Taylor Swift [Image via iStock, © EdStock]
Earlier this month, The Irish Times refused to publish photos of Swift to accompany the newspaper’s coverage of her two Dublin concerts in protest at her restrictive contracts.
‘The photographs may be used on a one-time only basis and by signing her contract we grant Swift perpetual, worldwide right to use the published photographs in any way she sees fit,’ said the paper’s deputy picture editor Brenda Fitzsimons.
The Irish Times was not alone. One contract reportedly demanded that images be destroyed if the photographer failed to comply.
The outcry led to the formation of a pressure group headed up by Mickey H Osterreicher, general legal counsel for the US-based National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).
According to the NPPA, this led to Swift issuing updated photo authorisation guidelines for her ‘1989 World Tour’ concerts.
Osterreicher said last night: ‘After taking the time to hear our concerns regarding her world tour photography guidelines agreement, the news and professional associations and Taylor’s team are very pleased to have been able to work together for a revised agreement that is fair to everyone involved.’
Last month photographer Jason Sheldon wrote an open letter to Taylor Swift, protesting that she did not offer photographers a fair deal.
The letter to Taylor Swift quickly went viral.
Sheldon had been responding to Swift’s successful call for Apple Music to pay its artists fairly by revealing what appeared to be an authorisation form demanding exclusive rights from photographers who shoot her concerts.
The Irish Times said the singer had been labelled a hypocrite for treating photographers in much the same way she believed Apple and Spotify treated her.
Speaking yesterday, Osterreicher added: ‘Ms Swift should be commended for showing by example her concern not only for the rights of musicians but for the rights of the photographers and organisations that cover her concerts.’
