Apple to Pay Licensing Fees to 'Shot on iPhone' Contest Winners After Artist Complaints

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to pay the photographers who win its "Shot on iPhone" photography contest, the company announced today in an updated press release.

Apple clarified its position on payment for the photographs following multiple complaints from artists that were highlighted earlier today by The Verge.

The "Shot on iPhone" contest was first announced on Tuesday, and at the time, Apple appeared to be offering no compensation to the photographers. Winners would be paid in exposure, with Apple planning to display winning photographs on social media and on billboards.

Photographers were understandably upset at a company the size of Apple asking for artistic work sans compensation.

"By submitting your photo, you grant Apple a royalty-free, world-wide, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use, modify, publish, display, distribute, create derivative works from and reproduce the photo (everywhere) Apple."Tim Cook net worth $625MApple market cap $730B https://t.co/Esyd1MBXf1 - Timothy J. Reynolds (@turnislefthome) January 23, 2019

Apple now says that all photographers who win the contest will receive an unspecified licensing fee for the use of their photos on billboards and other marketing channels. It was not previously clear if Apple had intended to pay licensing fees, as the prior language released by the company did not mention it.

Apple believes strongly that artists should be compensated for their work. Photographers who shoot the final 10 winning photos will receive a licensing fee for use of such photos on billboards and other Apple marketing channels.

The updated information is available in the press release announcing the contest and the PDF with the official rules.

Apple's "Shot on iPhone" contest kicked off on January 22 and will run through February 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The contest will be judged by both professional photographers and a selection of Apple employees with photography expertise.

Article Link: Apple to Pay Licensing Fees to 'Shot on iPhone' Contest Winners After Artist Complaints

 

[BGPL]

Typical Apple with their wordy EULA who gets their own customers to market for them, with zero return. Reminds me of the South Park episode with the caterpillar.

 

[pat500000]

Better not submit any photos to apple then. Maybe it’s better to have tim’s face on the billboards with the catch phrase “amazing.......” or “it’s normal.”

 

[Rogifan]

Oh good grief. How ridiculous. All because a handful of pro photographers whined on Twitter.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Oh good grief. How ridiculous. All because a handful of pro photographers whined on Twitter.

That's what Twitter is for. Whining. Don't blame them for using the platform to its full potential.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Oh good grief. How ridiculous. All because a handful of pro photographers whined on Twitter.

It's like doing spec work and not being paid for it.

 

[brofkand]

The next slogan should be: "Customers who have a bent iPad should are encouraged to contact AppleCare"
[doublepost=1548382319][/doublepost]

Oh good grief. How ridiculous. All because a handful of pro photographers whined on Twitter.

You can't buy food with a medal or happy thoughts, takes money for that. I don't work for free, do you?

 

[Stevez67]

Why not just reduce the contest to amateur only? If the alleged pros were as good and deserving of compensation as they claim, they should be too busy for contests like this.

 

[480951]

Oh good grief. How ridiculous. All because a handful of pro photographers whined on Twitter.

People should be paid for their work. Apple is obscenely wealthy, I think they'll be okay. They could give each of the 10 winners $1 million each and it would be absolutely nothing to them. People defending this nearly trillion dollar company are gross.

 

[LinusR]

No photographer was forced to enter the competition -- professional, amateur, or otherwise. Complaining about the T&C's after submitting their photos is borderline ridiculous.

 

[Rogifan]

It's like doing spec work and not being paid for it.

This isn’t work.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

[CORRECTION]
"Photographers who shoot the final 10 winning photos will receive a $5 Apple Gift Card (and Apple White Stickers) for each use of a winning photo on billboards and other Apple marketing channels."/s

 

[Stevez67]

People who think compensation should be base don someone

People should be paid for their work. Apple is obscenely wealthy, I think they'll be okay. They could give each of the 10 winners $1 million each and it would be absolutely nothing to them. People defending this nearly trillion dollar company are gross.

People should be paid for their work. Apple is obscenely wealthy, I think they'll be okay. They could give each of the 10 winners $1 million each and it would be absolutely nothing to them. People defending this nearly trillion dollar company are gross.

No one was hired to do any work. It's a contest. You know, like those contests on the back of the cereal boxes? If people don't like the terms they don't have to enter.

 

[Baymowe335]

Typical Apple with their wordy EULA who gets their own customers to market for them, with zero return. Reminds me of the South Park episode with the caterpillar.

Go take a picture of the back of your car. Like most people, you’re advertising the dealer you purchased from and at minimum the manufacturer’s logo.

Get off your high horse.
[doublepost=1548382908][/doublepost]

People should be paid for their work. Apple is obscenely wealthy, I think they'll be okay. They could give each of the 10 winners $1 million each and it would be absolutely nothing to them. People defending this nearly trillion dollar company are gross.

Do you get paid for your posts here, your Facebook posts, or a Instagram likes?

You are the product in a lot of your consumption activities.

People want the notoriety and/or they do what they do for their own entertainment or ego.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

This isn’t work.

Maybe not to you, but it is copyright.

 

[Rogifan]

People should be paid for their work. Apple is obscenely wealthy, I think they'll be okay. They could give each of the 10 winners $1 million each and it would be absolutely nothing to them. People defending this nearly trillion dollar company are gross.

If this was an Apple Pencil drawing contest I would agree. I thought the point of this campaign was to show what amazing photographs anybody can take at any time with the phone in their pocket. How is that work?

 

[inkswamp]

On one hand, Apple has no shortage of funds and it's definitely a badly conceived notion, to use people's photographs without compensation.

On the other hand, it's completely voluntary so I'm not entirely convinced the complaining is warranted. Don't like Apple's terms? Don't submit your photo. It's not like they're tricking people into it.

 

[phr0z3n]

It’s a contest to get exposure with one of the biggest companies in the world. They’ll get paid with or without Apple lol.

 

[Rogifan]

On one hand, Apple has no shortage of funds and it's definitely a badly conceived notion, to use people's photographs without compensation.

On the other hand, it's completely voluntary so I'm not entirely convinced the complaining is warranted. Don't like Apple's terms, don't submit your photo. It's not like they're tricking people into it.

Except Apple has done this before and nobody complained. Why is it different this time?

 

[paul4339]

It’s probably better if contestants aren’t paid for this contest... it lowers the risk people attempting to doctor or stage photos; and extra work for judges to check.

I think the idea of it is that even amateurs can take Pro like photos if you buy our product.

 

[7thson]

There’s nothing wrong with submitting a photo to a contest without getting financial compensation. The problem is not giving proper attribution. This is such an easy fix for Apple, yet they stumble. For crying out loud, just give each participant their due by first and last name, not, i.e. John,D. If Apple wanted to be really generous, they could shout out their social media handle(s) as well.
If John, D. submitted a photo to a contest he most overwhelmingly became aware of online, he probably isn’t looking for anonymity. I don’t think it’s necessary to given a prize for the winners, but whatever, let the bean counters sort that out. At the very least, acknowledge who they are so they can benefit as well. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes of fame.

 

[kahkityoong]

It’s a contest to get exposure with one of the biggest companies in the world. They’ll get paid with or without Apple lol.

Next job you have maybe you should be asked to be paid with exposure instead of dollars then.

 

[Stevez67]

So many people who don't understand the difference between a marketing contest and a paying job.

 

[bbednarz]

Next job you have maybe you should be asked to be paid with exposure instead of dollars then.

This isn't a job.

 

[Rogifan]

It’s probably better if contestants aren’t paid for this contest... it lowers the risk people attempting to doctor or stage photos; and extra work for judges to check.

I think the idea of it is that even amateurs can take Pro like photos if you buy our product.

Apparently some pro photographers don’t like the idea of smartphones democratizing photography.