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

[Abazigal]

Lets run the scenario and see what people think:

Apple runs a photo contest. The winning photo will be use in any Apple marketing or product promotion campaign. The winner will get a 'owners credit' on any marketing or product promotion documents.

Apple feel the winning photo is perfect for a new product they are releasing. The photo is put everywhere, tv ad's, adverts in tabloid papers and magazines, ad's on websites and on billboards. The marketing of the product with the help of the photo makes the company $2 billion and all the owner got was a 'thankyou' back when they won the photo competition.

Creative ad agencies are impressed with the photo and track down the owner via the 'owners credit' and find out it was shot on an iphone by an amateur who works in the building trade. Suddenly these ad agencies go 'hmmm, no thanks, not for me'.

So, Apple make $2 billion with the help of your photo winning entry and all you got was a 'thankyou' because that is what the T&C's of the competition were. You still going to be happy at that prospect..somehow i don't think so.

The whole point is that the participants presumably went in with their eyes open. They were aware of what they were getting themselves into when they took part in the contest, so I am not seeing what exactly they have to complain about. It's not as though Apple pulled some sort of switcharoo where they initially promised the winner some cash, then welshed on that promise.

Yes, obviously I have never ever heard of this marketing campaign, ever. I live that deep in a cave.

Come on man. There a professional photographers submitting photos.

So what if there are professionals cubmitting photos?

And that rubs me the wrong way. It's like a marathon which offers cash prizes for the top few runners, and you have these participants who fly in all the way from Kenya to take part, and they always end up scooping all the prizes, and the other runners simply don't stand a chance.

 

[nwcs]

People foolishly give away their photos all the time in the name of “exposure”. Can’t blame Apple or any other company for capitalizing on a vast array of free stock photos. It’s the people themselves who have devalued photography. With rare few exceptions, the people who give away their photos to have their name show up on web sites or magazines come out much further behind than the companies who use it.

 

[_Refurbished_]

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.

​

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.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

This is what happens when you hire Samsung’s battery lead. Everything starts blowing up in your face!

 

[Rogifan]

Uh yeah it is. If photographers are going out to get that shot to send to Apple, that's work. Those photos they showcase are not done by amateur photographers.

So now anyone who takes a photo with their smartphone is a photographer?

 

[kahkityoong]

It’s not a job. It’s a contest.

Either way as a photographer I think it would look good to have your photo featured in something related with a company as big as Apple. It’s something to put on your resume.

I’m a photographer too and I have many images used by big companies and I don’t believe this kind of exposure does squat for one’s career. If you’re happy for a company to use your images for exposure you obviously know nothing about running a photography business.
[doublepost=1548425271][/doublepost]

Ah. Don’t blame them for being whiny and petty. Blame their platform.

I guess all forum trolls now get a pass, too. It’s their plarform’s fault.
[doublepost=1548410144][/doublepost]
It’s not a bloody job! It’s a fun contest to engourage average iPhone owners to get creative with their bloody phones!

My kid is in a grade school book reading contest. Whoever reads over 20 books wins a trophy. Trophy?! How insulting! The school has a bigger endowment that I do, so we deserve some of it! Maybe I should publically whine about it and get these children some hard-earned cash!

Yes Apple is the same as your grade school. What a ridiculous analogy. I’m aware that this is a fun contest but as a photographer I think it’s a bit on the nose for such a well known company to offer squat when those pics which are subject to copyright will no doubt be used as advertising material.

 

[bbednarz]

He was talking about being ‘paid’

And you were talking about a job.

Here is what I quoted.
"Next job you have maybe you should be asked to be paid with exposure instead of dollars then."

 

[jgdeschamps]

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

Ask that same question to Taylor Swift. I'm pretty sure she has an answer for that.

But on a serious note, it is a contest this time, not a commercial service. And yes, serious pros should stay away if the prize is not attractive to them. Zero dollars, but you get worldwide exposure. Open to anyone, from your little 5 year old sister up to Lubezki, Romanek and the likes. That should tell you something...

 

[iosuser]

Isn't it just standard practice on any of these contests? Once you submit your photo, you've granted all the rights to it without compensation. But I guess since we're talking about Apple, the contestants are more entitled.

That said, we shouldn't be surprised at Apple's nickel and diming the general public.

 

[kahkityoong]

Isn't it just standard practice on any of these contests? Once you submit your photo, you've granted all the rights to it without compensation. But I guess since we're talking about Apple, the contestants are more entitled.

That said, we shouldn't be surprised at Apple's nickel and diming the general public.

Yes it’s standard practice but if small magazines are able to offer a substantial prize, Apple looks distinctly stingy with their rewards.
[doublepost=1548425810][/doublepost]

And you were talking about a job.

Here is what I quoted.
"Next job you have maybe you should be asked to be paid with exposure instead of dollars then."

So what’s your point? That you’re pedantic or something?
[doublepost=1548425966][/doublepost]

People foolishly give away their photos all the time in the name of “exposure”. Can’t blame Apple or any other company for capitalizing on a vast array of free stock photos. It’s the people themselves who have devalued photography. With rare few exceptions, the people who give away their photos to have their name show up on web sites or magazines come out much further behind than the companies who use it.

Agree. People who give away their images for exposure are fools and have devalued photography.

 

[jgdeschamps]

Agree. People who give away their images for exposure are fools and have devalued photography.

Interesting... isn't exposure one of the important settings you tweak when you print a photo?
The intention of my comment is to remind you that one of the goals in photography is to expose to a wide audience something you were a witness of.
If you don't move your photos around as samples, how will people notice your work?
Photo contests have been like this all the time. My father still keeps dozens of albums containing pro work given away to Kodak for the contests they held and that my grandfather was a judge of. Some prizes were money, some were exposure printed in the local newspaper.
Old as "fuh" (McCartney's words, not mine.)
Like giving away song demos in a CD or cassette.

 

[bbednarz]

So what’s your point? That you’re pedantic or something?
[doublepost=1548425966][/doublepost]

Agree. People who give away their images for exposure are fools and have devalued photography.

I was clarifying because you misrepresented what I was commenting on.

No one is devaluing photography. You are making the choice to submit your picture in the contest. If you do not want to submit a picture, then don't. It is that simple. I am not a professional photographer. I wouldn't care if I was compensated for it. Seeing it out in the wild would be kind of cool knowing I was the one who took the picture.

 

[iReality85]

So these artists knew the terms of the agreement and submitted their work anyway to be judged, but then weren't happy with the terms of the agreement. Got it.

 

[Doomtomb]

To be fair, Apple runs the contest, they can write the contract. It sucks because if you want to enter, you have to agree to the rules.

If you were selling the photo and Apple decided to purchase it, instead of using this contest, you could write the rules.

I know it sucks, I want artists to be compensated, but you see now why they run this 'contest' and leverage their brand - so they can write the rules.

 

[Manzanito]

This is all voluntary. People knew up front they weren’t being paid (or given any other prize/gift) if their photo was chosen. Somehow the last time Apple ran this competition that didn’t stop people from entering.

I know it’s voluntary and all. Still they should offer some sort of price. It’s not like apple can’t afford it. Apple used to pay attention to detail in the past. Under Tim Cook feels more and more like all they care about is cutting costs and maximazing profits.

 

[magicschoolbus]

Ah. Don’t blame them for being whiny and petty. Blame their platform.

I guess all forum trolls now get a pass, too. It’s their plarform’s fault.
[doublepost=1548410144][/doublepost]
It’s not a bloody job! It’s a fun contest to engourage average iPhone owners to get creative with their bloody phones!

My kid is in a grade school book reading contest. Whoever reads over 20 books wins a trophy. Trophy?! How insulting! The school has a bigger endowment that I do, so we deserve some of it! Maybe I should publically whine about it and get these children some hard-earned cash!

I guess you didn't get the sarcasm in my post, but that's okay.

 

[Jamers99]

Chicago has "Shot with iPhone" but that is something entirely different.

 

[sofila]

That's the one issue I have with Apple these days. They seem a little too responsive to bad press these days. The Apple of old (under Steve Jobs) would have just showed them the middle finger and carried on business as usual.

Because the Apple of old was more self confident and old management knew "before". This new one is always late to the party, waking up only on PR damage recover.
Old Apple management had an easier task with less channels to be controlled. Now Apple seems, sometimes, to under estimate the power of social like Twitter and the hunger of news that a giant behemoth inevitably attracts.
Very stupid for them not to think about a simple reward.

 

[sterlingindigo]

Shame on Apple. Pay artists the going rate for their work whether ameteur or professional if you’re going to use it in advertising. I heard what they did to Siri, fronting as a shell company to get out of paying going rate and residuals for that scope of work. Embarrassing.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

I’m a photographer too and I have many images used by big companies and I don’t believe this kind of exposure does squat for one’s career. If you’re happy for a company to use your images for exposure you obviously know nothing about running a photography business.
[doublepost=1548425271][/doublepost]

Yes Apple is the same as your grade school. What a ridiculous analogy. I’m aware that this is a fun contest but as a photographer I think it’s a bit on the nose for such a well known company to offer squat when those pics which are subject to copyright will no doubt be used as advertising material.

So don’t enter. Problem solved.

If your work is so valued, I’m sure here are plenty of other offers on the table that will pay.

No one is forcing you to deal with apple.
[doublepost=1548428629][/doublepost]

So now anyone who takes a photo with their smartphone is a photographer?

No. They are “artists”. Lol.

 

[Kabeyun]

I’m a photographer too and I have many images used by big companies and I don’t believe this kind of exposure does squat for one’s career. If you’re happy for a company to use your images for exposure you obviously know nothing about running a photography business.
[doublepost=1548425271][/doublepost]

Yes Apple is the same as your grade school. What a ridiculous analogy. I’m aware that this is a fun contest but as a photographer I think it’s a bit on the nose for such a well known company to offer squat when those pics which are subject to copyright will no doubt be used as advertising material.

If you’re really aware that this is a fun, public contest (and not some professional clearinghouse) then you’re aware that you shouldn’t expect to be paid for voluntary participation in it. Expect attribution and nothing more. Don’t like the terms? Don’t play.

In fact, now that I think more about it, and I’ve read more comments like these, I don’t want your professional shots in there. Let’s see what an iPhone can help Everyman do, and keep the portfolio to yourself. I also don’t want Simone Biles showing up at a friendly gymnastics competition at the Y, and expecting to be paid too.
[doublepost=1548428965][/doublepost]

I guess you didn't get the sarcasm in my post, but that's okay.

Oop. Nope. Looked legit with no “/s.” Sry bout that.

 

[SnowLucas]

The simple fact is that dozens of people will get paid to work on this apart from the person who actually creates the content. This free content would replace the work that somebody would normally get paid for. For a company that has been driven by the creative industries since its inception, does that not send out the wrong message at all?

Apple clearly realise this misstep now and have rectified it. And I am pleased they sorted this out. There is no need to constantly defend them.

If you are a plumber and a whole bunch of DIY enthusiasts went around scooping up all the work for exposure and doing a bad job, how would you feel when it came to paying your rent?

Although I can understand your argument and see where you are coming from I’d suggest Apple (in this campaign) we’re trying to inspire the idea that anyone can take amazing photos with their “amazing products”. I’m not sure they really thought professionals would care and as someone else said they have used professionals in a different campaign. Two messages. Our phones are good enough for professionals and anyone can get professional looking photos with the same gear.

I fail to see how professionals have the right to basically tell everyone else the rules that have to be followed. Why should a amateur not be allowed to give up their ownership of their photos for free. It’s their choice.

In your metaphor I’d imagine the plumber would be very pleased. If they were good at their job the poor work of others would highlight their work as being worth the cost. If a plumber is worried by a few odd job types taking their work then they can’t actually be very good.

Maybe this campaign has shown a wider issue where photographers feel they are losing work to the Instagram crowd who will work for free. This isn’t really Apples problem and it isn’t their responsibility to save the creative industry.

 

[acorntoy]

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

Well Apple should be able to compile a list relatively easily of who they don’t want pictures from now

 

[Baymowe335]

Notice how you have no idea about copyright and how Apple is basically trying to rip off all the copyright from anybody who submits the work to save on cheap marketing campaign. Even if you submit the work, the work should still remain yours.

If you starting using the Apple logo without their permission, then you get into trouble. Why should be any different the other way around?

Issue is NOT resolved. It is really PATHETIC that a multi-billion company has this kind of attitude of trying to rip off artists of their copyright, supposedly "the most creative in the world" he can't wait to see...

It is not a question of sharing. It is a question of copyright. And you are wrong. Comparing social media sharing with the use of billboards and give Apple the copyrights and permission to use it as they want is truly pathetic.

The plain truth is that Apple is trying to save money on marketing by ripping artist. They should upload a photo of Tim Crook saying how amazing he feels...

No, he's right. You even pointed out a "multi-billion company" when making your point. This is entirely about money for you.

You contribute all kinds of things that could be construed as "yours" but only complain when it's Apple. Discussion forums, FaceBook, Instagram, etc are all examples of user created content. You're making those companies billionaires by contributing. Apple asked you to submit images. People did it for the same reasons they post here, Instagram, FaceBook, Yelp Review, Tripadvisor, whatever...they want recognition. They want to feel smart, capable, cool, entertained, whatever.

What's pathetic is you think a $2,000 royalty to some random person is Apple trying to save money.

Basically, quit crying.

 

[acorntoy]

No, he's right. You even pointed out a "multi-billion company" when making your point. This is entirely about money for you.

You contribute all kinds of things that could be construed as "yours" but only complain when it's Apple. Discussion forums, FaceBook, Instagram, etc are all examples of user created content. You're making those companies billionaires by contributing. Apple asked you to submit images. People did it for the same reasons they post here, Instagram, FaceBook, Yelp Review, Tripadvisor, whatever...they want recognition. They want to feel smart, capable, cool, entertained, whatever.

Basically, quit crying.

I’d submit a picture waiving my royalty rights just to see my dog on a billboard. That’s always what these competitions seemed like to me, highlighting normal people who took amazing photos due to the capabilities of the camera.

If all the photos were done by professionals getting royalties I’d feel like the ad would be less effective, sure a professional working for cash can make the camera look great, they freakin better be able to, but it doesn’t really relate to me at that point.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Another disgusting apple detail ... blahhh, this company has gone so evil