I'm angry... This won't stop, will it... message begins...
What makes you guys think it's OK to do this to people? Photographers that are starting out, shooting good stuff, motivated to get the cash to buy their new lens - motivated by 500 bucks, they don't know that you're going to rob them blind on a potentially award winning photo (why wouldn't it be?) because they trust your brand not to rip them off... people like me wreck everything for you by reading the fine print and telling the world.
Is it because you know how much stock images cost, how much it costs to get a photographer in for a couple of days to shoot your product range?
"Uploading a Submission constitutes entrant's consent to give Sponsor a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, create derivative works from, and display such submissions in whole or in part, on a worldwide basis, and to incorporate it into other works, in any form, media or technology now known or later developed, including for any lawful purpose, including without limitation, for advertising, promotional or marketing purposes. If requested, entrant will sign any documentation that may be required for Sponsor or its designees to make use of the non-exclusive rights entrant is granting to use the Submission"
That is outright theft - $500.00 for someone's prize photo, forever...
I'd like your best pizza, I'll pay you $500.00 for it, but I want it supplied forever, how I want it, to wherever in the world I want it... How's it different?
Horrific rights grab. If I'm wrong, please explain - and I'll happily apologise... but I fear I'm bang on the money.
Simon Pollock