Arthur Frommer's is using one of my vacation photos!!!

[LynneSin]

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/costarica/

I sent that picture in for a photo contest they had about 2 years ago and now it's on their website? I know who the guy is on the horse (a friend from college) and we're at Rincon National Park in Costa Rica. I have the original picture AND the negative.

This is freaking weird.

How do I know it's mine - do a google search on LynneSin - some other travel site is using my picture, but I notice they most have taken it down (but it still shows up on the google search - but if you go to the website it is on their page the name of the file is tmlnf.com/images/LynneSin97_20010503_rinconhorse.jpg).

SHouldn't I at least get a few travel pictures for use of my picture? Or did I give up all rights to it when I entered it into the contest (probably did)

Anyhow, I think I deserve at least a free travel book!!

[madmax]

1. Shouldn't they have gotten your permission?

Royalty fees? The nerve!!

[madmax]

2. Maybe there was some fine print diclaimer in the entry form.

:(

[LynneSin]

4. I can prove it's mine

I have the proofs.

But I'm thinking that since I entered it into one of their photo contests (didn't win) that I handed over permission of that photo to Frommers

:shrug:

I'm going to contact them and see if I can get something free out of it. I love their travel books and I'm planning a trip to Italy!

[GOPisEvil]

3. Tell them!

Yeah, you probably assigned your rights to the photo to them when you entered the contest, but they should pony up something, you'd think!

[el_gato]

5. that's probably why they have those "contests"

they get a shitload of photos, claim copyright over them, and never spend a dime.

[amazona]

6. you need to contact them

While your entry probably DID include a disclaimer, the fact that they're using your photo two years later, instead of just trashing it, suggests that you may have won a small prize and they no longer know where to contact you.

Tell them who you are and how to get in touch with you. In a similar circumstance, I found out the publisher had sent the books to an address I've moved away from 15 years before. They sent me a big box of new books when I found out about it and contacted them.

I would imagine you're due for a small prize like a travel book or even $10 or so.

On Edit: The publisher also offered me another job, for which they paid me $1,000 after I completed it. Perhaps you'll have similar good fortune. If you have one good photo, you could have many.


worth a shot

[OrdinaryTa]

7. It's An Attractive Pic

Is this the one?


LynneSin97_20010503_rinconhorse.jpg

[LynneSin]

8. It's the dude on the horse

We couldn't get to Mt Arensal in Costa Rica because the volcano was acting up so instead we spent the day at Rincon National Park where we rented horses and horseback rode to a natural spa. It was a great day - we coated ourselves in this volcanic mud and sat in a sauna (which was heated over the bubbling mud underneath the hut. The we rode back to the lodge where we had the best dinner!!!

[VOX]

9. Check into it, but I bet that all entered photos became their property...

Pretty standard thing to do with contests. But I'll also bet that if you bring it up, they'll send you a complimentary something-or-other.

Nice photo, BTW! :toast: