From one infamous Hilton to another...this time it's the hotel brand that has decided it makes sense to steal ideas and make the victims sign legal consent in the process.
As reported in Adweek, part of participating in the upcoming $45 million creative/media review of Hilton Hotels will be the signing away ownership of pitch materials or as documented, "all tangible expressions" of ad concepts developed by contenders (read: ideas)
I can't mince words here - this is just bull shit. It's highway robbery and the worst possible insult to every last bit of integrity left in the ad business to have ideas from losing contenders implemented down the line.
What's worse is that agencies have let it come down to this. First of all, there are token payments or scraps which clients discard to losing participants for covering the costs of production expended on the pitches. These in no way cover costs of the pitch process, which is partly the problem isn't it? Why the hell are agencies spending upwards of 6-figures on pitches, especially when they're being treated like shit.
Bravo to BBDO and Goodby for balking and refusing to participate. Your creative arrogance (and I mean this in a good way) is a shining light to those around you...you've earned the right to say, "f-you."
Viva Starwood!
Gto
