German Newspaper Puts Photo Boycott On Robbie Williams Concert

A note from Michael Hirschler/German Association of Journalists (DJV), responsible amongst others for the freelance journalists and photojournalists of this association:

On July 11th, 2006, the newspaper Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten did not publish a photo of the Robbie Williams concert held in Dresden on July 10th, 2006, but left an empty spot next to an article dealing with the concert. It also added a statement:

"On this place we wanted to print a picture of the Robbie Williams´concert. But we had to refuse to do so. The singer´s management wanted to constrain the photopraphers´ work by an adhesion contract which is unacceptable to us. The local chapter of the German Association of Journalist in Saxony called the restrictions a "flagrant example of an immoral contract" and appealed for a photo boycott. The Dresdner Neue Nachrichten follows to this appeal and will only publish a review in the edition of July 12, 2006."

The contract which is given to photographers rules that all photographs are property of Robbie Williams and almost all copyright and authors rights are conceded to him, so there is practically not much use left. Robbie Williams demands also that photographs may only be taken during the first three songs. The contracts also rules that the law of England and Wales will be applicable, and makes the photographers responsible for any use of the photographers for purposes which are contravening the contract.

German newspapers also boycotted a concert by Bon Jovi in Stuttgart on May, 28, 2006. Bon Jovi´s management demanded the signature of a contract under the law of the state of Califormia and the concession of copyright to Bon Jovi.

It will be interesting to learn how other german newspapers will act in the next weeks. Robbie Williams´concert in Dresden was only the first in a series of concerts taking place in Germany this summer. Berlin, Munich and Cologne are some of the next locations of his journey. Robbie Williams´ german tour ends in mid-August.

Tag: Robbie Williams

Comments

[me]

other bands have done this in the 1980s such as:
Sting/Police
Boy George
Pink Floyd
Julian Lennon

Keep up the Boycot! Show these bands that if it were not for the media they would not be raking in the big bucks but shoveling snow or working at Walmart!