Photo agencies boycott Oasis tour after management limits long-term rights to concert images

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Full Story

Photo agencies have announced a boycott of Oasis’s reunion tour over restrictive image rights policies. The band’s management has told photographers and media that image ownership will revert to them after one year.

The boycott affects the entire remainder of the tour, including a major show in Manchester. Agencies are objecting to the one-year limit on usage rights for any concert photos they take.

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The Context

Under the band’s policy, photographers and outlets can only use images for twelve months. After that, all rights reportedly transfer back to the band’s management.

Media groups argue this policy undermines editorial independence and historical archiving. Concert photography is often used in retrospectives and long-term reporting.

Critics claim the restriction effectively forces agencies to work without lasting value for their material. The boycott marks a rare coordinated move by multiple photo services.

The first “homecoming” gig in Manchester has drawn added attention to the issue. Coverage of the event is expected to be limited due to the absence of agency photographers.

Some support the band’s control over its public image and merchandise. Others see the policy as an overreach that harms press freedom and fair use principles.

Copyright over images taken at public performances is a longstanding legal gray area. In practice, policies like this one have become more common among high-profile performers.