Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

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Daily Telegraph looking to sue Google.

The Daily Telegraph is believed to be on the verge of taking legal action against Google and Yahoo for accessing its content.

A statement by Daily Telegraph editor Will Lewis on behalf of his ceo, Murdoch MacLennan, says "Our ability to protect content is under consistent attack from those such as Google and Yahoo who wish to access it for free. These companies are seeking to build a business model on the back of our own investment without recognition. All media companies need to be on guard for this. Success in the digital age, as we have seen in our own company, is going to require massive investment... [this needs] effective legal protection for our content, in such a way that allows us to invest for the future."

The likely legal action follows similar moves by a European media organisation. A Belgian court ruled the Google infringed copyright and was warned that it must aggregating that country's newspaper content. Although the details are unknown, the dispute between Agence France-Presse and Google suggests that the search engine is willing to forge licensing agreements as it has done with other news organisations.

Whilst some can sympathize with the Daily Telegraph's position, there is a feeling that publishers and news agencies need to get together to reach a sensible, comprehensive, macro agreement with Google and Yahoo.

M.P

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