There was no mention about copyright to the high res, only unedited original with EXIF date MAY be requested for authentication. Even if you resize the original, the EXIF data is still there. This is mainly to prevent participants from submitting someone else's photo!
Copyright protects the image, regardless of how big, or the resolution. Or for that matter, the age, skill or technical ability of the photographer. Everyone - pro and amateur alike - benefit from the same legal protection. I was not referring to the physical size of the image in dpi but rather the
content and the
right to use it - this is far more valuable.
Actually most of us down here would kill to get ourselves published or advertised for free but I do see your point from the other side of the world, where there are many pros at work and legal issues to be considered.
Just a note, what if a diving magazine sponsor wants to feature the winning image and need high res? Most of us would be so honored to be featured, especially on the cover!
If a diving magazine sponsors a competition (and many do) then only those worth endorsing are those with photographer-friendly terms and conditions. Using an image on the front cover would fall outside the 'promote the contest' remit as it is used to sell the magazine on the news stand. For this use of a competition winning image I would expect to be paid.
Publishers know many would kill for the chance and they use this as a way of getting free content. What if Ford suddenly found a steel supplier who would give them the material for nothing? Would cars get cheaper for consumers? Probably not, but Ford would continue to sell cars and make more money. Just replace 'Ford' with 'magazine' and 'steel' with 'images' and I hope you get my point. Publishers are in it for the money, not vanity and ego, and therefore should pay. For what its worth, I get paid AND exposure every time an image runs. Isn't that better than just fame?
For pros who gets paid top dollars to do that, I don't think this is a contest for them. Morever this a Facebook event and the POTM is based on number of public votes ie "Like's" so the best photo may not necessarily win! Also participants may remove, resubmit their photo right up to closing date if they wish. There's nothing we can do about it.
Copyright applies to all equally. The rights to use the image are where the value lies, not who created it. And its worth bearing in mind many amateurs are very, very skilled in underwater photography - to the point that the word 'amateur; fails to do their work and ability justice.
However we do need to use the submitted images to promote the contest, so we'll add in this clause:
Scuba Symphony and prize sponsors may use submitted images (which are low res on Facebook anyway) to promote the current contest, as well as subsequent contest in the same format in the following year. That limits the usage of the images for a period of max. 2 years. Photo credit will be mentioned. Any further usage of the photo ( regardless low or high res) must be negotiated with the photographer directly.
What do you think?
I think those terms are fine.
