Tougher online copyright enforcement is needed, warn newspaper groups

Online copyright infringements need to be more forcefully dealt if the newspaper industry is to survive, the Newspaper Society and the Newspaper Publishing Association have said.

The NS and NPA believe that existing copyright law "remains fundamentally fit for purpose", but advise that software should be encouraged to easily track plagiarised journalism and UK courts should award sufficient damages to discourage misuse.

The comments follow a joint submission by the NS and NPA to the Hargreaves' Review into intellectual property (IP), which was announced by David Cameron last November and is being carried out by a former editor of the Independent, professor Ian Hargreaves, who is also chair of digital economy at the Cardiff School of Journalism.

The independent review, which is looking the at rules and regulations governing how IP is created, used and protected and any barriers to growth, is due to report its findings next month.

"A thriving publishing industry depends on fair remuneration for use of creative and journalistic content. It is copyright law that allows for this, but without proper enforcement the industry is at risk," a statement on the Newspaper Society's website says.

"Without effective, enforceable IPRs online there is a risk that the 'virtuous circle' of investment, returns and re-investment will be undermined."

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