Applications for press accreditation for the bmibaby Elite League Ice Hockey Play-Off Finals Weekend April 4th & 5th 2009 contain the following absurd copyright grab:

I understand that by gaining accreditation to the bmibaby Elite League Play-Off Finals I am granted no commercial rights. All photographs remain the copyright of the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League and can only be used only in relation to the event. Any time after the 2009 Play-Off Finals photographs can only be used with the express written permission of the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League.

Signed _________________________________________
Date _____________________

EIHL Media Liaison
C/o 9 Inglewood Close, Birchwood, Warrington, Cheshire. WA3 6UJ
Tel: 07798 927488 Email: EIHL.Media@ntlworld.com

The restriction of commercial rights is fair enough, since the organisers will want to control merchandising and publicity rights. But the assertion that 'all photographs remain' their copyright shows that nobody at EHL Media has any comprehension of copyright law, else they would not imagine they own copyright of someone else's creative work. Nor do they understand how photographers or media work. Staff photographers will be unable to sign away copyright which already belongs to their employers, and freelances who surrender copyright simply have nothing to sell and no reason to shoot the event at all. Signing this ludicrously inept document could be construed as an assignment of copyright, so don't.