White House 'quashes use of pictures of Malia and Sasha Obama on the beach'

Paparazzi shots of Malia and Sasha Obama have been quashed by the White House after a photographer reportedly stumbled across the girls on a public beach in Hawaii.

The images of the President's daughters were taken last week while a paparazzo was actually waiting for singer Jessica Simpson to leave her vacation home.

Secret service agents, who were accompanying the girls on their walk, immediately approached the photographer and asked for identification.

They allowed the man to keep his camera but gave him a stern warning to stop photographing the first daughters.

However when the paparazzo later sold the images to picture agencies, he was slapped with a warning letter from the White House telling him to stop their release.

A source told Celebuzz that the White House sent the photographer an official letter stating that 'Sasha and Malia’s privacy should be maintained as they were on a private holiday... and that other media had been respecting these requirements'.

ailOnline was awaiting a response from the White House on the incident.

The Obama family spent the holidays in Hawaii, flying out from Washington for their beachfront property at the upmarket Kailua Resort on December 21.

The first family stayed at a 7000 sq ft rental home with five bedrooms and a lagoon pool.

The president's annual end-of-year visit to his native state was disrupted just after Christmas when he was forced to return to the capital to help broker a solution on the fiscal cliff.

He returned to Hawaii on New Year's Day - less than an hour after Congress reached a deal.

Obama was back in Washington with his wife and daughters on January 6.

The Obamas have a strict policy when it comes to their daughters' exposure in the media. The general rule is that Malia, 14, and 11-year-old Sasha are not to be photographed in their private lives, only in an official capacity.

The unofficial agreement between the White House and media outlets has generally been followed - however there have been breaches.

Last year, the White House made a rare decision to discuss Malia Obama's school trip to Mexico after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the region. Officials released a statement saying that the teenager was safe and not harmed during the natural disaster.

They usually ask for the teenage girl's privacy when she is not with her parents if there is no relevant news interest in her whereabouts.

Several publications, including MailOnline, were aware of Malia's visit to Mexico prior to the earthquake, but chose not to report it at the White House's request.

Celebrity and Paparazzi Altercations

The recent tragedy that claimed the life of paparazzo Christopher Guerra has led to some celebrities, including Justin Bieber, to call for stricter legislation protecting them from the sometimes rabid photo-journalists.

"Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves," Bieber said in the statement released by Island Def Jam Music Group.

Guerra was killed after being struck by a vehicle while trying to nab a shot of Bieber in Los Angeles.

The relationship between celebrities and the paparazzi who photograph them has been a tumultuous one at times. Here are 10 altercations that highlight that chaotic relationship.

Justin Bieber-chasing paparazzi struck and killed by SUV told friends he was trying to photograph star smoking weed

Chris Guerra was killed when he was struck by a car trying to photograph Justin Bieber's Ferrari in Los Angeles on New Year's Day.

A Los Angeles paparazzo who thought he spied Justin Bieber smoking weed was struck and killed by a car as he rushed to photograph the pop star’s Ferrari after it had been pulled over by cops.

The teen pop sensation was not even behind the wheel — the relentless shutterbug died chasing a bad lead that later reignited a debate about paparazzi culture in the celeb-mad City of Angels.

The fatal sequence of events began Tuesday at the Four Seasons hotel, where freelance photographer Chris Guerra, who had been dogging Bieber’s clique all day, thought he saw the singer smoking marijuana and staked out the building.

“If it takes me all night, I’m staying out here, I’m getting this story,” the 29-year-old told a friend, according to TMZ. “He was smoking weed. I hope something comes of this.”

The photographer, who had only moved to L.A. in March, likely thought he was on a huge story, another friend told the Daily News.

“He was probably in the rush of thinking, ‘I’m getting an exclusive story,’ ” said Thibault Mauvilain, 32, who works in celebrity marketing.

When the ostentatious vehicle left the hotel, Guerra gave chase, not knowing the car was being driven by Bieber pal, and Lil Wayne protege, Lil Twist.

At 5:50 p.m., the California Highway Patrol pulled over the $200,000 ride for speeding on the 405 freeway, LAPD spokesman Chris No said. Cops then ordered the driver off the freeway and onto nearby Sepulveda Blvd.

Guerra arrived and crossed Sepulveda to get a shot of the moment, still thinking he was about to capture Bieber in an embarrassing — and possibly explosive — moment.

Cops instructed Guerra to return to his car. He eventually complied, and was struck walking across the four-lane road.

The singer put out a statement Wednesday calling the death “tragic.”

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim,” he said.

“Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves.”

The driver of the vehicle that struck Guerra was released without being charged, the LAPD spokesman said.

Bieber wasn’t the only celebrity calling for changes in laws governing the omnipresent photographers.

“Paparazzi are dangerous! Wasn’t Princess Di enough of a wake up call?!” tweeted Miley Cyrus, referring to the 1997 death of Diana in a Paris tunnel.

“This was bound to happen! Your mom teaches u when your a child not to play in the street! The chaos that comes with the paparazzi acting like fools makes it impossible for anyone to make safe choices,” Cyrus added.

More restrained voices also called for reform, decrying the “Wild West atmosphere” in pursuit of candid moments of celebrities.

“We have warned that unless reform is enacted regarding the collision of celebrity vs. paparazzi, someone else would be hurt or killed,” wrote the Paparazzi Reform Initiative in a statement.

Guerra’s friend Mauvilain recalled him as a photographer who relished the adrenaline of chasing celebrities.

“I could see the sparkle in his eye. He was like, ‘Wow, man this is so cool,’” said Mauvilain. “There was always the possibility he could make a lot of money. . . . Chris was obviously fascinated by all the celebrities.”

Paparazzi makes Emma Stone paranoid

The 24-year-old star is so wary about being caught on camera doing something embarrassing that she acts differently to how she would if there was no one following her.

She revealed, "It's weird in Los Angeles - [paparazzi are] hiding out everywhere. The hardest thing is that it makes me act like an a**hole because I now have this weird level of paranoia that I never had before.

"It feels like having a private investigator on you or something. You find yourself walking around holding your head up like you're looking in the mirror - and your friends are wondering what's wrong with you.

"Then I feel like a jerk because half the time there's nobody there ... still, I really don't want to be caught with a burger all over my face."

Emma, who is dating her Amazing Spider-Man co-star Andrew Garfield, always wanted to be an actress and was so determined to reach her goal that she once told her mother Krista she would "die" if not given the chance to act.

She added to the UK edition of Glamour magazine, "My parents knew that there was something a little off about me. So it made sense when I asked, aged 11, if I could take acting classes.

"Apparently I said to my mum, 'If I can't act, I'll die.' And then she knew - she knew that only an actress would say something like that."

Miley Cyrus bashes paparazzi, defends Bieber

"Paparazzi are dangerous," she tweeted.

Miley Cyrus is outraged by the death of a photographer who was taking photos of Justin Bieber's white Ferrari on a Los Angeles street Tuesday.
"Hope this paparazzi/JB accident brings on some changes in '13," she wrote. "Paparazzi are dangerous! Wasn't Princess Di enough of a wake up call?!"

She went on to say, "It is unfair for anyone to put this on to Justin's conscious as well! This was bound to happen! Your mom teaches u when your a child not to play in the street! The chaos that comes with the paparazzi acting like fools makes it impossible for anyone to make safe choices."

Bieber, meanwhile, who was not in his car at the time, has issued a statement to E! about the incident. "While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim."

He added, "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves."

Justin Bieber Paparazzo Killed Trying to Snap Singer’s Ferrari: Reports

A paparazzo was fatally struck by a car in Los Angeles on New Year’s Day while attempting to take pictures of a Ferrari belonging to Justin Bieber.

The singer’s vehicle had been reportedly stopped by police on Tuesday evening, and the unidentified photographer stepped out of his own car to take pictures of the situation.

He was later struck by a passing vehicle and died, according to reports.

Bieber was NOT in the Ferrari at the time of the accident, having loaned the car to two friends, says TMZ.

The photographer was said to have been trailing the Ferrari prior to the traffic stop.

Bieber has been recklessly chased by photographers on several occasions, sparking an attempted anti-paparazzi law.

Instagram says it now has the right to sell your photos

In its first big policy shift since Facebook bought the photo-sharing site, Instagram claims the right to sell users' photos without payment or notification. Oh, and there's no way to opt out.

 Read the full article HERE.
 

Prince William vows to protect pregnant Kate Middleton from the paparazzi

Prince William refuses to be “hounded” by paparazzi in the wake of the baby news, which emerged after the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to hospital due to acute morning sickness, a source close to the heir to the throne has revealed.

Since news of the pregnancy, the world’s media have gathered outside the hospital where Kate is being treated.

However, William will reportedly not allow a repeat of what happened with his mother, Princess Diana of Wales, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The princess died in a car accident in 1997, and was shadowed by the press throughout her life.

In September, French magazine Closer printed topless pictures of Catherine as she and Prince William were enjoying a holiday in Provence, sparking international scandal and a lawsuit.

William will not allow Catherine or his unborn child to undergo similar media pressure, according to sources.

“William has always had a distrust, bordering on outright loathing, for the press,” a source told Radar Online.

“It all stems from his childhood - watching the way his mother was built up and then torn down by the media and ultimately, he strongly believes to this day, hounded to her death by overzealous paparazzi.

“He has vowed to do everything in his power to protect Kate from the media frenzy surrounding her pregnancy and Heaven help anyone who crosses the line,” the source said.

The source added that at William’s behest the Queen instructed Palace bigwigs to individually call all of the chiefs at the British newspapers immediately following the pregnancy announcement and warn them, “in no uncertain terms, that if any lines are crossed, any intrusive paparazzi shots are purchased and published, or if Kate feels hounded in anyway there will be hell to pay.

“William was deeply hurt and angered by the topless photo scandal Kate was forced to endure over the summer, and has made it crystal clear that, make no mistake, he will not allow his wife to be subjected to such blatant intrusion and humiliation ever again,” the source said.

Judge throws out anti-paparazzi charges in Justin Bieber chase case

A Los Angeles Superior court judge threw out charges related to a first-of-its-kind anti-paparazzi law Wednesday in the case of a freelance photographer who was charged in connection with a freeway chase involving pop star Justin Bieber.

Judge Thomas Rubinson ruled that while Los Angeles city prosecutors could proceed with two traffic-related charges against Paul Raef, the two counts related to the state law did not pass Constitutional muster.

Passed in  2010, the law punishes paparazzi driving dangerously to obtain images they will sell. But Rubinson said the law violated First Amendment protections by overreaching and potentially affecting such people as wedding photographers or photographers speeding to a location where a celebrity was present.

Attorney David S. Kestenbaum, one of the lawyers representing Raef, said Wednesday he was pleased by the judge's decision, which showed his client was simply doing his job.

"The judge said that when you are talking about people doing their job and yet running the risk of additional criminal punishment, it has a chilling effect from anyone from newsgathers to wedding photographers and even real estate agents," Kestenbaum said. "It just a lesson in constitutional law.

The ruling comes less than six months after Bieber was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley and cited for driving his Fisker sports car at high speed. The pop star said then he was being chased by a freelance paparazzo later identified as Raef.

Los Angeles city prosecutors filed charges against the 30-year-old photographer for allegedly chasing Bieber and then speeding off when police tried to pull over both Bieber and Raef.

The charges included four misdemeanors: reckless driving, failing to obey a peace officer, and two counts of following another vehicle too closely and reckless driving, with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain.

With the dismissal of the latter charges, Raef still faces the potential of six months in county jail.

Bieber was involved in another traffic incident Tuesday. He was pulled over in a white Ferarri around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Hayward Avenue in West Hollywood and was cited for making an unsafe left turn and having an expired registration, Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

Kanye West Explodes On The Paps After Dinner With Kim Kardashian

If you're not 'bout that life, you might want to rethink what you ask Kanye West.

Kim Kardashian and her new rapper boo had just finished dinner at Prime 112 in Miami, when one of the sea of paparazzi got brave enough to ask about Kimmy's ex Reggie Bush, who was enjoying his own meal right across the street.

Turns out that this didn't go over well for the "White Dress" rapper. Yeezy got so angry, he tried to snatch the camera from the female paparazzi, while a super sexy Kim looked on and held her man back.

According to TMZ:


Kanye and Kim Kardashian were leaving a dinner date in Miami Beach, when the photog -- NOT OURS -- shouted, "Kim did you know Reggie is here [in Miami] having dinner?"

The pap continued, "Did you wanna go congratulate him on his pregnancy?"

That's when Kanye snapped -- angrily rushing after the female pap after grasping for her camera -- but never actually striking the woman.

In the flicks, you can clearly see the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star a bit amused by the whole thing, while she calms Kanye down by holding onto his arm.

Things eventually cool down and KimYe goes on their way.

All this happened, just because Reggie (who is signed to the Miami Dolphins) and his pregnant girlfriend Lilit Avagyan, wanted to go to Prime Itailian at the same time KimYe went to Prime 112.

Photographer charged in Bieber chase opposes 'anti-paparazzi' law

A freelance photographer who allegedly chased singer Justin Bieber on the 101 Freeway earlier this year and became the first person arrested and charged under the state’s new anti-paparazzi law is now waging a constitutional challenge to the law.

Paul Raef, 30, faces four misdemeanor charges in connection with the July 6 incident: reckless driving, failing to obey a peace officer, and two counts of following another vehicle too closely and reckless driving, with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain.

If convicted, he faces up to a year in county jail and fines totaling $3,500. A hearing in the case is set for Sept. 24.

Raef’s attorneys say the law, signed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, violates the 1st Amendment. The law specifically targets “commercial” photographers who pursue celebrities.

“It punishes only the press for engaging in news-gathering,” said Dmitry Gorin, one of Raef’s attorneys. “The law does not apply to a crazed fan following a celebrity, nor does it punish a reporter who is not paid for the photographs.”

Paparazzi photographers have the same constitutional protection as any member of the press, he said.
City Atty. Carmen Trutanich’s office, which supported the law and is prosecuting the case, declined to discuss the case. But constitutional legal experts say the city attorney faces a considerable legal challenge.

“A court is going to demand that the government show the paparazzi cause a special problem in this area that other drivers aren’t causing,” said Barry McDonald, a Pepperdine constitutional law professor. “Even if they meet that standard, the court will also require they show there isn’t another way to go about it. The government is going to have a heavy burden of justification and I don’t think the government is going to meet that justification.”

Raef, 30, was not arrested during his alleged pursuit of Bieber. However, his license plate was reported to police, who investigated and presented the case to city prosecutors.

Bieber was pulled over by the CHP, but a Toyota Rav 4 -- later determined to be Raef's -- was among the vehicles that fled the scene, authorities said. About 30 minutes after Bieber was ticketed, the singer called 911 and said he was again being followed by a Toyota involved in the previous pursuit. CHP officers found a vehicle with the same license plate and identified Raef as the driver.

During his pursuit of Bieber, Raef was seen driving at speeds well in excess of 80 mph across all lanes and even, at times, on the shoulder, prosecutors allege. Other motorists were forced to apply their brakes and swerve to avoid colliding with the vehicles. As it pursued Bieber’s vehicle, the Toyota forced its way into lanes of traffic despite having no room to merge safely.

NYPD Violently Arrest NY Times Photog for 2nd Time Since 2004; Smash Camera into his Face Before Confiscating it

Robert Stolarik, the New York Times photographer who had a run-in with NYPD officers in December at an Occupy Wall Street protest, was arrested Saturday night while on assignment.

This time, the Times decided to write about it.

Stolarik was covering a brewing street fight when a New York City police officer slammed the camera into his face.

The Times said he was then dragged down and kicked in the back by several other officers.

Despite all that, police say he “violently resisted being handcuffed.”

Gawker stated that he "was shoved, punched, stomped on, kicked and had his camera confiscated and smashed."

The Times said another journalist shot a video showing Stolarik face-down beneath several officers, but for that has not been posted yet.

According to the New York Times:


Mr. Stolarik was taking photographs of the arrest of a teenage girl about 10:30 p.m., when a police officer instructed him to stop doing so. Mr. Stolarik said he identified himself as a journalist for The Times and continued taking pictures. A second officer appeared, grabbed his camera and “slammed” it into his face, he said.

Mr. Stolarik said he asked for the officers’ badge numbers, and the officers then took his cameras and dragged him to the ground; he said that he was kicked in the back and that he received scrapes and bruises to his arms, legs and face.

The Police Department said in a statement that officers had been trying to disperse the crowd and had given “numerous lawful orders” for both the crowd and Mr. Stolarik to move back, but that he tried to push forward, “inadvertently” striking an officer in the face with his camera.

The police said that Mr. Stolarik then “violently resisted being handcuffed” and that, in the process, a second officer was cut on the hand.

Update: Stolarik was also arrested by NYPD as he was covering the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Downtown Express, which reported on his arrest at the time, has a vivid photo of police holding him down on the ground that looks eerily similar to the description of his latest arrest.

News photographer Robert Stolarik was taking pictures of an arrest Tuesday near Union Square Park when he says police tackled him to the ground and cuffed his hands so tightly he thought it cut off his circulation.

Thursday he was wearing two casts because doctors feared he could have fractured two bones in his wrists. He’s more concerned about being allowed to do his job than he is with his injuries. “It’s the most uncomfortable I’ve ever been as a journalist and I’ve had a gun to my head in Colombia,” Stolarik, 35, said. “All of your rights can be take away instantly.”

The Crazy Zoom of a 1700mm Nikon Lens

Check out Nikon’s 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8P lens. 

Nikon launched a prototype of the lens in 1990 for newspaper photographers covering baseball in Japan. The sample photos above show the lens’ ridiculous reach. A standard 50mm FoV can be seen on the left, while the right photo shows what the same scene looks like at 1700mm.

UC pays to settle photographer's suit over arrest

The University of California has agreed to dish out a $162,500 settlement to David Morse, a 43-year-old photographer who was arrested back in 2009 while covering a student protest. The SF Chronicle writes,

[The suit] an officer told Morse, “We want your camera. We believe your camera contains evidence of a crime.”

The officers ignored his press pass and arrested him and seven others on suspicion of rioting, threatening an education official, attempted burglary, attempted arson of an occupied building, vandalism, and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, the suit said.

Morse spent the night in jail. Prosecutors declined to file charges.

But police obtained a search warrant and used several of his photos in brochures and online in hopes that the public could identify individuals.

As part of the settlement, the police department has also agreed to modify its procedures regarding seeking materials from journalists and will be conducting training sessions teaching its officers about media rights.

UC pays to settle photographer’s suit over arrest (via PDN Pulse)

ACLU-NJ Releases Police Accountability Smartphone App

Android app allows citizens to record and store video and audio of police encounters, includes guide to citizens’ rights.

Citizens can hold police accountable in the palms of their hands with “Police Tape,” a smartphone application from the ACLU of New Jersey that allows people to securely and discreetly record and store interactions with police, as well as provide legal information about citizens’ rights when interacting with the police. Thanks to the generosity of app developer OpenWatch, the ACLU-NJ is providing Police Tape to the public free of charge.

NYPD Publishes Poster of "Professional Agitators," aka Citizens who Record Cops

The New York City Police Department issued a notice to officers to be aware of a pair of “professional agitators” who like to video record police performing their duties.

It was the agitators themselves who discovered the flyer when they walked inside the 30^th Precinct for a community board meeting.

This is how Christina Gonzalez Nysid, who captured the flyer on video, described it on Youtube:

Walked into the monthly 30th Precinct community board meeting to discover our own faces hanging on the podium. It reads
Be aware that the subjects are known professional agitators that live at [our address posted on poster]. Above subjects mo is that they video tape officers performing routine stops and post on youtube. Subjects purpose is to portray officers in a negative way and too deter officers from conducting there responsibilities. Above subjects also deter officers from being safe and tactical by causing unnecessary distractions. Do not feed into subjects propaganda.

Getty Draws Initial Bids in Auction of $4 Billion

Getty Images has received around $4 billion in initial bids related to a potential sale as it progresses to the second round of an auction, people close to the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

The Seattle-based photo agency holds an archive of tens of millions of photographs, including those taken of Lyndon Johnson when he was being sworn in following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

On its web site, Getty says its archive photos collection cover "America from its birth to present day," including "an array of photos, maps, fine art and engravings from legendary sources like Pictorial Parade, FPG and George Eastman House.”

The agency distributes its photos and videos to media and other organizations.

Buyout company Hellman & Friedman took Getty private in 2008 in a leveraged buyout that valued the photo agency at $2.4 billion. A group of investors, including Getty’s co-founder, Mark Getty, that together hold a minority stake in the company, are expected to roll over their investment and strike a new deal with the incoming private equity owner,

Getty’s owners had also been considering an initial public offering, however people close to the matter told the newspaper that those plans are on the back burner.

Alec Baldwin's Daughter Blames Paparazzi Clash on Wedding Stress

Alec Baldwin was suffering from "wedding stress" when he clashed with members of the paparazzi on the eve of his nuptials on Friday (29Jun12), according to his teenage daughter.

The 30 Rock star hit the headlines last week when he approached a snapper who had been camped outside his New York apartment complex and grabbed his arm in a bid to escort the photographer away from the building.

In video footage of the incident, a visibly-upset Baldwin can be heard telling the paparazzo, "I want you to shut the f**k up and get outta here", before heading back into his home.

It was the 54 year old's second recent bust-up with the media - he is currently under investigation over claims he attacked a New York Daily News staffer outside a courthouse after obtaining a marriage licence last month (Jun12).

However, Baldwin's daughter Ireland, from his first marriage to actress Kim Basinger, has come to her father's defence over the public tirades, insisting her dad lost his temper as a result of the stress of planning his wedding to yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas.

Speaking to the New York Post before the nuptials, Ireland said, "(He is) actually a very mellow guy, and since he changed his diet, he's been doing so much better... This is all just wedding stress".

The actor exchanged vows with Thomas, 28, on Saturday (30Jun12) at Manhattan's St.

Patrick's Old Cathedral, in front of guests including the groom's brothers Stephen and Billy, his 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey and director Woody Allen.

Baldwin's security team were on high alert at the event and made it clear the paparazzi were unwelcome outside the wedding venue - one photographer was forcefully removed from the area as he tried to snap images of the bridal party arriving at the church.

Baldwin fights another photographer outside home

Alec Baldwin fights with another photographer on the street outside his apartment today.

Yoga isn’t having much of calming effect on rageaholic Alec Baldwin.

Hot-headed actor Alec Baldwin went after another photographer this morning, roughing up a shutterbug even as the shooter was trying to get away from the “30 Rock” brute.



Video footage showed Splash photographer Brian Prahl walking away from Baldwin when the actor chased him down and forcibly grabbed the shooter's left arm.

“What are you squeezing my arm for,” the photographer pleaded. “You’re breaking my arm .. all we’re doing is taking your picture.”

The shooter’s calm reasoning set off Baldwin.

“I want you to shut the f--k up and get outta here, I want you to get outta here,” screamed Baldwin, who is getting married tomorrow to his young yoga instructor gal pal Hilaria Thomas. "Leave my neighbor alone."

Prahl explained: “I was just telling you to have a good wedding,”

Again, Baldwin refused to be calm.

“Shut up, shut up. Leave my neighbor alone,” seethed Baldwin.

Video showed one of Baldwin’s lackeys desperately trying to block other shooters from photographing the actor’s latest meltdown.

“Did you hear what I said, did you hear what I said?!” seethed Baldwin, as he menacingly backed the smaller man into a parked van.

Then the TV tough guy, with a pink stuffed animal under his left arm, sneered with no sense of irony: “You little girl.”

The video didn’t show what might have preceded Baldwin’s latest explosion.

VideoBaldwin got physical with a photographer today outside his apartment.

Photographers boycott Stone Roses gigs in contract row

Photographers are planning to boycott the Stone Roses reunion concerts in Manchester this weekend in a dispute over the use of their images.

They claim a contract issued by the band is unfair as it expects them to surrender all rights to their pictures.

The National Union of Journalists is supporting the boycott.

A spokesman for the band denied there was a boycott and said a full quota of photographers will be covering the gigs. Rights

The Stone Roses will play three gigs at Heaton Park in Manchester this weekend.

It is claimed that photographers covering the gigs were initially asked to sign a contract which would see the Stone Roses pay £1 to own all the rights to the pictures.

It also stated the images could be used across all merchandise without crediting the photographers.

An improved contract was produced on Monday but it too has been rejected by photographers.

Photographer Ian Tilton, who is encouraging his colleagues to take part in the boycott, has photographed the Stone Roses on several occasions.

His images have previously been used for some of the band's album covers.

He said it is unacceptable for the band to expect photographers to surrender their copyright meaning pictures could only be used in the magazine which commissioned them.

"I understand that the Stone Roses want to make money from the pictures. But I don't agree that the photographers can only use the pictures once, for one publication," said Mr Tilton.

"The photographers should be allowed to earn money from the pictures they take," he added. Assistance

John Toner, from the National Union of Journalists, said they will provide every assistance to the photographers.

"Too many musical artistes now wish to grab rights from photographers. Having said that, people are surprised that the Stone Roses have chosen to go down this route.

"We fully understand why a band would wish to retain merchandising rights, and the photographers would be happy to concede this. Equally, a photographer must have the right to license editorial use of images without obtaining the band's permission for each use," he said.

The Stone Roses press agent, Murray Chalmers, said it is normal for contracts to be signed and, as far as they are concerned, "there is no boycott".

"We have a complete list, a full quota of photographers who are covering the concerts," he added.