AP, Germany's DPA sign distribution agreement

The news organizations said in a joint statement that the arrangement, expected to become effective on January 1, calls for DPA to distribute AP photos and stories in Germany and Austria and text in Switzerland.

The AP will have access to DPA coverage of Germany and Austria and will represent DPA photos for sale in markets outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, it said.

AP spokesman Paul Colford said in a separate statement meanwhile that the US news agency has ended its licensing and distribution agreement with Germany's second biggest news agency, DAPD, which declared bankruptcy last month.

"(The AP) today terminated its license and distribution agreement for text and photos in Germany with DAPD due to the financial issues facing some of the German companies within the DAPD group," Colford said.

Earlier this week, DAPD said it would shed one-third of its workforce or about 100 employees, as it continues restructuring talks.

DAPD was formed in 2010 as a result of a merger of the DDP agency and the German service of AP.