1. Eligibility
• Open to individuals aged 18 and over (or with parent/guardian consent if under 18).
• Void where prohibited by law.
• By entering, each participant agrees to these rules.
2. Original Work and Copyright
• All photos must be original works created and owned exclusively by the entrant.
• The entrant must hold all rights to the photo and must not have assigned or licensed those rights to any third party in a way that conflicts with these rules.
• Entries must not infringe any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights.
• The entrant is solely responsible for any violation of copyright or other rights and agrees to indemnify the contest organizer from any related claims.
3. No AI-Generated or Heavily Modified Images
• AI generated images are strictly prohibited.
• AI assisted images (where AI creates a substantial part of the image) are not allowed.
• Acceptable edits are limited to basic adjustments such as cropping, exposure, contrast, color balance, and minor retouching that do not fundamentally alter the scene.
• Composites, added or removed major elements, or images created primarily with generative tools are not allowed.
4. Photographer and Consent Requirements
• The photo must be taken by the entrant personally (no third party or stock images).
• For photos depicting recognizable people, the entrant must obtain valid consent from all persons shown for:
o Submission of the photo to this contest.
o Public display of the photo (online and/or in print).
o Use of the photo by the contest organizer for promotional and related purposes as described below.
• For minors (under 18), written consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian.
• The organizer may request proof of consent (e.g., model release) at any time and may disqualify any photo if consent cannot be demonstrated.
5. Prohibited Content
Entries must NOT contain:
• Content that is unlawful, offensive, hateful, defamatory, or discriminatory.
• Nudity, sexually explicit content, or violent / graphic imagery.
• Third party logos, artwork, or other protected material used without permission.
6. Rights Granted to the Organizer
By entering the contest, the entrant:
• Retains full copyright to their photo.
• Grants the organizer a perpetual, worldwide, royalty free, non exclusive license to:
o Use, reproduce, display, adapt, publish, and distribute the photo in connection with the contest and its promotion.
o Use the photo on the organizer’s websites, social media, printed materials, presentations, and marketing related to the contest or similar future contests.
• Agrees that the organizer may credit the photographer by name where reasonably possible but is not obligated to do so in every instance.
7. Use of Names and Likeness
• By entering, the entrant consents to the use of their name, city/region, and submitted photo(s) in promotional materials related to the contest without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
• Any person appearing in the photo is deemed to have given such consent through the entrant’s responsibility to obtain it.
8. Judging and Selection
• Entries will be judged on criteria such as creativity, composition, originality, and relevance to the contest theme.
• The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these rules or that, in its sole discretion, is inappropriate or inconsistent with the contest’s purpose.
9. Disqualification and Removal
• The organizer may remove or disqualify any photo at any time if:
o There is a claim or reasonable suspicion of copyright or rights infringement.
o The image is found to be AI generated or substantially AI modified.
o Required consent from individuals in the photo cannot be verified.
10. Liability and Indemnity
• The entrant assumes full responsibility for their submission and any consequences of its publication.
• The entrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the organizer, its partners, and representatives from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:
o Copyright or trademark infringement.
o Violation of privacy or publicity rights.
o Any other third party claim related to the submitted photo.
11. Acceptance of Rules
• Submission of an entry constitutes full and unconditional agreement to these rules.
• The organizer’s decisions regarding eligibility, compliance with the rules, and selection of winners are final and binding.