I am wondering if I should be concerned about entering sweeps that require a publicity release to be signed if I am chosen as the contest winner. It states that they can use photo, voice, likeness, etc. without compensation and for as long as they want. Anyone ever have any issues or problems with this?

I've only had to sign one, and it was for a photo contest that I won $1000 with a photo of my cat and I believe it limited their use to that photo (which I was fine giving up, since it was a "pose your pet with our product" thing). As far as I know, they used it to promote the contest while it was still running (I was listed as a recent winner with her photo adjacent) and they posted a "winner's gallery" on their facebook page once the contest ended.

I'm still waiting for the day I randomly pop into the local store in the chain that cosponsored and see it on a banner declaring me a local winner or something crazy like that, but I'm not counting on that to happen unless they run the same sweep next year and use this year's winners to promote it next time around.

I'd probably be a little more hesitant if it were my likeness, but my level of hesitation would vary depending on the prize being given. I did give permission to use my likeness for a recent $100 gift card win, but it wasn't as formal as a publicity release, it was handled in email with the sponsor and I chose the photo he posted on the contest page on his site.

Love love love your response!!!  I won a goodly amount of cash a couple of years ago and had to sign a publicity release ... to my knowledge nothing came of it ... didn't have people knocking at my door asking for a loan.  I don't think it should be a problem at all ...  but everyone has their own life, so each has to decide on their own. Years ago, way back when I was young, thin and good looking, my husband and I were truck drivers.  They used our picture in trucking recruiting magazines and all we got out of it was a shirt ... and a bit of pride to have been chosen, so I really don't see a problem with it.

brockgrady - after skimming rules for years, they tend to follow a pattern of CYA, so you'll find this verbiage for sweeps where it makes no sense {like T-shirts and downloads are the prizes} and then you'll see it for the tie-ins - like Oprah, Ellen, etc.

While it sounds like you are signing away your rights and *have* to say "how high" when they say jump, I've never heard of anyone being abused by a sponsor in this manner.