‘Send us your photos (and sign away all your rights)’

 

General Photography

Last night, a fully loaded tanker truck exploded a few blocks away from where my parents-in-law live (story - my in laws are fine, btw, as is everybody else). Needless to say, I have spent a significant amount of time online today, looking for updates. Just out of curiosity, I looked at the Submit your photos section at boston.com, and I found this following fine print: “By submitting your photo(s) to Boston.com, you agree that such photo(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of Boston.com and you grant Boston.com, The Boston Globe, Boston Metro and their sublicensees permission to publicly display, reproduce and use the photographs in any form or media for any and (all editorial and related promotional purposes) purposes.” (my emphasis) There’s a lot of talk of citizen journalism - but who in his right mind would sign away all rights to his or her photos? So as a citizen journalist you get to work for free?