Why would any one particpate in this?

I took a look at the Official Rules. You have to be considered an amature photog. No Pro's allowed, but you have to conduct your self as a pro would by obtaining signed releases from the subjects of the pictures. You have to give away all rights to the photos, but keep all the liabilitys related to its use. If you are fortunate enough to win. You get a cell phone. Some charity gets 10k. and Yahoo gets a tax deduction.

Quote:
E. WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT: (i) HIS/HER ENTRY MATERIALS ARE ORIGINAL, HAVE BEEN LEGALLY OBTAINED AND CREATED, AND DO NOT INFRINGE THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OR ANY OTHER LEGAL OR MORAL RIGHTS OF ANY THIRD PARTY; (ii) HE/SHE HAS OBTAINED PERMISSION TO SUBMIT THE PHOTO FROM ANYONE AND ANY LOCATIONS PICTURED IN THE ENTRY MATERIALS AND CAN MAKE THOSE PERMISSIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST; (iii) THE ENTRY MATERIALS HE/SHE IS SUBMITTING HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED OR ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION AND ARE NOT CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PUBLICATION; (iv) HE/SHE WILL NOT DISSEMINATE OR OTHERWISE SUBMIT THE ENTRY MATERIALS TO ANY OTHER ENTITY FOR PUBLICATION;

F. grants to Sponsor and its affiliates, legal representatives, assigns and licensees, all right, title and interest in and to the Entry Materials, including the right and permission to copyright (as appropriate), reproduce, encode, store, copy, transmit, publish, broadcast, display, publicly perform, exhibit and/or otherwise use or reuse (without limitation as to when or to the number of times used), the entrant’s name, address (city and state only), image, voice, likeness, statements, biographical material and Entry Materials, including, but not limited to, the video or digital recording and performances that may be contained in any of the above items (in each case, as may be edited by Sponsor, in Sponsor’s sole discretion), as well as any additional photographic images, video images, portraits, interviews or other materials relating to the entrant and arising out of his/her participation in this competition (with or without using the entrant’s name) (collectively, the "Additional Materials") in any media throughout the world for advertising and publicity purposes without additional review, compensation, or approval;

G. forever waives any rights of publicity, rights of privacy, intellectual property rights, and any other legal or moral rights that might preclude Yahoo!'s use of the entrant's Entry Materials or the Additional Materials or require the entrant's permission for Yahoo! to use them for promotional purposes, and agrees to never sue or assert any claim against the Promotion Entities relating to the Promotion Entities' use of those Materials; and

H. agrees to indemnify and hold the Promotion Entities and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, co-branders or other partners, and any of their employees (collectively, the "Promotion Indemnitees"), harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Promotion Indemnitees due to or arising out of the entrant's Entry Materials or Additional Materials in this Promotion, or the entrant's conduct during and in connection with this Promotion, including but not limited to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights, right of publicity, right of privacy and defamation.