Hi Greg,
For anyone not familiar with the contest, here is one of the short texts on the website:
Substance 3D has released a new offer on the Adobe platform, which gives students free access to all Substance apps. We’re so excited about this announcement that we have teamed up with Adobe to create a Robot Challenge, where you’ll be challenged to showcase your best 3D skills by creating your very own loveable robot character.
During my several studies, I had only four semesters in total about law, so I’m not the last instance to decide that, if at all. Having said that, here is my personal/private idea on it, not in any way a Maxon-based evaluation!
When I read: “… very own loveable robot…”, that would limit it to your very own creation from scratch. Not what you own, have access to, or have brought into your possession.
Secondly, they write, “… You can reference another artist’s concept art, but make sure to ask permission and credit their work before starting…” which means to me personal ideas can be used as long as they are clearly marked as such, but not 3D models, you have to translate that into 3D on your own.
The key idea, again - IMHO, contestants’ results could lead to being used for PR purposes, and if that is so, the organizer of such a contest certainly does not want to check in detail if they can use the material. My advice is to build from scratch, have all the rights, and do your best to win!
I would ask Adobe/Substance to clear that.
My best wishes for your work.