Olympics to ban social network photos?

By Chris Cheesman Tuesday, 24 April 2012

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/photo-news/538505/olympics-to-...

Amateur Photographer (AP) is investigating whether visitors to this summer’s Olympics will be banned from posting photos onto social networking websites.

Amateur Photographer (AP) is investigating whether visitors to this summer’s Olympics will be banned from posting photos onto social networking websites.

Photographer Peter Ruck contacted AP saying that Olympic organising committee Locog plans to ban the posting of images on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Conditions of entry for Olympic ticket holders suggest that rules for such restrictions may have already been decided.

The London 2012 conditions state: ‘Images, video and sound recordings of the Games taken by a Ticket Holder cannot be used for any purpose other than for private and domestic purposes and a Ticket Holder may not license, broadcast or publish video and/or sound recordings, including on social networking websites and the internet more generally, and may not exploit images, video and/or sound recordings for commercial purposes under any circumstances, whether on the internet or otherwise, or make them available to third parties for commercial purposes.’

Ruck, a semi-retired freelance, blasted the rules as unenforceable.

He said there will be a 'million and one' people taking photos and video, whether by camera or mobile camera phone.

'The sheer notion of trying to ban any form of photography, other than for viewing at home, is nonsensical – it beggars belief.'

It is unclear whether social network still image postings class as ‘private’ use.

A Locog spokesman had yet to respond to AP’s urgent request for comment at the time of writing.

By agreeing to the conditions of entry, spectators automatically grant Olympic organisers the right to broadcast, publish and license any images taken of them watching the sports action.

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Olympics bosses rebuff Facebook photo ban claims

By Chris Cheesman Wednesday, 25 April 2012

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/photo-news/538712/olympics-bos...

Organisers of the London 2012 Olympics have hit back at claims that spectators will be banned from posting images on social networking websites, but admitted its rules are confusing.

Photographers yesterday expressed fears that ticket holders will be barred from posting any photos and video they capture on websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The concerns were triggered by the wording of the rules of entry for ticket holders which reads:

'Images, video and sound recordings of the Games taken by a Ticket Holder cannot be used for any purpose other than for private and domestic purposes and a Ticket Holder may not license, broadcast or publish video and/or sound recordings, including on social networking websites and the internet more generally, and may not exploit images, video and/or sound recordings for commercial purposes under any circumstances, whether on the internet or otherwise, or make them available to third parties for commercial purposes.'

A spokesman for the Locog, the Olympics organising committee, today acknowledged that the wording is unclear, saying: ‘I take your point. I gather that we will clarify this when the tickets are sent out.'

He added: ‘We are not looking to stop private individuals from posting photographs on social networks.

‘What we are trying to do is prevent photos being used for commercial purposes.'