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A coalition representing some of the world's leading news agencies, newspapers and press associations, has issued a statement expressing its dismay at what its sees as the International Rugby Board's (IRB) refusal to lift certain restrictions on press coverage for the Rugby World Cup, which starts in France this week.

The statement - issued by the World Association of Newspapers - said the IRB maintains 'significant and unrealistic restrictions' on the use of audio-visual materials on newspaper websites, including materials from press conferences and non-match day training sessions.

The coalition represents the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and Getty, as well as a number of other leading international news-gathers.

An IRB spokesman told Journalism.co.uk that the IRB had shifted from a position of allowing no audio-visual captured at official venues/events being used on websites to allow three minutes per day of such material.

The IRB had originally imposed a limit on digital publication of five photos per half of a match but has now increased this to 20 photos per half during the match, with no limits after the match ends.

The IRB has also removed its requirement that no headlines or captions be superimposed on photos in print publications, aimed at preventing sponsors logos from being blocked out.

However, the coalition is still not happy at the limited amount of material it is allowed to broadcast from World Cup events.

French news agency Agence France Presse issued a statement over the weekend criticising the restrictions.

The coalition's statement also accuses the IRB of going back on a concession over certain photographic rights.



The statement claims that during a meeting at its Dublin headquarters the IRB 'verbally accepted' a concession over its requests for photos from news providers.

The statement said that IRB then reversed its position and insisted that the news media be obligated to allow the IRB free use of copyrighted photos.

The spokesman for the IRB added that the initial request was for images to be used on non-commercial products and that after an objection the IRB will now discuss image use 'on a case-by-case basis and will discuss fees'.

Click here for the statement in full and a detailed list of those news organisations represented by the coalition.

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