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The Finnfoto Award is given annually to an individual or organization that has contributed significantly to the development of Finnish photography, as well as creating the conditions for increasing appreciation of photography.

This year the Award is given to Legal Counsel Maria Rehbinder, who has been working on intellectual property issues and photography for over three decades. Her remarkable career has spanned from working for galleries, ministries and non-profits to teaching and writing.

Maria Rehbinder got interested in personal data, copyright, trademark and design rights of the visual fields as a student at the University of Helsinki, where she studied law but art history as well.

After graduation she worked as Director for Kuvasto, a copyright society for artists working in the field of visual arts from 1994-2009. Kuvasto and Finnfoto worked together in promoting creative work at Kopiosto, where Rehbinder was member of the board. Since 2010 Maria Rehbinder has worked for Aalto University as Legal Counsel. She advises students and staff on personal data, research data, copyright, trademark and design right related issues

"It’s important to be able to manage intellectual properties with contracts and ensure that creative professionals as rightsholders receive an appropriate remuneration. With digitalisation, for example, the revenue logic of photographers has changed," says Maria Rehbinder.

Maria Rehbinder is the 23rd person to be awarded. Other Finnfoto Award recipients are Matti J. Kaleva, Mikko Pekari, Tuomo-Juhani Vuorenmaa, Salme Simanainen, Kai Nordberg, Hannu Hautala, Rashid Nasretdin, Leena Saraste, Jukka Kukkonen, Sakari Nenye, Lassi Rautiainen, Pekka Punkari, Boris Fagerström, Juha Suonpää, Kari Kuukka, Benjamin Pöntinen, Laura Luostarinen, Merja Salo, Caj Bremer, Sakari A. Mäkelä, Kaija Keskinen and Asko Vivolin.