The FEI has whipped up a storm with its updated "Non-rights Holders’ Guidelines for Publishing on Social Media at FEI Named Events." These guidelines were updated on 12 February 2024 but only as of today got spread amongst press and stakeholders.
What's New?
The FEI is retaining all rights to video at FEI named events and forbids riders, grooms, owners, and even accredited press to capture video footage on the Field of Play (FOP), which includes the competition area as well as the warm up.
Riders and national federations are only allowed to post their ride but "such footage to be provided via FEI Socialie exclusively."
Censorship? Content Control? Protection of Visual Rights?
"The objective of these guidelines is to provide clear information and instructions to all Non-Rights Holders (NRH) about filming, recording, photographing and using content from FEI Named Events such as FEI World Cups, FEI Nations Cups, FEI World/European Championships and Longines League of Nations," the FEI stated.
Contradictorily, the FEI does "kindly request(ed) to tag @FEI_global or other FEI channels relevant to the Series and discipline, as well as the event's official social media handles and hashtags when posting relevant content."
Fortunately for professional photographers as well as stakeholders, "still images can be posted without restrictions across all platforms."
Why These Guidelines?
It is unclear whether the FEI has made this decision for commercial purposes (with a financial stake involved for (videoing/streaming) "Rights Holders") or whether this is the FEI's attempt to control the visual message of the sport now that the sport is so much under fire with animal welfarist.
The new booming business of "Reels" on Social Media, posted most often by the riders who have turned into "influencers" on TikTok and Instagram or brand sponsors, could be heavily impacted by these guidelines.
"The FEI reserves the right to pursue the removal of content on any channel if in the publication of such content breaches these guidelines. Additionally, the FEI may request the Organiser to remove the person’s event accreditation," the FEI stated.
View the new Social Media Guidelines here.
The FEI also posted a Q&A on 1 January with why the FEI established social media etiquette (not broadcast) guidelines.
Also read FEI Issues Explanatory Note on Its Social Media Guidelines for Publishing Video Footage