Beware the small print. There are so many photo contests these days; some good some really bad. Mom just sent me this link http://www.intercontinentalinsights.com

After reading the small print: Entrants’ Licenses: Each entrant grants to the Authorized Parties a non-exclusive, royalty-free license through the entire world and for the duration of intellectual property rights pertaining thereto, to use and reproduce, in whole or in part, without any number limitation, in any form, by any mean or process, or any medium, whether now known or hereafter existing, the Photograph for editorial, commercial, advertising, promotional, publicity or trade purposes, including commercially using and exploiting it to fullest extent possible. Each winner further acknowledges that any Authorized Party may use a name credit in connection with such use, in any media now or hereafter known. No Authorized Party will be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation.

You can be damn sure that I will not be entering. This in my opinion is tantamount to highway robbery. Actually it is worse as many people will actually enter thinking that InterContinental Hotels Group is a reputable company that would never rip people off.

I have sent them an email pointing out their grave error and explaining to them the negative backlash that comes from such rights grab contests. Lets see what they have to say about it. I have also posted it to our Alamy users group, the ensuing discussion will be interesting.

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I got a reply from them: Thank you for you comments and concerns.  Because this is an
international contest and rules vary from country to country our
lawyers felt it was necessary to post this ruling in order to display
the entrants work in the Photo Gallery for world wide public viewing.
This is an amateur photo contest, and we assure you the rule is not
meant to exploit any photographer but rather give amateur
photographers a chance to display their photography and have the
winners possibly see their photos in print as part of the contest.