Recently Apple announced that they would be holding a “Shot On iPhone” content in which the winners would have their photos featured on ads and billboards. Apple had also initially stated that these winners would not be compensated financially, but would be given credit. This is the equivalent of being paid in “exposure”.Safe to say that many did not take too kindly with this particular method of payment, but the good news is that Apple has since had a change of heart where they have updated its website where the fineprint now reads that the winners would be paid a licensing fee. “Apple believes strongly that artists should be compensated for their work. Photographers who shoot the final 10 winning photos will receive a licensing fee for use of such photos on billboards and other Apple marketing channels.”
The “Shot On iPhone” campaign has been going on for a while now and chances are you might have seen it on billboards around your city and also around the world. However the format was changed for this year, where previously Apple had reached out to photographers privately to use their work, whereas now Apple decided to host a contest to select the winner.
This isn’t the first time Apple has come under fire for seemingly refusing to pay artists for their work. Apple Music’s free three-month trial period had initially also meant that Apple would not pay artists their royalties during that period, but it was only until Taylor Swift spoke up about it that Apple quickly changed course and stated that they would pay artists and songwriters even during the trial period.
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