Commercial Filming at Events Contractual Policy

Commercial Filming at Events Contractual Policy (April 2005 Board meeting, amended August 2016, November 2017 & October 2020)

Effective December 1, 2017 All rights to the commercial filming, electronic transmission, broadcast, distribution of images and exploitation of all events held under AKC rules are owned by AKC (“commercial filming and/or electronic transmission”).  AKC has the unlimited, irrevocable access, right and authority to film, record, photograph, videotape, livestream, and/or broadcast at all events and each of them.

Any club that contemplates commercial filming and/or electronic transmission of its event must contact AKC Productions and cooperate with AKC sufficiently in advance of the proposed agreement negotiations and must include AKC in the negotiation of and as a party to the contract for commercial filming and/or electronic transmission. The club has the right to seek its own professional representation of the club’s interests, at its discretion and expense. When a club makes application to AKC for permission to hold its event, it must include in that application a declaration as to whether or not its event will or will not be commercially filmed and/or electronically transmitted.

The following are mandatory contractual requirements that must be included in each contract with a third party that is engaged in the commercial filming and/or electronic transmission of events held under AKC rules. The following also applies to all clubs filming and/or electronically transmitting events held under AKC rules. In the first instance, each club is responsible itself for enforcing these requirements and informing the AKC of violations, and the clubs are prohibited from entering into any contract or other arrangement which would violate these requirements.

The following requirements must be fulfilled in connection with all new contracts following the date which is the later of (i) the adoption of these requirements by the Board of Directors, and (ii) the renegotiation or renewal of any contract or other arrangements or letting of any new contract in regard to the commercial filming and/or electronic transmission of AKC-approved events. The exceptions to these requirements are stated at the end of this policy.

A.  Contractual Requirements.

1. All rights to the commercial filming, electronic transmission, broadcast, distribution of images and exploitation of events held under AKC rules are owned by AKC.
2. By submitting an application for and receiving approval to hold an event under AKC rules, the club grants AKC, its employees, agents, licensees and others working for it or on its behalf the unlimited, irrevocable right and authority to access the event for any reason in AKC’s discretion including, but not limited to, filming, photographing, electronically transmitting or distributing the images of the event. The club agrees that it has not and will not enter into any arrangement or agreement with any other party that will prohibit, limit or prevent AKC’s access rights to the club event.
3. Reasonable recognition, both visually and orally, of the event-giving club and the AKC.
4. Reasonable monetary compensation for the event-giving club and for AKC.
5. Assurance that commercial filming and/or electronic transmission of any AKC-approved event will not diminish or impugn the reputation of the sport of purebred dogs, the event-giving club, or AKC and will conform to the AKC Bylaws and will support and grow the sport of purebred dogs, purebred dog events, and the best interests of the AKC and the event-giving club.
6. Defined amounts of airtime devoted to the promotion of the sport of purebred dogs and AKC.
7. Exercise of a good-faith effort to avoid scheduling conflicts with the airing of other AKC dog events.
8. Assurance for compliance with then-current “AKC Operational Requirements for Commercial Filming and Electronic Transmission at Events” policies and procedures, a copy of which shall be attached as an addendum to the contract.
9. Provision for confidentiality.

B. Exceptions to this policy include the following:

1. “Limited Use” filming. “Limited Use” filming is defined as the recording of moving images by individuals solely for their personal consumption or by the club for the purpose of producing a record of the winners or the club’s publications, website or social media platforms, and which is not intended for mass commercial transmission or distribution.  Limited-use would include but not be limited to personal social media accounts and pages such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or similar non-commercial social accounts.  Non-commercial social accounts are defined as an account where revenue cannot be earned. This does not include, for example, livestreaming as a Facebook Group, Public Figure, or Business Page. Any individual choosing to stream video for personal use must abide by AKC’s Code of Sportsmanship and be cognizant of both the intentional and ambient audio disseminated. Any video stream may not be simulcast (Broadcasting one video stream or content on various channels/platforms simultaneously).
2. Should a club wish to impose their own additional filming restrictions, they may do so at their discretion. Any additional restrictions should be listed in the premium list.
3. Editorial news coverage. Editorial news coverage is defined as media coverage by any local or national media outlet. The Commercial Filming at Events Operational Policy applies to all media outlets. The club is responsible for enforcing that policy.

This commercial filming and/or electronic transmission policy will be effective December 1, 2017. The Board also shall make special provision for clubs that have permitted electronic transmission of their past shows and that have contracts already in force on the date the board implements this policy. Any waiver of this policy must be approved by AKC. The Executive Secretary shall enforce this policy immediately.

Staff Policy concerning exceptions to the above Board Policy

Clubs contemplating “limited-use” filming-only at AKC-approved events will be granted automatic exception from compliance with AKC Policy on Contractual Requirements for Commercial Filming and/or Electronic Transmission of Approved Events. “Limited-use” filming is defined as the recording of moving images by individuals or professional videographers solely for personal consumption or for the purpose of producing a record of the winners for members and the fancy who have special interest in the event, and which is not intended for mass commercial transmission or distribution. Exclusion from the Contractual Requirements Policy under these circumstances, however, does not preclude the need for Clubs to comply with the Operational Requirements pertaining to the use of cameras, lighting or personnel needed to film the event’s activities, as ultimately monitored and overseen by the show chairperson.

Commercial Filming at Events Operational Policy (June 22, 2005 Staff Policy related to the above Board Policy)

Operational Requirements for Commercial Filming or Electronic Transmission of Events

This policy is applicable to all filming or electric transmission of events and will be used in conjunction with the Board Policy concerning Contractual Requirements for Commercial Filming or Electronic Transmission of Events.

Requirements for media crews and equipment at all events

• No lights, cameras, equipment, or personnel that are distracting or that affect the performance, health or welfare of the dogs, exhibitors and/or the judge will be allowed.
• Published judging schedules may not be delayed to accommodate filming or production.
• Filming may not obstruct the grounds, aisles, or passageways, nor disturb exhibitors, dogs, judges or, undue obstruction to spectators during any portion of the event.
• Filming or recording may not attract attention to specific exhibits or exhibitors that could afford undue consideration for specific individuals on the grounds or in the show area or ring. This includes the use of individual microphones on exhibitors. Use of individual microphones on exhibitors must be specifically described and approved by AKC.

Trials and Tests: The event’s chairman and judges have complete authority over the areas used for the tests or trials. As such, they have the responsibility to assure that filming will not interfere with the successful running of the event. In all cases, safety is to be a top priority and must not be compromised.

Events with Rings: No cameraperson or equipment will be allowed to be in a position to block the ring entrance or the aisles leading to the ring.

• Any equipment or lights placed inside, above or around the ring must not interfere with the normal judging procedures.
• Filming will normally be conducted from outside the ring. Limited filming may be permitted inside the Group or Best in Show ring with specific AKC approval of the position of cameras, equipment, and personnel. Cameras or cameramen must remain in a stationary position when filming in the ring. Any activity that disturbs the exhibits, exhibitors or judges will not be permitted to continue under any circumstances. Cameras filming the lineup of dogs should be done in an area outside the judging ring or from a stationary camera as the dogs enter the ring for judging. If a designated lineup area is not available or the stationary in-ring camera not suitable, a brief filming of the lineup in the ring prior to each Group and Best in Show judging may be requested. This filming of the lineup in the ring by cameramen must not exceed three minutes prior to any Group or Best in Show.
• All cameras (including boom cameras) must maintain a designated distance from the dogs at all times. This distance will be discussed and approved by AKC prior to the start of filming.
• AKC approved cameramen will be considered “show attendants” for the application of Chapter 7, Section 16 of Rules Applying to Dog Shows. “Judges are required to exclude from the rings in which they are judging all persons except the steward or stewards and the show attendants assigned to the ring and those actually engaged in exhibiting.”
• The AKC Executive Field Representative or a designated AKC liaison will be the final on-site authority concerning AKC Policy should site-specific regulatory questions arise. The Event Chairman is responsible for compliance with AKC Rules, Regulations and Policy at the event.

*Note: Editorial news coverage filming need not be published or coordinated with Event Operations, but will require permission from the Event Chairman with applicable directions and the filming limitations required by this policy.