That's an interesting game.

l hate to say this, but the Tennessee Lottery is going to the dogs!

This one is mine, so he gets my vote

Glad to see our member's dogs, keep it going!

This topic is too funny.  Animals are smart pets no questions about it.  I wonder what the idea behind this is.

If the President of the United States wants a friend he or she should get a dog.

 Lovely dogs so far on this thread.

Facebook page, really.   I don't have Facebook and I haven't been on there in almost 3 years and I have better things to do than Facebook waste of time

Amazed that an adult could not understand a simple marketing tactic since most people love animals and have pets. Therfore, interest and publicity is created in the event.

Awwww I love kitties. Always hard when they pass...so sorry for your loss... but I believe we will see our pets again one day in the afterlife.

Thank you!...me too!

I can still see Shaka looking at me really serious and I wonder if he was trying to tell me he had cancer because he had no symptoms up until the end and the Dr. said they hide it when they're sick & that he just couldn't cope any longer.

I guess I'll be making a trip to the animal shelter before long to get another cat...I think you need 2 so they can have one of their own kind to love & won't be lonely when I'm not home.

I agree. 2 at least. I have a nestcam and check in on them while at work.

That's great!

I guess that no one cares if they're photos are used for  third party marketing from companies.  It's a shame that anyone who does social media doesn't realize a risk being taken. 

So I guess some people will be shocked if companies "own" photos which social media does have a right to do what they want.  It's in the terms of agreement on all the sites.

Bah humbug! I'm sure lottery fans would be thrilled to have their dog appear on a scratch-off lottery ticket.  Maybe you're not a dog owner?

I agree with Todd. By the way, the winner will sign a release for the use of his/her photo in advertising. This is standard practice and I am familiar with such releases. No business asks for your copyright and you maintain copyright ownership of your image. It is simply a licensing of your image for a limited time and under certain conditions. Most people would be thrilled to have an image selected, especially photographers.

By the way, just because you post an image on social media, your copyright is not waived in any manner. I am very familiar with this area of law. That is an urban myth that your rights are waived. That is also a myth about social media sites owning your images.  The photographer always retains copyright ownership of their image and lawsuits over unauthorized use happen every day. I know artists who have come across others using their images for a commercial purpose and had the internet service provider remove the image if the violator did not respond to a cease and desist letter. However to sue for monetary damages you need to have registered your image with the copyright office.

I also know many artists who dream of getting a licensing deal for their images...ranging from greeting cards, mass produced art work, etc. The royalties from licensing your art work can be very lucrative .

I know what all the sites say.  The other day on instagram I read their terms of agreement. 

In fact I was talking to a lawyer due to the facebook mishap.  People need to watch what they post up on social media because facebook can do whatever they want to.  You're giving rights to a major site,  a hacker who is a billionaire and I swear I have huge problems.  If it were me to go through this I would hire a lawyer and have the lawyer ask for more than a percentage of profits from it. 

You know where I am coming from and if that lawyer does get back to me and stuff is overturned well then people don't read the fine print.  You're giving away your life to these companies and corporations.

I used to own a dog years ago.  I only have one cat.

Unless someone is making a profit off your image and commercializing it, there is no legal issue. By the way, I am an attorney and know copyright law. You are incorrect about the law. But I also surmise you would not come across as a credible witness so that is a major factor in any potential suit as well. If you make zero sense when you speak, case closed. 

*Personal opinion only.

How do I know you're a lawyer too? 

I also know copyright law as well.  My image on my site is copyright.  No one can steal it.

Can we all be friends?

Too????? Lol. I have wasted enough of my time. You are not exactly "intellectual" and rarely a day goes by where someone does not post that same thought.

And you have no cause of action just because Zuckerberg printed off your ugly pic and threw darts at it.

And back to puppehs and kittehs!!!

Ugly.   You're not any better.  All you do is can't wait for that mass fortune.  Oh wait, you're a lawyer, right.  You know it all. 

 Let me know when you're number one on the list.    Oh and stop hiding behind a screen and monitor. 

 If your method you claim is working, why aren't you #1 then?

Bo' decided to hide his identity when he won the lottery

Yes PLEASE!

We're talking about sweet animals here!

I love that one!...funny & cute!

Cute pets here.

Hope we can see more.

Have a fantastic day everyone.

If you let somebody look at your image on their monitor there is absolutely nothing you can do to keep them from stealing it. The most you can do is take legal action against them if you find out that they stole it.

As far as various companies gaining ownership based on the TOS, that's a common misunderstanding of the companies' intent, often based on poor phrasing in the TOS. If you really understand copyright you should understand why the TOS includes clauses allowing the company to copy and distribute your work. Simply posting your work to a site like Facebook offers implied consent, but the TOS makes your consent explicit. If there was no consent the company would be infringing on your copyright every time they copied/reproduced your work, whether by backing up a server or distributing a digital copy by allowing another user to view it.

Of course you're right about entering photo contests. Entering a photo or other work into a contest usually means granting a broad license for the company to use that work. I can't understand why anyone with something that deserves to win would grant that license with no promise of compensation. For anyone who ever thought about entering a photo contest and didn't realize what they might be giving away, consider the meaning of this typical phrasing:

"you grant the Smithsonian Institution (and those authorized by the Smithsonian) a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any Smithsonian Institution purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the magazine and its website, exhibition, and commercial products, including but not limited to Smithsonian Institution publications."