CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO SHOWS
Official Commercial Photography, Video & Social Media Policy
Applies to all Autorama, World of Wheels, and Cavalcade of Customs events produced by Championship Auto Shows, Inc.
ATTENTION: COMMERCIAL INFLUENCERS & CONTENT CREATORS
Our car shows are not free commercial production studios.
Championship Auto Shows invests substantial resources to bring together the convention centers, vehicles, exhibitors, sponsors, entertainment, and audiences that make our events successful.
Our participating vehicle owners and builders invest countless hours and significant amounts of money creating incredible vehicles that become the subject of your photographs, videos, and social media content.
When influencers, professional content creators, and commercial media businesses use our shows as a backdrop to generate advertising revenue, sponsorship income, paid views, or other commercial earnings, we believe the event and its participants deserve appropriate recognition and a fair opportunity to share that success.
If you are using our events to make money, we expect you to work with us, give proper credit, and establish a mutually beneficial commercial arrangement.
Purchasing a general admission ticket does not automatically grant unrestricted commercial production rights.
1. Personal Photography & Social Media Are Welcome
We encourage our spectators to take photographs, record videos, and share their experiences with friends, family, and fellow automotive enthusiasts.
This policy is not aimed at everyday spectators taking pictures of cars, sharing videos with friends, or posting about their experience at our shows.
We appreciate the enthusiasm and exposure that fans bring to our events.
No additional commercial media authorization is required for ordinary personal photography and non-commercial social media sharing conducted in accordance with event rules.
2. Commercial Content Creation & Monetization
There is a significant difference between sharing an experience and operating a commercial media business using our events as a source of revenue.
Influencers, YouTubers, Facebook content creators, TikTok producers, professional videographers, photographers, and media businesses planning organized commercial productions must obtain prior written authorization from Championship Auto Shows.
Commercial activities subject to approval include:
- Sponsored or branded videos featuring our events.
- Organized productions intended to generate YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or other platform advertising revenue.
- Paid promotional videos or product endorsements filmed at our shows.
- Commercial livestreams, subscription content, and paid video productions.
- Sale or licensing of event photographs or video footage.
- Commercial productions that use our event name, venue, vehicles, displays, or audience as a primary promotional attraction.
Incidental platform monetization of ordinary spectator posts does not, by itself, constitute an organized commercial production requiring a license.
General admission does not include authorization to conduct organized commercial filming or advertising productions.
3. Commercial Media Licensing & Revenue Sharing
Championship Auto Shows supports successful automotive content creators and welcomes opportunities to establish professional relationships.
However, our events are significant financial investments, and we believe commercial media businesses benefiting directly from those investments should contribute fairly.
Commercial filming authorization may require:
- A commercial filming or media licensing fee.
- A negotiated percentage of revenue directly attributable to event-specific content.
- A sponsorship or promotional partnership that provides measurable value to Championship Auto Shows.
- A combination of licensing fees, promotional commitments, and revenue sharing.
Revenue-sharing arrangements may include advertising revenue, sponsorship income, paid content distribution, and licensing revenue directly attributable to approved event-specific productions.
All financial arrangements, revenue definitions, reporting requirements, and payment obligations must be agreed upon in writing before commercial filming begins.
Championship Auto Shows does not automatically claim ownership of independent creators’ content or earnings. Commercial compensation is established through a separate written agreement.
4. Mandatory Show, Vehicle Owner & Builder Recognition
Our vehicle owners and builders are the foundation of our events. Their craftsmanship, dedication, and financial investment deserve recognition.
Approved commercial content creators must provide appropriate credit whenever reasonably practical and consistent with their media agreements.
Show Recognition
Identify the official show name and host city, such as Detroit Autorama, Chicago World of Wheels, or Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs.
Include the official show website or social media tag in the content description, caption, or other appropriate location.
Vehicle Owner Recognition
Identify the vehicle owner when that information is available and authorized for publication.
Vehicle Builder Recognition
Identify the builder, restoration shop, or custom fabricator when known and relevant to the coverage.
Event Identification
Commercial video productions must identify the show prominently through the video title, description, opening identification, or on-screen graphics as required by the commercial media agreement.
Giving credit to the show, vehicle owners, and builders is a basic professional responsibility and an important part of our commercial media partnerships.
5. Respect for Vehicle Owners & Exhibitors
Every vehicle displayed at our events represents someone’s time, investment, and dedication.
Commercial creators must respect participating vehicle owners, exhibitors, sponsors, and spectators.
Commercial filming authorization from Championship Auto Shows does not replace any additional permission legally required from vehicle owners, builders, individuals appearing in productions, or other rights holders.
Creators may not falsely imply endorsement or sponsorship by Championship Auto Shows, participating vehicle owners, or event sponsors.
6. Media Credentials & Commercial Filming Approval
Creators planning organized commercial filming must contact Championship Auto Shows before attending the event.
Media credential applications may request information about the creator’s business, social media channels, audience, proposed filming activities, sponsorships, and intended commercial use.
Approval may include specific conditions regarding filming locations, equipment, access, licensing fees, revenue sharing, and promotional commitments.
A media credential does not automatically provide free admission, unrestricted access, or unlimited commercial filming rights.
Championship Auto Shows reserves the right to approve or decline requests for special commercial filming access, subject to applicable law.
7. Unauthorized Commercial Productions
Organized commercial filming conducted without required authorization is prohibited under the applicable event admission conditions.
Championship Auto Shows reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to stop unauthorized commercial filming on event premises, revoke filming privileges, remove individuals who violate event rules, and deny future commercial media credentials.
Where an enforceable agreement has been violated, Championship Auto Shows may pursue available contractual remedies.
Nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit lawful independent reporting, commentary, criticism, or other legally protected activities.
8. Become an Official Championship Auto Shows Media Partner
We welcome content creators who want to build a successful business while helping grow the automotive hobby.
Our events provide opportunities to produce exciting automotive content, connect with thousands of enthusiasts, interview vehicle owners and builders, and promote automotive businesses.
We are interested in partnerships that provide value to everyone involved.
Approved media partnerships may include commercial filming access, coordinated promotion, interviews, special features, sponsorship opportunities, and negotiated revenue-sharing arrangements.
Creators interested in commercial coverage should contact Championship Auto Shows before the event to discuss licensing and partnership opportunities.
OUR POSITION IS SIMPLE
If you love our shows, share them.
If you enjoy our cars, showcase them.
If you are using our shows to build a business and generate commercial revenue, we expect you to become a responsible business partner.
Championship Auto Shows provides the event, venue, organization, promotion, and audience.
Our vehicle owners and builders provide the incredible automobiles that attract attention and generate views.
Our sponsors and exhibitors help make it all possible.
Everyone who contributes to that success deserves recognition, and commercial businesses profiting from our events should have a fair arrangement with the people who make those opportunities possible.
We welcome professional content creators who respect that principle and want to work together.
Championship Auto Shows, Inc.
Autorama | World of Wheels | Cavalcade of Customs
Commercial Media Inquiries: Contact Championship Auto Shows before your event to request commercial filming authorization or discuss a media partnership.
This policy is subject to applicable law and may be supplemented by event-specific admission terms and written commercial media agreements.