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Newspaper licensing body issues statement on "paying for links"

Newspaper Licensing Ireland has issued a 64-word statement on its position on paying for links following much discussion online.

THE ORGANISATION WHICH collects money from websites which it says breaks copyright by linking to Irish newspapers has issued a statement on its position following much discussion online.

In a 64-word statement posted on its website, Newspaper Licensing Ireland set out its stance on charging for links, saying:

For personal use: NLI never requires or requests a licence for personal use of newspaper content.
For commercial use: NLI does not require a licence from any organisation which only displays or transmits links to newspaper content. A licence is required when there is other reproduction of the newspaper content, such as display of PDFs or text extracts.

The statement appears to contradict information which was sent to charity Women’s Aid in 2012 by NLI. Solicitor Simon McGarr published extracts from correspondence sent to the charity which stated that:

A licence is required to link directly to an online article even without uploading any of the content directly onto your own website.

The NLI is a subsidiary of National Newspapers of Ireland, which represents 16 national newspapers and 25 local and regional newspapers across Ireland.

Today’s NLI statement echoes comments made by the NNI on Friday, when the newspaper body said that “copying activity” which would require payment included reproducing an extract from an article or the full text of the article along with the link.

The NNI also asserts that a hyperlink from one website to another can constitute copyright infringement.

The majority of Irish newspapers have not commented on the ongoing situation.  However the Irish Times has said that it is in favour of people linking to its site.

In an opinion piece today, the newspaper’s Chief Innovation Officer Johnny Ryan said the issue for the Irish Times is one of reproduction of content rather than linking:

A clear separation of the benign issue of “linking to” content from the more fraught issue of “reproduction of” content is required to allow the copyright debate to proceed on the correct footing.

Read: Oireachtas to question newspapers over ‘paying for linking’ >

Read: NNI: No objection to newspaper content “being used for personal use” >

Column: Newspapers are seeking to outlaw the free exchange of ideas >

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26 Comments
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    Mute Tomred
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    Dec 24th 2016, 8:49 PM

    Looking forward to the annual quick dip in Lough Owel Mullingar tomorrow. In and out followed by a nip if whiskey and home for the turkey dinner what more could you ask for? Compliments if the holiday to all of the combatant Journo commenters (is that a word?), I don’t always agree with your point of view but can’t help checking them out.

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    Mute fergusob
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    Dec 24th 2016, 9:30 PM

    Been able to swim would surely be the most important thing

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    Mute Earl Fitzgerald
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    Dec 24th 2016, 9:50 PM

    Don’t make any necessary journeys.

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    Mute Ben Frost
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    Dec 24th 2016, 11:02 PM

    Don’t wear a swimsuit you pussies

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    Mute Ben Frost
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    Dec 24th 2016, 11:06 PM

    That should be wet suit

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    Mute Gareth Fitzpatrick
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    Dec 25th 2016, 1:06 AM

    Swimsuit is funnier

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    Mute Mary Webb
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    Dec 25th 2016, 4:44 AM

    I’m swimming in Courtown Hrb on Christmas Day. My first time and I’m in my 60′s I’d hardly swim in the sea in July unless it was in Spain or somewhere. But it’s a dare and it’s for Hope Cancer Support Services https://www.gofundme.com/xmasswimwebb16hopecancersupport

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    Mute Dan Henry
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    Dec 24th 2016, 8:40 PM

    We’re having a swim in the Liffey who’s up for it()

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Dec 24th 2016, 9:33 PM

    dont go swimming in the sea

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    Mute Alex Falcone
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    Dec 24th 2016, 9:24 PM

    I’ll be swimming in Woodstown beach tomorrow. Looking forward to the ritual.

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    Mute Red hurley
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    Dec 25th 2016, 12:06 AM

    Dont do it.simple as.

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    Mute Grace McGoldrick
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    Dec 24th 2016, 10:27 PM

    Some do it for charity

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