When Germany meets Costa Rica in the world cup opening match the 9.th of June, you can be sure none of your friends will sms you live photos from the stadion. They won’t upload photos to their blogs, either. At least not if they play by the rules. The FIFA terms and conditions reads:
“Ticket holders are not permitted to record (except for private purposes), transmit, or in any other manner disseminate over the internet or any other media, including mobile devices, any sound, image, description, or results of the Event, in whole or in part”
Not even the press will be allowed to send out pictures from the event, while the game is on (except for the few who has bought the rights to send tv from the event). FIFA has decreed web publication of photos banned for 45 minuttes after a match ends – and that even accredited journalists must publish a maximum of five photos per match half and two per extra time, including penalty ‘shoot-outs’ on websites.
This is definitly not the collaraborative, sharing, free world I’m longing for. And neither it is the dream world of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). The restrictions, int their words, “constitute both an interference in editorial freedom and independence and a clear breach of the right to freedom of information as protected by numerous international conventions” as WAN Chief Executive Officer Timothy Balding and AFP President and CEO Pierre Louette says in a press release.