
Japan, Heritage Canada, the Globe and Mail and Toyota get ALL he rights to
EVERY image submitted. The entrants can make no further use of those images
apart from putting them on their own walls basically.

The Globe and Mail - Canada's major newspaper, sent out an email to all it's
freelance photographers inviting them to enter, but failing to mention these
onerous terms....

which include:

4. By entering this contest the entrants and participants automatically
agree to accept and abide by these official contest rules and regulations.
All decisions of the Contest Sponsors with respect to any aspect of this
contest, including without limitation the eligibility of entries, are final
and binding on all entrants in all matters as they relate to this contest.

Entries that are not original compositions by the entrant, illegal,
defamatory, or obscene as determined by the Contest Sponsors, will not be
eligible. All entries become the property of Contest Sponsors, including all
intellectual property rights in the photograph submitted, all right, title
and interest (including moral rights) in which each entrant, or, if under
the age of majority, his or her parent or legal guardian agrees to waive and
transfer to the Contest Sponsors by entering the contest. Contest Sponsors
shall provide entrants with a non-exclusive license to use their entry for
non-commercial purposes provided such purposes are not inconsistent with the
image of Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 2005."

tim