Oasis demand photo agencies lose image rights after one year

British band Oasis is facing criticism from major news outlets and photo agencies for imposing strict limits on the use of images from its widely anticipated reunion tour, which is expected to be one of the most profitable in UK history.

According to the band’s terms, media can only use photos from the first show in Cardiff, held last Friday, for up to one year. After that, image rights revert to the band and its management.

This approach marks a sharp departure from industry norms. Typically, photographers license images in perpetuity, allowing their use in future retrospectives, tributes, or event coverage.

According to the Guardian, The News Media Coalition (NMC), which represents publishers including The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, The Sun, and The Mirror, has lodged a formal complaint after last-minute negotiations failed to reach a more acceptable agreement.

Members also include leading agencies such as Getty Images, Reuters, PA, AP, and AFP.

“News photography plays a vital role in shaping the cultural narrative of artists like Oasis, and that relevance doesn't expire after 365 days,” said NMC chief executive Andrew Moger.

According to reports, the band’s management first proposed a one-month usage window for imagery captured at the Cardiff concert. Following objections, this was extended to a year, with talks ongoing over terms for the remainder of the tour.

“We urge the organisers to drop the arbitrary ‘shelf life’ on material that holds lasting editorial value,” Moger added. “Photographers deserve recognition and respect as artists in their own right.”

The NMC said the restrictions are highly unusual and could harm independent photo agencies as well as publishers and broadcasters that rely on editorial photography.

This disagreement is the latest controversy to surround the much-hyped tour, which brings brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher back on stage together for the first time in 16 years.

Last week, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned Ticketmaster of potential legal action over how it handled the sale of more than 900,000 tickets for the concerts. The regulator raised concerns about dynamic pricing, with some fans paying over £350 for tickets initially listed at £150.