City of Owasso photo contest

Photo contests are common ways to drum up interest in a small town. And in fairness, they're a fun way to take a creative look at those things we see everyday, hopefully putting them in a new light as we try to photograph them.

But here's the deal killer:

By submitting an image to the City of Owasso Photo Contest, the entrant grants the City of Owasso and the Owasso Chamber of Commerce a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, publish, prepare derivative works of, and display their entries in any and all media now known or hereafter developed (including, without limitation, print, broadcast, and internet), for all legitimate business purposes including advertising and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, connection to this contest. When possible, the City will make every effort to credit the photographer.

Essentially the photographer gives up all rights to his photo, but the city will make every effort to see the photographer's name is appended. Oh, the joy.

I don't make any money from photography. For that matter, I don't make any money from CycleDog either. But I'm not about to relinquish my rights to anything I've written or photographed. Making such a demand is petty and wrong-headed. The city gains a stock of good, usable images to be used in any way they see fit, without the expense of hiring a professional to do the work. That's a good deal - for them.

The Examiner had a similar contest last year. I declined to enter it as well for the very same reasons.