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| Rex Features | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rex Features |
| Type | News photo agency |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Services | Photography, photo licensing, editorial imagery, celebrity images |
| Parent | Independent (formerly part of ThePhotoGroup) |
Rex Features Rex Features is a London-based commercial photographic agency specializing in editorial, celebrity, entertainment, sport and archival imagery. It supplies photograph and caption services to newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and digital platforms, operating in a market alongside agencies such as Getty Images, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and AP Images. The agency maintains collaborative relationships with photojournalists, celebrity photographers and archival houses to serve clients across the United Kingdom, United States, Europe and beyond.
Founded in the mid-1990s, Rex emerged during a period of consolidation among visual media suppliers in the aftermath of the rise of digital photography and the expansion of 24-hour media outlets like Sky News, BBC News, ITV News and international broadcasters. Early growth was influenced by demand from tabloid and broadsheet titles including The Sun (United Kingdom), Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Times (London) and magazine publishers such as Condé Nast, Hearst Communications and Bauer Media Group. Rex expanded its archives and editorial reach through partnerships and acquisitions similar to moves by WireImage and Corbis.
Rex has operated as an independent commercial enterprise with corporate governance structures typical of London-based private companies, interacting with entities such as Companies House for registration and compliance. Over time it has negotiated commercial agreements with conglomerates and media groups including licensing deals with digital platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and print syndication partners. Its corporate dealings sit within the broader media industry context influenced by mergers like Thomson Reuters acquisitions and competition law overseen by regulators such as the Competition and Markets Authority.
The agency provides a range of services: editorial photo supply for newspapers and magazines, celebrity and entertainment photography for tabloids and lifestyle titles, sports photography for outlets covering events like the FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon Championships, UEFA Champions League and royal coverage for occasions involving households like the British Royal Family. Operational workflows integrate content management, captioning and metadata systems used by newsrooms such as those at The New York Times, The Washington Post, Daily Telegraph and broadcaster newsrooms. Rex also offers bespoke assignment photography, red carpet coverage for events like the BAFTA Awards, Cannes Film Festival, Met Gala and syndicated photo columns for international distributors.
Rex manages licensing models ranging from rights-managed (RM) to royalty-free (RF) and editorial-only licenses, negotiating with clients including publishers, broadcasters and advertising agencies like Omnicom Group and WPP plc. Rights clearance often involves estates and organizations such as the Estate of Princess Diana, sports federations like FIFA and International Olympic Committee for event imagery, and music industry bodies including Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment for artist portraits. The agency interfaces with legal frameworks and case law from courts like the High Court of Justice and European institutions including the Court of Justice of the European Union over image use, privacy and copyright matters.
Rex syndicates work from a roster of photojournalists, celebrity photographers and agency partners. Contributors include freelance and staff shooters who have covered assignments alongside prominent figures and outlets such as Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, Mario Testino, Martin Parr, Steve McCurry and photojournalists operating in conflict zones alongside organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists. The agency also distributes archival collections originating from press photographers who worked with titles like Picture Post, Life (magazine), Time (magazine) and national newspapers.
Collections span entertainment, politics, sport and historical archives, documenting events from royal weddings and state visits involving leaders from United States presidential elections to summits like the G7 summit and crises including coverage comparable to photo reporting of the Iraq War, Arab Spring and major natural disasters. Entertainment archives include red carpet photography from festivals like Cannes Film Festival and award ceremonies such as the Academy Awards. Sports holdings cover tournaments including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship and Grand Slam events like Wimbledon Championships.
As with many photo agencies, Rex has faced disputes over copyright, attribution and privacy involving tabloids, celebrity estates and news organizations, echoing high-profile cases involving Getty Images and litigations in jurisdictions such as the High Court of Justice and European courts. Controversies have included allegations of unauthorized distribution, takedown disputes with technology platforms like Google and contractual conflicts over exclusivity with photographers and publishers. Legal outcomes in the sector have influenced industry practice around model releases, editorial exceptions and licensing enforcement pursued through litigation and alternative dispute resolution bodies.
Category:Photo agencies Category:Mass media companies of the United Kingdom