Today the International Federation of Journalists, the largest organisation of journalists across the world, called all photographers covering the rugby World Cup opening today in France to refuse signing the diktat conditions imposed by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

“Photographers should simply and firmly refuse to sign any paper stating that they give away their rights to the IRB”, said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “This is foul play if ever there was. It is unacceptable to have such conditions imposed on a public event such as a rugby World Cup and it would create a serious precedent for future events. We support the boycott and will defend journalists’ rights”.

Despite the opposition of a coalition of journalists’ unions, press agencies and newspapers, the IRB still wants to impose strict limits on the number of pictures taken during the games.

Journalists asking for an accreditation are asked to sign a contract to give up some of their rights and a 24 hours boycott has been launched yesterday by press agencies including AFP, AP, Reuters and Getty.

The IFJ says there has been great confusion among media professionals as some journalists were accredited without signing; others were refused accreditation and some even added on the contract that “the signature will not have any legal consequence on their work”.

For more information contact the IFJ at 32 2 235 2200
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries worldwide