I recently answered a Craigslist ad showing my interest in possibly shooting an 'event'. It turned out to be a triathlon nearby. Not a huge one, but it would probably take a good 6 hours of my time and probably 3,000 clicks on the shutter or more. Pay - $150. Other than the pay being way too low, they sent along a 9 page (yes, NINE page) contract to sign and return. Well, right there ... pass! I've shot 5k races where the photos use the company's memory cards and you just simply give them the cards when you're done, but this was the first time I've been asked to sign something so extensive.
Is this a typical clause from a sporting contract? Would you sign it?
I substituted "xxx" for the company's name.
"Photographer hereby irrevocably grants and assigns to xxx all of its right, title, and interest in and to the Photos, including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secret rights and the rights to secure any renewals, reissues, and extensions thereof, the right to sue for past infringement, the right to use, and/or have any person or entity working with or for xxx use the Photos or any portion thereof, including, but not limited to, in or as part of any version of a xxx website and through any other content display and/or delivery system now known or developed in the future, all Photos based upon, derived from, or incorporating the "Photos "; and all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing, throughout the world. Contractor understands that xxx may register the copyright and other rights in the Photos in xxx's name. Contractor agrees to execute all documents necessary to transfer to xxx the ownership of any and all rights Contractor may have in the Photos, including but not limited to copyrights. Contractor further understands that xxx has full, complete and exclusive ownership of the Photos. Contractor agrees not to use the Photos for the benefit of anyone other than xxx, without xxx's prior written permission."