I just got an email from HOW magazine with a promotion for a new “collaborative” project Toyota is doing. It’s called “HEYA” and, unfortunately, it is just another rights-grabbing creative rip-off.
They tease with a potential $2500 award for a creative to use to pursue a project, but cloaked beneath that carrot is a big ugly stick. To quote, from HEYA’s own Terms and Conditions page:
THE TOYOTA ENTITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO UNRESTRICTED USE OF ANY SUBMISSIONS IT MAY RECEIVE FROM YOU ON OR THROUGH THE SITE, FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER, COMMERCIAL OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT COMPENSATION TO YOU AS PROVIDER OF THE SUBMISSION.
(caps theirs)
Please, again, write to HOW and ask them to withdraw their support of this terrible rip-off. HOW is usually good for creatives, but they screwed up here and need to be reminded of it. Let’s give them the chance to do the right thing and support creatives, rather than the corporations so eager to rip them off.
Also, write to Toyota to let them know that this is a bad idea, too.
And share the idea on forums and blogs! Let’s let people know how bad this is and that we don’t have to take it!
*****
10/2 update: Apparently HOW did not know about the rights-grab and have come out to say that they do not endorse the HEYA project. Good for them to admit the mistake and stand with their “constituents.”