The Royal Wedding Album presents itself on Facebook as "a photo album of the people's celebration of Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding", which might lead you to believe this is a photo-sharing venue for royalist fans.
However, as the parent site www.theroyalweddingalbum.com makes clear, this is in fact a trawl for free content aimed at the commercial publication of a book. Hopefully their proofreading will improve by then:
All approprite images will be showcased on this site with the best of the best will be published and forever admired in print. We want to see your smiling faces, your family, your friends, your pets, or simply your best photograpy of the day here.
It's a story about the people of the UK, but most of all it's a story about US.More details on how to send us your photos will be posted on this web page closer to the big day. For now follow us on Facebook and twitter and join the discussion on 'What to do on the day' and 'Great image ideas'
Part proceeds from the sale of The Royal Wedding Album will be donated to Royal Wedding Charity Fund - The Royal Wedding Album is not an official project of the Royal Wedding Charity Fund.
Terms and conditions are a state-of-the-art rights grab:
For consideration which I acknowledge, I irrevocably grant to Group Charlescannon Sarl and Company's assigns, licensees and successors the right to use my image and name in The Royal Wedding Album book and on www.theroyalweddingalbum.com including composite or modified representations for all purposes, including advertising, trade or any commercial purpose throughout the world and in perpetuity. I waive the right to inspect or approve versions of my image used for publication or the written copy that may used in connection with the images. I release Company and Company's assigns, licensees and successors from any claims that may arise regarding the use of my image including any claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, or infringement of moral rights, rights of publicity or copyright. Company is permitted, although not obligated, to include my name as a credit in connection with the image. Company is not obligated to utilize any of the rights granted in this Agreement. I have read and understood this agreement and I am over the age of 18. This Agreement expresses the complete understanding of the parties.
In other words, the company may forever use, publish or sell your photos anywhere, to anyone, for any purpose. And should legal problems arise and you get sued or prosecuted, you are on your own. For this, you may get a byline if they feel like it.
The principals behind the site all claim long media experience in advertising, photography and art. The Royal Wedding Album is unlikely to be one of those benign instances where exploitative terms are an accidental convergence of legal boilerplate with someone who does not know what they are doing.
T&C's have now been changed, allegedly to correct "misunderstandings" by outraged photographers. The revised terms are much longer, and in fact more onerous for the photographer, now stipulating that model releases must be provided where necessary. The only significant change to the rights grab aspect is that the photos cannot now be sublicensed by the company without further permission. More effort has been expended to ensure the photographer assumes liability for any legal problems arising from The Wedding Album's use of their work.
In view of the fact that "The Royal Wedding Album" crew keep deleting critical comments from their Facebook page, Alun Chun has set up an anti- page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Royal-Wedding-Album-Dont-Do-It
Pro-Imaging have more information about the people behind the Royal Wedding Album.
Copyright Action emailed the Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Gift Fund on 15 April, to ensure they were aware of the project, its unsavoury terms and the use of a coat of arms.
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