03/16/07

Press group protests proposed restrictions at Rugby World Cup



PARIS (AP) -- The World Association of Newspapers and a coalition of news agencies criticized proposed restrictions on the press at this year's upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.

WAN, representing the world's newspapers, and agencies including The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Getty Images told the International Rugby Board on Thursday that they plan to explore legal options.

The IRB has limited publication of World Cup photos through the internet _ including thousands of newspaper Web sites -- to a maximum of five still photos per half, and two photos of extra time.

It also has set editorial restrictions on how photographs can be used in print _ banning superimposing headlines and captions on photos if they obscure advertising within the images.

News media are obliged to accept terms before gaining accreditation to the World Cup that begins in September, and could face expulsion and legal action if the rules are broken.

In a statement, WAN called the restrictions "a serious breach of freedom of the press."

"Your position reflects, frankly, a lack of understanding of the meaning of freedom of the press and the nature of the modern news enterprise," WAN and the news agencies said in a letter to Mike Miller, CEO and general secretary of the IRB.

The IRB argues the restrictions protect commercial contracts with licensees paying for rights to show the events live.

WAN said FIFA dropped similar restrictions on coverage of its 2006 World Cup soccer tournament after talks with the newspaper association.