AJ
10-21-2003, 05:55 PM
** A NOTE TO ALL PARTICIPATING **
I have searched through the FAQ and other's posts relating to the current challenge and I have not found (definitive) reference to a personal (and professional) matter of concern - namely the giving of rights to both Cgnetworks & Alienware...
As you may be aware the entry guidleines state the following :
quote:
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By submitting any entries to the Alienware Challenge, artists are giving full, exclusive rights for Alienware and CGNetworks to use the material for marketing purposes. Artists retain ownership of the material and are allowed to use it for personal promotional purposes only. i.e. Alienware and CGNetworks may use your entry with credits to the artist, but you still own the material and can use it in your portfolio. You cannot sell the rights to anyone else commercially.
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Which is explained in further detail in the FAQ :
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All artwork submitted for the Alienware CG Challenge, including WIP's are automatically given rights for Alienware and CGNetworks to use for marketing purposes. This is documented in the terms and conditions presented during the challenge entry and submission process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite being clearly stated - the ramifications of the above statements may not have been acknowledged by all taking part. Since all companies involved are legitimate businesses and cgtalk itself is a forum for professionals, the following is intended solely as advice and information to those involved.
By giving CGNetworks & Alienware exclusive rights to your artwork, you have entered into terms that allows all content created by you (for the challenge) to be used by the two parties as they deem fit - with no money returning to you, the artist.
Obviously the arguement could be put forward that the promise of winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd place is payment in itself. However, with 253 current entrants at the time of writing that's 250 people who, no matter what - will recieve nothing. And yet that's 250 peices of artwork
Essentially, the current guidleines for the challenge are a contract to create a piece of artwork, into which any number of people may sign into - yet only 3 may recieve anything in
return. I know this is seemingly a particularly cold way to look at things - but as I have said, the likes of Alienware are a professional business - with print/web/media campaigns... Artwork is something they are used to paying for. What this is giving them is a platter of work/ideas/images to select and choose as they wish, with no benefit to those except the winning 3 places.
To put very bluntly : Enter the competition, and they get all of your work regardless of winning.
Obviously the arguement could be put forward that the promise of winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd place is payment in itself. However, with 253 current entrants at the time of writing that's 250 people who, no matter what - will recieve nothing. And yet that's 250 peices of artwork that can be used in any manner CGNetworks/Alienware choose.
I know that some of the responses to my post will be those of "You shouldn't enter if you don't like it" - however I would prefer it if those who are not necessarily as savvy as others were aware of the situation they are entering, so I am trying to explain it a little further...
(I have no doubts that many of you were/are aware of this already - but I wanted to make sure that those who might not have understood, understand.)
That's all!
AJ
I have searched through the FAQ and other's posts relating to the current challenge and I have not found (definitive) reference to a personal (and professional) matter of concern - namely the giving of rights to both Cgnetworks & Alienware...
As you may be aware the entry guidleines state the following :
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By submitting any entries to the Alienware Challenge, artists are giving full, exclusive rights for Alienware and CGNetworks to use the material for marketing purposes. Artists retain ownership of the material and are allowed to use it for personal promotional purposes only. i.e. Alienware and CGNetworks may use your entry with credits to the artist, but you still own the material and can use it in your portfolio. You cannot sell the rights to anyone else commercially.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Which is explained in further detail in the FAQ :
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All artwork submitted for the Alienware CG Challenge, including WIP's are automatically given rights for Alienware and CGNetworks to use for marketing purposes. This is documented in the terms and conditions presented during the challenge entry and submission process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite being clearly stated - the ramifications of the above statements may not have been acknowledged by all taking part. Since all companies involved are legitimate businesses and cgtalk itself is a forum for professionals, the following is intended solely as advice and information to those involved.
By giving CGNetworks & Alienware exclusive rights to your artwork, you have entered into terms that allows all content created by you (for the challenge) to be used by the two parties as they deem fit - with no money returning to you, the artist.
Obviously the arguement could be put forward that the promise of winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd place is payment in itself. However, with 253 current entrants at the time of writing that's 250 people who, no matter what - will recieve nothing. And yet that's 250 peices of artwork
Essentially, the current guidleines for the challenge are a contract to create a piece of artwork, into which any number of people may sign into - yet only 3 may recieve anything in
return. I know this is seemingly a particularly cold way to look at things - but as I have said, the likes of Alienware are a professional business - with print/web/media campaigns... Artwork is something they are used to paying for. What this is giving them is a platter of work/ideas/images to select and choose as they wish, with no benefit to those except the winning 3 places.
To put very bluntly : Enter the competition, and they get all of your work regardless of winning.
Obviously the arguement could be put forward that the promise of winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd place is payment in itself. However, with 253 current entrants at the time of writing that's 250 people who, no matter what - will recieve nothing. And yet that's 250 peices of artwork that can be used in any manner CGNetworks/Alienware choose.
I know that some of the responses to my post will be those of "You shouldn't enter if you don't like it" - however I would prefer it if those who are not necessarily as savvy as others were aware of the situation they are entering, so I am trying to explain it a little further...
(I have no doubts that many of you were/are aware of this already - but I wanted to make sure that those who might not have understood, understand.)
That's all!
AJ