The expanded service will allow the union to pursue members' claims involving copyright infringements, which are currently dealt with in the small claims court, to higher courts.
The change is required as the small claims court no longer has jurisdiction over copyright cases, John Toner, national organiser for the NUJ's freelance sector, told Journalism.co.uk.
(read other articles in Journalism.co.uk online copyright series)
More details of the expanded service, which will pursue breaches of members' copyright by online publishers as well as off-line media, are yet to be released, he added.
In addition to extra legal provision for copyright cases, a motion will be put to the NUJ's annual conference in April asking for the union to pay legal fees of freelancers using the small claims court to claim for unpaid fees.
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