Complaining to Contest Organisers

A Sample Email

You can help our campaign by emailing complaints to any of the competition organisers listed on our Rights Off List. We do not approve of abusive or threatening emails. Nor is ranting an effective way to develop a reasoned argument. The organiser may be entirely unware that he is doing anything wrong. Perhaps his legal people drew up the T&C's and the organiser does not understand them.

Just calmly set out your argument about why you disapprove of the organisations terms and conditions, and why it will be good for the organisation's image to become a Bill of Rights Supporter. We have listed below a sample email that you are free to copy, or alter if you wish, and send it to any organisation listed on our Rights Off List.  Use the contact details given in any Rights Off Report.

It is important to the Bill of Rights campaign that you do this. Pro-Imaging cannot stop rights grabbing without your help. Start helping now by complaining to competition organisers. It will only take a moment to use our sample email to send one complaint. If you can, please give some regular time to our campaign, however small, and send several complaints every week. Millions of you giving a little time each week amounts to a powerful message.

Some organisations will only change their behaviour when they see that it is in their interests to do so. Make them feel it is in their interests to change their practices. Send complaints to them, if possible don't buy their products or services, tell your friends about the organisations who practice rights grabbing, and explain to your friends how rights grabbing is exploiting them. If lots of you do this it will eventually make a difference, but it will take time.

Dear xxxx,

I have noticed that your organisation has a photography competition listed on the Rights Off List.  It has been placed on that list because the competition's terms and conditions do not meet the standards set out in the Bill of Rights. A report concerning your contests terms and conditions has also been published and I have given links to the information I am referring to below.

I am concerned that your organisation is using 'rights grabbing' terms and conditions. You too should be concerned because rights grabbing, intentional or not, is an unethical practice delivering to the public and the photographic community a negative view of your organisation.

Please read the Bill of Rights for photography contests. I urge you to work towards changing the terms and conditions of your photography competitions to comply with the Bill of Rights. By supporting the Bill of Rights you will be sending a positive message to the public about your organisation and its respect for artist's rights.

Until this happens I shall not participate in any competitions run or sponsored by your organisation. Also, through the social networks I belong to, I will bring this complaint to the attention of my friends and colleagues.

Yours sincerely

Your name

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Bill of Rights Campaign Links

Rights Off List       http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/category/20/68/173/

Bill of Rights         http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/view/177/156/

Supporters           http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/view/426/199/

Rights On List       http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/category/21/69/171/

Organisers Guide  http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/view/135/155/