Motorsport photography and regulations/licenses

NFI

NFI

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James
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Anybody could explain me how exactly works for pictures licenses during motorsports events.

Say for example I have media accreditation and I am shooting for an agency, that agency is then entitled to sell my pictures to media outlets only? or(the agency)does it need a particular license to do so. Because on the accreditation forms there are generally stated that pictures cannot be sold for commercial purposes, only for media.

Basically what I wanted to know is whether the allocation of a pass will allow the agency to sell the pictures to say magazines and newspapers?
 
Well, as with any contract, the detail is in the wording.

Generally though, in motorsport the media pass has a caveat that it is for news reporting only and not for commercial applications.

Two things you could do:

1) Get the two parties together to discuss the wordings of the contract and see if the proposed use fits within the exisiting framework. Agree payment terms over and above news reporting use.

2) Completely ignore any of that legal mumbo jumbo and just do it anyway and damn the consequences.

One of these two approaches is favoured by an awful lot of people.

Personally I've always believed #1 is the best...
 
desantnik said:
Well, as with any contract, the detail is in the wording.

Generally though, in motorsport the media pass has a caveat that it is for news reporting only and not for commercial applications.

Two things you could do:

1) Get the two parties together to discuss the wordings of the contract and see if the proposed use fits within the exisiting framework. Agree payment terms over and above news reporting use.

2) Completely ignore any of that legal mumbo jumbo and just do it anyway and damn the consequences.

One of these two approaches is favoured by an awful lot of people.

Personally I've always believed #1 is the best...
Click to expand...

Surely you want to avoid making yourself a bad reputation, I'm just confused as it seems many people/agencies selling to media and prints of their images online, but I always thought it was quite hard manage to get a commercial license from event organisers:thinking:
 
seems to be a rather grey area
some agencies allow only press and corporate clients to buy the images through their websites, but public are allowed to buy prints.
From my experience, the series organisers arent happy if you start shooting their series and selling photos, but if you are established and do it then its not so bad.

there is a confusing text in some media passes saying that you arent allowed to use the pass to sell things at the circuit. I've always interpreted this as meaning that you cant turn up and start selling something (hotdogs, photos, t-shirts) without paying a fee like all the other retailers at the race do. But I know some photographers read this as meaning you cant sell any photos you take at any time.
But then you could argue that any freelance working for the media (and getting paid) are selling their photos.
 
But "commercial" is a different word to "news reporting". Sure, "news reporting" is a business - of course it is, but from the organisers point of view thats advertising.

Me selling my shots on posters/mugs/photo books of British Superbike isn't gaining BSB anything, in fact its taking away from what should be a commercial aspect of their race series.
 
NFI said:
Surely you want to avoid making yourself a bad reputation, I'm just confused as it seems many people/agencies selling to media and prints of their images online, but I always thought it was quite hard manage to get a commercial license from event organisers:thinking:
Click to expand...

Avoiding having a run-in with the organisers is always a good idea - your access is based upon their whim not your right, doing anything to annoy them is definitely a bad idea for your future at that circuit/race series.

I don't think its hard to get a commercial licence- I'd imagine its just a case of asking the price and handing over the money they ask for.

Whether or not that price is what you want to pay is subject to negotiation...
 
cannot be sold for commercial purposes, only for media.
Click to expand...

I took that to mean I can sell photos to magazines / Joe public but cannot sell them for use on "Jason Plato Mugs" etc
 
After contacting few press offices(MSV and Rockingham), what I've been told is that if you get media passes you will only be entitled to sell your images to media outlets, and consequently cannot sell prints to public and photo to teams unless you get the permission from the organisers
 
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