Page 7 - Libro 2

DIRECTORS NOTICES DIRECTORS NOTICES

Directors The challenge facing international competitions disagreements. Sanctions follow established disciplinary procedures and are imposed only Directors
Due Process and Fairness
The photographic world has changed dramatically during the last decade.
Inclusion on the FIAP Red List is not based on rumours, anonymous allegations or personal
Artificial intelligence, sophisticated image manipulation, plagiarism, metadata alteration,
coordinated cheating and organised “image banks” have made fraud easier than ever before.
a FIAP Red List board (FRLB)and a FIAP Red List appeal board (FRLAB) have been created. The
At the same time, international competitions receive thousands of images every year from after the relevant facts have been examined in accordance with FIAP’s regulations. Therefore,
photographers around the world. FRLB analyses the reports of the director of the FIAP Ethics Service and officialises the decision
This creates a difficult balance. Organisers wish to encourage participation while ensuring by a signed report that is sent to the participant. The entrant can appeal this decision whereby
that honest photographers are not disadvantaged by those willing to ignore the rules. the case will be reviewed by the FIAP Red List appeal board.

Every successful system therefore depends on effective enforcement. This distinction is important. Maintaining confidence in the disciplinary system requires not
only firm enforcement but also procedural fairness. Photographers must know that decisions
are based on evidence and consistent application of the rules.
The necessity and purpose of FIAP sanction regulations and the Red List (FIAP DOC FIAP do not make the FIAP Red List publicly available. It is visible to salon organisers as they
049/2025) must refer to it to ensure none of their judges or entrants are on the Red List.
Rules without consequences quickly result in people not taking them seriously and ignoring
them.
A responsibility shared by all
When violations are proven, sanctions protect rather than punish. They protect honest
entrants, organisers, judges and the reputation of the photographic community. Maintaining the reputation of FIAP events and competitions is a shared responsibility
between the associated photographic federations, the event organisers, the judges and the
So FIAP introduced the FIAP sanction regulations and Red List and completed the range of its
services by having a FIAP Ethics Service. participating photographers. Organisers must apply the regulations consistently, judges must
remain impartial, and photographers must uphold the highest standards of ethical practice.
By the sole act of submitting his/her images or files to a salon under FIAP Patronage, the
entrant: The Red List is one element within this broader framework of governance. Together with clear
regulations, transparent procedures and consistent enforcement, it contributes to preserving
a) Acknowledges and accepts that when breaching FIAP regulations he/she can be the international reputation of FIAP and the value of FIAP distinctions.
sanctioned by FIAP and
Ultimately, the purpose of the Red List is not to focus attention on those who have broken
b) Accepts without exception and with no objection the general and specific rules concerning the rules, but to protect the thousands of photographers who respect them. In doing so, it
the sanctions for breaching FIAP regulations.
helps ensure that FIAP competitions continue to reward creativity, originality and integrity; the
It is important to say that participants in any competition run under FIAP Patronage must keep qualities upon which the art of photography, and the reputation of international photographic
the original, unedited image files. These are the RAW files or original JPEGs from the camera, salons are founded.
along with their original metadata (such as EXIF data). If their original camera files are jpgs
rather than a raw file, they must also keep the images taken immediately before and after the
submitted photo in case FIAP requests them for inspection at any time in the future. Participants
and anyone acting on their behalf must never alter, remove, or tamper with the original metadata
or EXIF information of the original camera files for a photo entered in a competition with FIAP
Patronage or FIAP competition, whether they be raw files or jpgs.
Sanctions, when applied consistently help ensure people comply with the rules. If one
photographer gains awards through deception while another is disqualified for the same
offence, confidence in the entire system disappears.
For this reason, disciplinary measures are an essential component of every credible
competition system.

Have a thorough glimpse at FIAP DOC 049/2025

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