You Keep Copyright
The photographer remains the copyright owner. Alpha 8 receives only the permissions stated in the active rules.
Fair · Clear · Photographer-First
COMPETITIONRULES.
These planned rules establish the foundation for weekly, monthly and annual Alpha 8 competitions. Every active competition will publish its own final entry requirements before submissions open.
Official RulesALPHA 8
✓ Copyright protected
✓ Anonymous judging
✓ Clear AI policy
✓ Fair membership
Eligibility
Editing & AI
Copyright
Judging
Essential Principles
The rules protect photographers, judges and the credibility of Alpha 8.
These principles should remain consistent across the entire competition platform.
Independent Judging
Free, Pro and future Elite accounts receive no scoring advantage or guaranteed selection.
AI Must Be Declared
The proposed default is no generative AI unless a competition clearly creates a separate permitted category.
Specific Rules Apply
File size, editing limits, dates, entry limits and voting methods can differ by competition.
Full Rule Structure
Open each section to review the planned framework.
Final legal wording should be professionally reviewed before paid entries or international competitions begin.
- Each photographer should use one genuine personal account.
- Account information must be accurate and may require identity verification for finalists or winners.
- The first local edition may limit entry to eligible Sri Lankan participants.
- Age restrictions and guardian consent must be stated where applicable.
- Judges, employees or conflicts of interest may be restricted from specific competitions.
- The entrant must be the photographer and copyright owner.
- Submitting another person’s image, stock image or unauthorized composite is prohibited.
- Required model, property and location permissions remain the entrant’s responsibility.
- Alpha 8 may request RAW files, metadata or supporting evidence.
- Accepted format, dimensions, colour space and file-size limits will appear on the active competition page.
- Watermarks, logos, borders or identifying marks may be prohibited for anonymous judging.
- Each photograph must be entered into the correct category.
- Entry limits depend on the competition and account allowance.
- Incomplete, corrupted or incorrectly uploaded files may be rejected.
- Normal exposure, colour, contrast, cropping, sharpening and noise reduction may be permitted.
- Removing or adding major subjects may be restricted in documentary, wildlife and street categories.
- Composites, sky replacement and advanced manipulation must follow category-specific rules.
- Generative fill, text-to-image generation or synthetic replacement must be declared and may cause disqualification.
- Alpha 8 may request source files or editing evidence.
Proposed default: normal photographic editing is allowed; generative AI imagery is not allowed unless the active competition explicitly permits it.
- Images obtained through illegal, dangerous, abusive or deceptive conduct may be rejected.
- Wildlife must not be harmed, baited or intentionally distressed.
- Entries must respect privacy, dignity and applicable consent requirements.
- Hate content, exploitation and unlawful material are prohibited.
- Alpha 8 may remove content when serious legal or ethical concerns arise.
- Administrators may approve, reject or request clarification before judging.
- Rejection may occur for rule violations, wrong category, poor file quality or ownership concerns.
- The photographer dashboard should show status and a general rejection reason where practical.
- Administrative approval does not guarantee finalist or winner selection.
- Monthly and annual entries may be shown anonymously to assigned jury members.
- Each authorized juror should have one recorded score per assigned entry.
- Public voting must be clearly labelled and protected against duplicate or automated votes.
- Public Choice should remain separate from professional jury awards unless a combined formula is published.
- Final results require authorized administrative confirmation.
- Entries or accounts may be disqualified for fraud, plagiarism, vote manipulation or false information.
- Finalists or winners may lose recognition if later evidence proves ineligibility.
- A limited appeal or clarification process may be offered within a stated period.
- Alpha 8 may correct genuine technical or administrative errors.
- The photographer keeps copyright ownership.
- Entry may grant Alpha 8 limited permission for administration, judging, results and reasonable competition promotion.
- Photographer credit should be shown where practical after anonymous judging ends.
- Image sale, unrelated commercial licensing or unlimited advertising use requires separate permission.
- Final licence wording must appear in the official rules accepted at submission.
- Certificate eligibility depends on the competition result and certificate type.
- Verified certificates may include a unique number and QR verification link.
- Magazine or exhibition selection is separate from ordinary entry.
- Selected photographers should approve publication and provide high-resolution files.
- Printing costs, complimentary copies, royalties or sales terms must be stated separately.
- Free accounts should retain genuine competition and profile access with stated limits.
- Pro or Elite payment may increase features and entry allowances but never judging standards.
- Competition fees, subscriptions, renewal terms and refund conditions must be shown before payment.
- Cancelled competitions should follow a published refund or credit policy.
- Only information required for accounts, submissions, results, payments and compliance should be collected.
- Photographer contact details should not be sold to advertisers.
- Public profile fields must be separated from private account information.
- Users should receive clear options for competition notices and marketing communication.
- A separate Privacy Policy and Terms of Service must be published before live users are accepted.
Proposed Default Policies
Some rules should remain standard unless a competition clearly changes them.
These defaults make the platform predictable while allowing category-specific exceptions.
Default Authenticity Rule
Generative AI Not Permitted
By default, entries should be photographs created from camera capture—not fully generated or substantially replaced by generative AI.
- AI noise reduction may be permitted
- Generative replacement must be declared
- Separate AI categories can be created later
Default Judging Rule
Identity Hidden from Jury
Where technically possible, the photographer’s name, profile and membership level should be hidden during professional scoring.
- Anonymous entry view
- One score per assigned juror
- Administrative result approval
Default Ownership Rule
Photographer Retains Copyright
Alpha 8 receives only the limited permissions necessary to operate and promote the competition.
- No automatic copyright transfer
- Separate magazine permission
- Separate commercial licensing agreement
Image Rights Workflow
Competition display and commercial use must remain separate.
This protects photographer trust and creates a clean path for magazine, exhibition and future licensing opportunities.
Competition Display
The entrant permits administration, judging and display related to the competition.
Winner Promotion
Finalists and winners may be promoted with photographer credit under the competition terms.
Magazine Permission
Print publication requires separate editorial confirmation and a high-resolution file.
Separate Licensing
Image sale or external commercial licensing requires a separate agreement.
These are platform draft rules—not the final legal terms.
Before accepting paid entries, subscriptions or international participants, the official rules, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, refund policy and image licence wording should be reviewed by a qualified legal professional.
Understand the rules before you submit.
Active competition pages will show the exact category, editing, entry and voting requirements before submission.