The ban on GIFs of Olympic events sparks anger and creativity on Twitter
TORONTO — A prohibition on Olympic GIFs has inspired a slew of tweets lamenting — or advising how to work around — the International Olympic Committee’s copyright regulations.
In advance of the Rio games, the IOC extended its broadcasting restrictions to say that only accredited media outlets could show Olympic content in GIFs, Vines and other and other forms of short digital animation and video.
That means fans can’t GIF Olympic competitions, medal ceremonies, interviews, opening and closing ceremonies or anything that occurs inside the athletes’ village.
And Twitter, a natural habitat for GIFs, is alive with angry, disappointed GIF fans.