‘Not an try and censor or forestall transparency’: FEI responds to outcry over guidelines on filming

The FEI has advised H&H that updates to its coverage on filming at sure exhibits are to guard broadcasting agreements – and “are under no circumstances an try and censor or prohibit transparency”.

This week confusion has arisen on-line following updates to the FEI’s social media pointers at “FEI named occasions”. Though this coverage will not be new, issues have been raised by some that they may have an effect on openness within the business.

FEI named occasions embrace World and European Championships, World Cups, Nations Cups, and the Longines League of Nations, and the rules apply to “non-rights holders”’ similar to riders, rider help personnel similar to grooms, homeowners, nationwide federations, officers and accredited media. The coverage pertains to content material printed on web sites, blogs, social media, and cellular apps.

The rules state that dwell streaming of discipline of play footage in the course of the competitors and capturing video of discipline of play footage and posting later are forbidden in all instances on all platforms – however riders might share footage of their very own rounds on their very own social media that has been offered completely by the FEI solely. Nonetheless photographs may be posted with out restriction. It’s also forbidden to movie and promote footage or to “in any other case commercially exploit footage”.

H&H contacted the FEI for clarification on the up to date pointers, and an FEI spokesman confirmed that the explanation for revising the prevailing pointers was to “deliver them updated and supply extra readability round who can publish at FEI named occasions”.

“It’s vital to spotlight this side of ‘FEI named occasions’, as there are a lot of equestrian occasions all over the world that comply with FEI guidelines, however these pointers [only] consult with the likes of the World Cup, Nations Cup, and so on. These are the occasions which have broadcasting agreements in place between the FEI and third-party broadcasters,” he mentioned.

“At these occasions, the rights to movie and broadcast shifting photographs are bought to broadcasters, in order that they have unique rights to the footage and to televise the competitions of their respective territories all over the world. Due to this fact, the FEI wants to limit entry to discipline of play footage to ‘rights holding broadcasters’ (RHB) solely; that is to make sure compliance with the FEI’s media rights contracts with these RHBs.

“That is customary apply throughout sports activities media.”

The spokesman added that by way of the updates, references within the earlier coverage to non-rights holding media having the ability to publish some brief clips of the sphere of play to their very own Instagram channels have now been eliminated “to be in keeping with the contractual agreements”.

H&H requested how the rules can be enforced and the spokesman mentioned that the FEI realises “that is tough”, as non-rights holding media can movie footage on smartphones and add to channels with out anybody figuring out, so the FEI will distribute the rules to FEI named occasions to share onsite. The FEI will request that social media platforms take away content material that breaches copyright, and will request present organisers to take away an outlet or particular person’s accreditation on the occasion, or future occasions.

The spokesman mentioned that the FEI desires to “emphasise that these pointers are under no circumstances an try and censor anybody or prohibit transparency at occasions”.

“They’re in place to make sure the rights of RHBs are absolutely revered,” he mentioned.

“The athletes can publish their rounds on their social media, and the nationwide federations can publish all their athletes’ rounds. So in impact, all of the rounds might be posted on-line so long as they comply with these pointers, which might additionally take away the problem of individuals importing footage for their very own industrial beneficial properties.”

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and highway security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fortress Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to house. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting staff for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.