Global coverage of Australia v Sri Lanka Test threatened
Global news agencies said Tuesday they may be forced to cancel
coverage of the first Australia-Sri Lanka cricket Test after organisers
imposed unprecedented restrictions on the media.
They said Cricket Australia's (CA) demand that they surrender all
intellectual property rights to their photo coverage of the game raised
grave concerns about press freedom, leaving them unable to report on the
Test.
The row means the main agencies - Agence France-Presse, Reuters and
Associated Press - cannot cover the Test beginning in Brisbane Thursday,
restricting the ability of cricket fans around the world to follow the
match.
The agencies are part of a coalition of more than 30 media
organisations - including Getty Images, Australia's News Limited,
Fairfax Media and Australian Associated Press - set up to oppose CA's
stance.
CA has insisted it holds the intellectual property rights to agency
photographs taken at its venues, and that those photos cannot be re-sold
without its permission.
In still-continuing negotiations with CA, the agencies have refused
to hand over rights to the photos, saying it would set a dangerous
precedent. They say they will not be able to cover the Test series
unless the issue is resolved.
SYDNEY, Monday, AFP
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