Originally Posted by Jack S.
Other forms of mass media seem to be in this mode, also. Both BBC and CNN websites, and probably every other newsite out there now encourage people to submit videos of newsworthy items. Of course they do not pay a dime for them and you have to agree to give it away. It is no surprise that the media conglomerates are trying to weedle free work of others. They will succeed, too, because people are so keen on getting their shot at the brass ring.


Jack,
Good point about the motives of the mass media conglomorates!

Ideally every creater, writer, author and artist should protest (all on the same day?!) or maybe avoid all "unfair" kinds of contests and exploits.

But... the bottom line is that it's a free market and as long as people make free choices (which they have a right to) they can enter into all kinds of contracts as long as the terms are understood and agreed upon.

Generally I think people need to make their own choices about the contests they choose to enter, or not enter. Same holds true for working with various agents, managers, publishers, pitchers, promoters, licensing services, studios and so forth. There are lots of options and what's best for one artist or band may not work as well (or at all) for others.

In the case of VH1, they aren't forcing anyone to sign up for their contests and probably what they're doing is perfectly within normal legal limits. It would take an act of congress to change the laws to tip in favor of all the artists that would love to get the expore without having to lose any of their publishing rights. Who knows, maybe that could happen some day.

Meanwhile, I won't lose much sleep over it! cool

Michael


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