Writing contest SCAM ALERT

[DrLeftover]

I don't think anybody else on the forum is of "AARP"s target age, but just in case:

WARNING: Do NOT enter the AARP "Memoir Contest". By simply submitting your entry, you are granting the AARP and the Huffington Post the rights to your life story, worldwide, forever, and said permission is irrevocable, and they never have to pay you or your estate a dime for it.

This is a scam to steal the intellectual property of others in the name of a contest.

No. I am not kidding. Go read their rules.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/memoir-contest-rules_n_4317794.html?1385056492&goback=.gde_45166_member_5821320821670453249#!

 

[Jazzy]

BY SUBMITTING THE ORIGINAL ENTRY, THE ENTRANT REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT (S)HE HAS ALL RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST NECESSARY TO GRANT THE SPONSORS THE PERPETUAL, WORLDWIDE, IRREVOCABLE AND UNRESTRICTED RIGHT AND LICENSE TO ADAPT, PUBLISH, USE, EDIT, AND/OR MODIFY SUCH ENTRY IN ANY WAY AND POST THE ORIGINAL ENTRY ON THE INTERNET OR USE THE ORIGINAL ENTRY IN ANY OTHER WAY AND AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD SPONSORS HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS TO THE CONTRARY.

I'm not really seeing how this can be considered a scam.

 

[DrLeftover]

It isn't just the winner, or the finalists or anything like that.

You are irrevocably giving up your rights to Your Life Story just by sending it in to Huffington Post/AOL and the AARP.

They can do anything they damned well please with your information, from now on, forever and ever, amen, and you have no claim to it what so ever.

And think about it, this is the AARP. Some of their member's stories would make a hell of a movie.

When I signed the contract with the publisher for "Power", I granted them LIMITED use of my story, and then only for Four Years. Ownership of, and all rights to, the novel will revert to me... well, later this year, unless the contract is renewed.

 

[Jazzy]

It's very evident if you read the rules which are all in big capital letters, that you are consenting to allow them to do whatever they want if you even submit an entry. If people entering this contest, don't read the rules, them shame on them. Again, I still don't see how this is considered a scam. I COULD see it as a scam if that warning was not there.

 

[DrLeftover]

I agree with you, to a point.

But given the target audience of AARP, the two or three of them that still trust the organization after it endorsed "Obamacare" and then they lost their policies or found their premiums skyrocket and their deductible suddenly look like their ZIP code... they might not read...

Well, hell, you're right.

But still. It's a shady deal, if it doesn't meet the full SCAM test.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Good thing I am not a writer!