Ce n'est pas Agence Fair Price

IT'S NOT JUST English-speaking clients that are trying it on. Agence France Presse (AFP) is demanding its photographic stringers across the globe, in offices outside of France, sign unacceptable contracts which include handing over all rights to exploit their photos without any additional payment.

Image © IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for an immediate revision of these contracts and is advising photographers not to sign them as they stand.

The standard contract requires photographers to sign a global, irrevocable and perpetual licence to use their photos and videos in any medium, in any language, in any form including in any future products. Journalists working under a collective agreement made in 2012 and governed by French law, in contrast, receive payment for the re-use of their images.

AFP is seeking to justify this new practice by claiming that payments for photographers' time also cover this wide licensing of their authors' rights. Currently these are two distinct payments. IFJ president Philippe Leruth said: "We ask AFP to immediately review its terms of exploitation of photographic works and strongly encourage photographers not to sign any contract... that does not provide additional payment for [each] use." For more on the IFJ's campaign against such unfair contracts please see www.ifj.org/campaigns/fair-contracts-for-journalists