December prizes checked by Arts Law
Arts Law has checked the terms of 7 competitions closing in December 2013.
WetlandCare Australia’s Photography Competition has been awarded 4 / 5 stars! WetlandCare Australia have once again proven it does the right thing by artists by only asking prize winners for a non-exclusive licence to reproduce the winning works for a limited period of time, and confirming artists will always be attributed for their work. The competition terms would have received 5 / 5 stars if the licensed uses were not quite so broad, but we understand it is a balancing act between protecting the rights of artists and promoting the good work of the organising body.
WELL DONE:
- WetlandCare Australia Photography Prize 2014 – deadline 7 December 2013
The Gavin Mooney Memorial Essay Competition, the Calibre Prize and the Hal Porter Short Story Competition have all received 3 / 5 stars for fairness to artists. Each competition only asks for a non-exclusive licence to reproduce the winning works. However, all the licences are for broad uses, without a time limit and with no mention of the moral rights of the authors. To achieve a perfect rating, these licences should be limited to purposes associated with the competition, have a limited duration and clearly state they will attribute the authors.
NOT FAR OFF:
- Gavin Mooney Memorial Essay Competition – deadline 2 December 2013
- Calibre Prize 2014 – deadline 2 December 2013
- 2013 Hal Porter Short Story Competition – deadline 14 December 2013
The Gardens in Focus photography competition also received 3 / 5 stars. All entrants provide a non-exclusive licence to the competition organisers to use their works for limited purposes to promote the competition for a period of two years. While limited uses and a limited licence term are fantastic, to receive 5 stars the competition should be limited to winning works only and not include a moral rights waiver (although the terms do specifically state they will attribute the artists!)
NEARLY THERE:
- Gardens in Focus – deadline 8 December 2013
The Port Adelaide Rotary Art Show has received 2 / 5 stars for fairness of its terms. The terms of this competition ask that all entrants grant the competition organisers a licence to reproduce the entries for broad purposes and with no restriction as to duration. Best practice would be to limit the licence: to prize winners, to uses associated with the promotion of the competition, in duration and create a positive intention to attribute the artists.
SOME WORK TO DO:
- 27th Port Adelaide Rotary Art Show – deadline 6 December 2013
Arts Law was unable to rate the John Lennon Songwriting Competition – Session II. This is because the competition’s terms and conditions do not specifically mention the licensing of entrants copyright or the protection of their moral rights. It may be that the competition provides the winners with this information, but it would be preferable for all entrants to know what rights they may be giving away in the event they do win so they can decide whether to enter the competition in the first place. Arts Law encourages the competition organisers to clarify its terms in this regard.
MORE INFORMATION NEEDED:
- The John Lennon Songwriting Competition – Session II – deadline 15 December 2013
Please email us at [email protected] to tell us about any competitions or prizes you think we should check.
See Arts Law's competition star rating systemfor further information or call Arts Law if you would like to receive best practice advice regarding your competition terms and conditions.
See more about Arts Law's campaign to improve competition terms and conditions in the Prizes and Competitions section.