Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) The inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) starting April 18 has outlined a strict media accreditation policy that requires photographers to use their pictures strictly as still images and not use it to support any online match tracking report. The accreditation policy wants the media to use the pictures strictly as still images (and not as moving images or rapid sequence streaming or refreshed images) and cannot be used to support any online match tracking report, audio or text based commentary service.

For example, photographers applying for IPL accreditation will have to ensure that their clicked photos:

* appear as still images (and not as moving images or rapid-sequence streaming or refreshed images) and cannot be used to support a so-called on-line match-tracking report, audio or text based commentary service;

* are published in the relevant print media for editorial reporting purposes only;

* images are not used in association with any marks, names or logos of any third party (commercial or otherwise); no online use or publication or syndication of any such still photographic images is allowed without the express prior written consent of IPL.

These rules have already drawn flak from international media agencies like the Agence France Presse (AFP).

“We had a plan to cover but under current terms and agreement, I don’t see any agency covering the matches,” AFP Chief of Bureau in India Barry Parker told IANS Friday.

“During the rugby World Cup in France, last year, similar restrictions were imposed. And AFP, Reuters, Associated Press (AP) with some other organisations came together to form New Media Coalition (NMC), which found a way out for helping agencies to cover the tournament.

“This time also NMC will be negotiating and find a way out,” he added

A similar situation arose last year in Australia, which led to all three news agencies AFP, Reuters and AP boycotting the first Australia-Sri Lanka Test in Brisbane last November.

Cricket Australia (CA) refused to let photojournalists enter the Gabba after various media organisations declined to agree to new terms of the national board. The issue was resolved later.

Media houses applying to cover the IPL matches have time till Tuesday to apply for accreditation.

It is learnt that at some venues the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which owns the IPL, may also ask for photocopy of journalists’ passports.