Copyright Policy

1. Introduction
This Copyright Policy outlines how PHOTO SEASON ("we", "us", "our"), an international fine art photography competition organized by the PHOTO SEASON collective in Latvia, in cooperation with the Latvian Creative Photographers Association (LCPA), addresses copyright ownership, usage rights, and intellectual property matters related to images submitted to and displayed on our Platform.

2. Ownership of Submitted Works
– Participants retain full copyright ownership of all photographs and works submitted to the competition.
– Submission of an entry does not transfer ownership of the copyright to PHOTO SEASON, the PHOTO SEASON collective, or LCPA.
– Participants are solely responsible for ensuring that they hold the necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for any images they submit, including rights related to any identifiable individuals, locations, artworks, or branded content depicted in the image.

3. License Granted to PHOTO SEASON
By submitting an entry, the participant grants PHOTO SEASON and LCPA a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to:

– Display, reproduce, and publish the submitted work on our website and social media channels.
– Use the work for promotional materials, exhibitions, catalogues, and press releases related to the competition.
– Archive the work for historical records of the competition.

This license is granted for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described above and is always accompanied by attribution to the photographer, unless otherwise agreed.

4. Original Work Requirement
– All submitted entries must be the original creation of the participant.
– Entries that include AI-generated content, stock images, or work created by another person without proper authorization and attribution are not permitted, unless explicitly allowed under specific category rules.
– Any entry found to violate originality requirements may be disqualified at any stage, including after announcement of results.

5. Third-Party Copyright Infringement Claims
If you believe that a work displayed on our Platform infringes your copyright or the copyright of a third party, please submit a notice to info@photoseasons.com containing:

– A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed.
– The location (URL or description) of the material on our Platform that you claim is infringing.
– Your contact information, including name and email address.
– A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, their agent, or the law.
– A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the owner's behalf.

Upon receiving a valid notice, we will review the claim and may remove or disable access to the disputed content while the matter is investigated.

6. Counter-Notification
If you believe that content was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notification to info@photoseasons.com including a description of the material, its prior location on the Platform, and a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed in error.

7. Use of Images by Third Parties
Images displayed on the Platform, including award-winning and exhibited works, remain the property of their respective photographers. Reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of these images by third parties without the explicit permission of the copyright holder is strictly prohibited.

8. Repeat Infringers
We reserve the right to disqualify entries, suspend accounts, or restrict participation for users who repeatedly submit work that infringes the rights of others.

9. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to update this Copyright Policy at any time. Any changes will be effective upon posting on the Platform.

10. Contact
For copyright-related questions, claims, or notices, please contact us at info@photoseasons.com.