I know this is a long read but I would love to hear what others think. Being paid a fair market price for a product or service is fundamental to how our economy works, yes? I would not be so sure of that. Just have a look at the Wattle Range Council photographic calendar competition. I would love to be proven wrong but the competition appears to be a grab for image rights motivated by commercial convenience. Each year local photographers are lured by the prospect of winning prizes and the kudos of having images put on public display. According to the terms and conditions of the competition any photograph entered may be used by the Council for marketing and promotional purposes for years to come. By the time contestants realise the full consequences of the decision to enter, it is often too late, as the Council has already taken on the right to use photographs as it chooses. How much does it cost the Council to use these images? Virtually nothing! There are numerous examples of passionate and possibly naïve photographers who have had their photographs “used”. Not only has the Council used photographs for their own marketing and promotion but there are instances where images have been passed on for use by other commercial or government organisations. Although such behaviour is legal, it is certainly stretches the boundaries of fairness and demonstrates a lack of respect for the rights of photographers. It is also clearly inconsistent with the Council’s own mission statement. Does the Wattle Range Council think that it can espouse, without fear of hypocrisy, one of its core values, to “treat all members of the community with fairness and respect” while exempting itself from paying a fair market price for photographic services? Does the Council also believe that its exploitation of local photographers via its annual Photographic Calendar Competition, an event which superficially appears to celebrate the qualities of the region and local creativity, to be fair and reasonable? I am struggling to see the fairness. The Council knows better and here is the proof. Each year it makes a fantastic contribution to the Millicent Rotary Photography Awards. It also supports a local photography group. This approach is consistent with the Council’s mission statement and goes a long way to enhancing the profile and positive reputation of the Council. I challenge and encourage the Wattle Range Council to demonstrate a similar positive and enlightened approach to the way it conducts the Wattle Range Council Calendar Competition in 2015 and beyond.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 10:54:11 +0000
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