One NorthEast is latest target in 'rights grab' battle
Pro-Imaging has focused on One NorthEast in its fight against 'rights grabbing' photo competitions.
The regional development agency for the North East of England has been promoting a competition dubbed Student Challenge 2008, inviting students to come up with 'a creative idea to demonstrate what you believe is great about North East England'.
By submitting works to the competition students are granting One NorthEast 'all rights and grant all consents necessary to One NorthEast to enable One NorthEast to exploit or authorise others to reproduce, edit, use and exploit the products of any participation received by One NorthEast in all media throughout the universe in perpetuity', argues Pro-Imaging.
'Pro-Imaging is astounded that a government agency would claim such all-encompassing rights from students,' says Gordon Harrison of Pro-Imaging.
Following discussions between Pro-Imaging and One NorthEast the Regional Development Agency has offered to investigate the matter as part of its formal complaints procedure under which a full investigation will be completed and a report with findings prepared. Pro-Imaging has accepted the offer.
