Paris Match has selected Getty Images to distribute, in more than 100 countries, a selection of around 200,000 images that form part of its archives. "The rich vein of represented content will span from the 1940s to the present day, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes shoots and breaking news," says Getty Images in a statement seen by BJP ahead of today's announcement.

The partnership, whose financial details have not been communicated, will add to Getty Images' archive of more than 85 million images, and will bring the legendary French magazine's content to Getty's global base of customers.

"Getty Images and Paris Match have long shared the same photojournalistic values," says Olivier Royant, Paris Match's editor-in-chief. "This new partnership will contribute to photography's ability to communicate key moments in time around the world and will highlight the treasures of the Paris Match archives."

Paris Match also plans a series of events to promote the work of its photographers, says Agnès Vergez, the magazine's deputy publisher. "This agreement is the first step towards a long-term developmental strategy that will also feature a diversity of cultural manifestations."

However, Getty Images declined to answer BJP's questions over potential copyright issues with Paris Match's collection. In France, moral rights are inalienable and perpetual, with the author retaining control over the use of his or her images. At the time of writing, it remained unclear whether all of the images in Paris Match's collection have been cleared for distribution.

For more details, visit www.gettyimages.com.