USA.gov is holding a simple photo contest called the ‘Celebrate America’ photo contest. Submit a photo and we may feature your it on USA.gov, GobiernoUSA.gov, and through our Twitter and Facebook accounts!
Entering is simple. Post your best, original photo on the site of your choice (such as Flickr, Facebook, Photobucket, this thread, personal site, etc.) and make sure it is visible to the public. Then fill out and submit a link to the photo using the online entry form (page removed). Visit the contest page (page removed) for details. We did a similar contest last year on Flickr (flickr.com/groups/4th-of-july-2009-usagov/pool/), but we wanted to open it up to more people beyond Flickr this year.
The deadline for submission is 12:00 PM Eastern Time on June 30, 2010. After the contest closes, we will evaluate all photos that meet the contest requirements and pick the ten best photos to feature on our sites. Good luck!
I hope you don't mind me signing up for the forum just to announce our contest! Let me know if you have any questions!
I hope you don't mind me signing up for the forum just to announce our contest! Let me know if you have any questions!
No we love getting spammed! NOT!
Nice welcome, Matt. NOT!
In all seriousness, normally we would frown upon this, but I cannot see this as being spam, as it is a government contest, not a commercial venture, if I read it correctly.
I hope you don't mind me signing up for the forum just to announce our contest! Let me know if you have any questions!
No we love getting spammed! NOT!
Nice welcome, Matt. NOT!
In all seriousness, normally we would frown upon this, but I cannot see this as being spam, as it is a government contest, not a commercial venture, if I read it correctly.
Sorry but when I read the contest rules this stuck out to me.
By entering the contest, you grant GSA a perpetual, royalty-free license to use your photo, in any media, for standard government-related and other non-commercial purposes. If we select your photo as a winner, you grant GSA permission to edit, modify, format, or adapt your photo for GSA's purposes at GSA's sole discretion. GSA endeavors to give you credit for your photo whenever practicable. We will not pay compensation in any manner to any entrant of the photo contest for the submission to GSA or GSA's future use of the photo. If you want to remove your photo from the competition, you may do so by requesting GSA delete your photo from its competition prior to the announcement of the winner, on or about July 6, 2010. You may only submit one entry in the contest. We will delete additional entries.
Sounds to me like the Government is looking to grab some photos for free, since every entry, not just the winner, becomes Royalty free property of the government.............Still sounds like spam, especially since he admits he just joined the site just to hit us with a link.
It is not clear to me exactly under what auspices this here USAgov operates. Certainly the rules aren't any fun.
Reading these four bullet points plus the Licensing agreement.....makes you wonder.
# Photos must not violate copyright laws or use brand names or logos. You agree to indemnify the U.S. government and the General Services Administration (GSA) for any claim, demand, judgment, or other allegation arising from your possible violation of someone's trademark, copyright, or other legally protected interest in any way in your photo.
# Photos may not contain any endorsement, solicitation, commercial, or similar content advocating for or against candidates for office, political issues, or commercial products.
# Obtain release forms for all of the people featured in your photo. You must provide GSA with the forms if requested.
# You must be able to provide GSA with an original photo file if you win.
Imagine the government getting sued at some point for something in your photo....IE a coke can or whatever, you are now responsible for their legal fees if incurred on a photo you GAVE them! OH yeah and make sure you get a model release on every person in the photo.....sounds like they are trying to get STOCK photography for free!
Matto, I don't think this IS the government, but some group that wants you to think it is.
USA.gov™ is the U.S. government's official web portal:
Office of Citizen Services and Communications
U.S. General Services Administration
1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405
That is the information given on their website. I will ASSUME that at least they are telling the truth about who they are.
Yes, we're from "the government." Feel free to email me at jed.sundwall@gsa.gov to make sure if you want (.gov domains and email addresses are exclusive to the U.S. government).
And like I said, I'm very sheepish about swooping in and spamming your forum, but we want to get the word out about this contest and this seemed like an appropriate spot. I hope you can forgive me.
Sadly, we aren't offering any prizes beyond the glory of having your photos (with credit "whenever practicable") being featured on USA.gov and possibly in publications The lawyer consultation is a good idea though… ;)
Also, regarding getting sued at some point for your photo: the judges are mindful of the legal issues and will not select or use photos that may fall out of the legal bounds set up by the contest.
The main motivation for this contest is to raise awareness of USA.gov and give people opportunities to showcase their skills and patriotism.
Let me know if you have any more questions. Again, you can email me at jed.sundwall@gsa.gov or just respond here.
I dont know, to me its almost insulting. Give us the opportunity to be showcased and have our work seen while we make absolutely no money off of what you sell. Thats like getting crumbs from a mean that we helped make.
Gosh. This just reinforces my deeply growing depression and conviction that all that may be good in the world has totally gone by the wayside.
It's not meant to be a juried show, nor a monied gallery exhibition. It's a website. They tell you right off there's no monetary reward. IT IS JUST FOR FUN. If you are not comfortable with that, by all means don't participate! But kindly don't get all wet-blanket and condescending-like. Just let it be and move on.
