Apple has announced the winners of its Shot on iPhone Challenge, in which iPhone users were tasked with sending Apple their most stunning and creative photos. Participants retain the rights to their photograph, but would grant Apple a royalty-free non-exclusive right to use the photograph.
After some controversy, the contest was changed so that the ten winners would receive a licensing fee for the use of their photos. It only seems reasonable: While the contest is meant to be for everyone and not just professional photographers, Apple is going to use the winning photos on billboards, in its stores, and in advertisements around the world. They're going to help sell iPhones. That's the kind of thing photographers get paid serious money for, and for one of the world's richest companies to stiff these photographers just because they may be amateur contest winners felt...cheap.
