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I’m very glad to announce the following:
From Canon USA & Vimeo:
“Canon USA and Vimeo are advocates and supporters of artists and artists’ rights. We would like to make it very clear that the creator of any submission in the Story Beyond The Still contest retains ownership of that submission – period. Canon USA does own the copyright in the final, combined video comprised of Vincent’s chapter and all winning chapters, however, each chapter itself is still owned by the user who submitted it (similar to a newspaper – the publisher owns a copyright in each full edition, but the specific articles could be owned by a number of different parties).
There has been some commentary on the contest forums and within message boards that claims that Canon USA and/or Vimeo are engaging in a “rights grab” of sorts with respect to contest submissions, and are taking ownership of users’ submissions. This is simply not true. It is no one’s intention to take ownership over any user’s submission.
Of course, in order to offer its services and operate the contest, both Vimeo and Canon USA need certain rights licensed to them - to accept, store and display video submissions, to use clips/stills to promote the contest, and to let other Vimeo users view and comment on the submissions - and efforts were taken to restrict the scope of the licenses as much as possible, keeping in mind the legal realities of conducting a contest like this one.
We want this to be a contest that celebrates creativity and collaborative film making. It is our goal that this is fun and engaging experience for all that participate.”
As you know - we win some (above) and we lose some (below) - that’s just the way life goes and I think Canon and Vimeo are doing a great thing with this contest and it’s very important to remain focused on that fact.
I’m sorry that it can’t be as open as we’d all love it to be - but we should be happy to have a contest in place nonetheless and not lose sight of the bigger picture: this is the first step in what I hope can turn into a multi-year process that will become more inclusive regardless of international borders:
A Message from Canon USA and Vimeo Regarding Residency and Age Eligibility (1/28/10)
“Everyone at Canon USA and Vimeo is excited and proud that there is such interest in “The Story Beyond the Still” video contest and we would like the contest to be open and enjoyed by the widest possible audience. This particular contest, however, is open only to legal US Residents who are 18 years or older. There are a variety of legal reasons why this is the case; varying laws internationally related to privacy rights, publicity rights, and contests in general, among them.
There has been some speculation on the contest forums and within message boards that even if you are not a legal US Resident, as long as you enter with a US address or phone number (possibly from a friend or relative living in the US) you would be eligible for the contest. There has also been speculation that if you are under the age of 18 and enter through an adult’s account that you would be eligible. Neither is accurate. When the winning entry is selected, the winner will need to complete an affidavit stating that they are a legal US resident, 18 years of age or older and the creator / owner of the entry. If the individual can not sign such a document, then the entry will be disqualified and another winner will be selected from the pool of eligible entries.
It is no one’s intention to exclude anyone from entering the contest, and based on the strong interest that we’ve seen we are discussing ways that potentially allow us to open this up to an international audience in the future. We hope everyone, regardless of where they live, enjoys watching the outstanding videos that we know will be created by the Vimeo community.”
21 Comments so far
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The world doesn’t focus around America, unless you live there. Sort it out!
From Dubai, just around the corner of Canon’s Middle East headquarters
Lawrence Dudley 01.29.10 @ 6:49 pmYou’re doing a great work with this contest, Vincent! Thanks for doing your best to iron out the various legal wrinkles!
Comment by Garrett Gibbons 01.29.10 @ 7:04 pmIf they *wanted* to address the legal hurdles, they could. Yet another case of corporate American small-mindedness. And frankly, it hugely compromises the artistic integrity of a competition like this.
Lawrence Dudley Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
@Luke Arms, I second this Luke - I think we’re looking through the bottom of the same barrel here.
Sorry, I should add that wasn’t a dig at you, Vincent! I know you’ve done what you can. And don’t worry about us non-Americans, we’re used to it 
I just think it’s sad that you’re not going to get submissions from different cultures. Creative as Americans can be, different parts of the world see with different eyes 
I wrote on three different web-logs about the contest with great enthusiasm. The announcement really looked as if everyone was invited to the contest. We really made plans to compete.
I can understand the steps been made, but let this be a very good lesson for the next time. Vimeo is part of the internet, and the internet is global.
Good luck with the contest and I can only say one more thing: I will encourage people to watch, talk with each other about the productions and how they could try to make their own (better?) version.
With any luck, in 2011, I look forward to the second competition when every citizen on Earth can apply.
Comment by Gert 01.29.10 @ 7:20 pmI’m form Sri Lanka, but sadly can’t enter for this contest! 
Of course I do respect all the above said. Only one little remark: This is something that should have been made VERY clear from the very beginning. Entering a local contest in a local village is one thing - but today these things happen thanks to the _world_wide_web_. Also the kind and style of publicity that was made did not give any clue whatsoever, it would be a “limited participants contest”. Well, I wish all US-residents the Best of Luck and will enjoy seeing the final result even being “a Non-US human being”.
Cheers,
Peter
Comment by Peter Fauland 01.30.10 @ 6:36 amFor anyone not based in the U.S., I might recommend checking out the Can-Do Film Festival!
Comment by Joseph Stunzi 01.30.10 @ 10:59 amSocial comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by vincentlaforet: Two important announcements re: Canon Vimeo Contest here: http://tinyurl.com/y9dxl5w - gist is: no rights grad on contest entries……
Trackback by uberVU - social comments 01.30.10 @ 4:44 pmWell that pretty well took ME by suprise!
I love the spin applied to this, first in the starting line: ‘I’m very glad to announce the following’, I would have thought ‘I have some good news and I have some bad news’ would have been more apt!
Secondly: in the first sentence of the second part of this post, how proud Canon and Vimeo are…
You can’t tell me that no one realised that the readership of this blog is from all around the world, not only USA.
How do they get round this in other internet competitions? This is pretty dissappointing.
If you had put the second part first I would have known that the good news was not for me, and this post infact had ONLY bad news for me.
Vincent, you’re doing a great job with the contest. I dont understand while there is still such mis-directed frustration at Canon and at times even you.
Most official sponsored contest are only opened to the residence of the country in which the contest has been developed. Check out the rules for the Nikon Festival (http://www.nikonfestival.com/terms/) or the DORITOS Crash the Superbowl contest (http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/vote_rules.html) BOTH REQUIRE PARTICIPANTS TO BE U.S. RESIDENCE- They also retain full rights to submission- something Canon/Vimeo arent doing.
So STOP COMPLAINING.
Im sure its great that you all want to join the contests, but unless you are an expert in international trademark and copyright law dont bitch.
Comment by Bill 01.31.10 @ 7:04 pmYou can still enter if you’re not from the US though, right? You just can’t win?
I’d be pretty keen on just having my film viewed and critiqued by the judges.
Ed Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 9:09 pm
@Ed,
Would that be the case Vincent? Would films from outside the US still be viewed and judged by yourself and the other judges?
Ed, that is a great idea.
I am from switzerland, already have a 5dmkII, all needed canon lenses and a vimeo pro mebership, and am not interested in the win of a 7d.
but have my movie judged by this amazing fellows ist cool.
lets participate anyway 
I guess rather than slamming Canon USA, we should be putting pressure on Canon “Your Country”. In my case Canon Canada.
As the neighbour to the north, we so often see lesser quality American material or products with the Hell Marketed out of them!! That’s not their problem, it’s ours. Countries like Canada and others rarely market themselves very well, and it the louder voice gets heard.
I lived and worked on a 3 year visa in the U.S. and I learned allot about promoting yourself, speaking up, etc… Often times, we don’t do it as much or as well as they do. If you believe in your work. Scream about it! Don’t assume that just because it’s better or as good as… it will be recognized. The marketing engines are in place in the U.S.. For me and my country, I see a weaker marketing engine, but amazing talent. We all need to push in our respective countries to be heard. The corporate world always has to catch up with the people.
Comment by Jimmy 02.02.10 @ 12:30 amThere is an alternative…
No fancy prizes from Canon but a place that non-US residents can upload their films that have been inspired by the Canon competition.
This has no connection with the Canon competition
http://www.vimeo.com/groups/beyondthestillnonus
So, there is no excuse now
/Karl
Comment by Karl Jull 02.03.10 @ 8:57 amLeave a comment
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
@Lawrence Dudley, This is true Lawrence. But at a certain point you need to realize that this contest is being sponsored by Canon USA - not Canon’s Middle East HQ - or Canon Inc. I appreciate the enthusiasm - and hope that future contests will be more inclusive. At this point the rules are what they are.
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Lawrence Dudley Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
@Vincent Laforet, Hey, fair enough. I’m not too fussed either way, and if anything the criticism is thrown Canon’s way rather than yours as I said on Twitter.
I think the concept of the contest is great, really like the idea, it’s just a shame that Canon have chosen to lock out so many of their users from the competition.
Let’s face it - Canon’s a global company, why would their marketing be local? If you’ve got a great idea think about it before implementing it, don’t jump in at the deep end before resolving the problems.
Anyway, rant over, I will never the less enjoy the submissions and hope that in the future the company I have invested so much money considers being a little more inclusive with their marketing.
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salomon Reply:
January 30th, 2010 at 12:22 am
@Lawrence Dudley, yeah, also from Dubai here, wishing I could enter!
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Samarithan Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:06 am
I can go over and over and over post and post and post…forums over forums over forums Sayign the same thing Over and Over and OVER.
STOP Bitching!! There are sooo many US residents that have offered to send peoples videos for Non USA residents…that complaining its just silly for me.
Like everything in life… find a way around it, easy and simple.
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