NLA License FAQs

On 1st January 2009 the Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd (NLA) introduced a licencing scheme for Media Monitoring Organisations (MMOs) wishing to link to content from its members’ websites, as well as a license for the clients of these MMOs. Although disagreeing in principle Meltwater agreed to take a license. But the Meltwater Group and PRCA referred the NLA license for end users to the Copyright Tribunal as we believed that the scheme was unreasonable and unfair. The NLA replied by referring the principles of the case to the High Court.

Since then the PRCA and Meltwater have disputed the Web-End User Licence (WEUL) at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Copyright Tribunal. The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled that according to UK copyright law all non-private browsing of the internet is infringing unless licensed by the content owner.

In February 2013, the PRCA will contest a specific-aspect of the ruling at the Supreme Court. For more information please click here: FAQs on Supreme Court hearing

To read about the PRCA and Meltwater Group's dispute with the NLA please click here: FAQs on the PRCA's dispute with the NLA (November 2012)

For more information please contact Policy and Research Manager, Tom Hawkins: tom.hawkins@prca.org.uk

 

Copyright Tribunal Verdict (May 2012)

On May the 15th the Copyright Tribunal issued its final verdict on the PRCA and Meltwater Group's dispute with the Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA) in regards to the Web End User Licensing Scheme. Press Release

It draws to close proceedings in the Copyright Tribunal where Meltwater Group, supported by the PRCA, challenged the NLA on the legality and reasonableness of its proposed licensing and associated fees for online news content.

Since the Interim Decision, published on February 14th 2012, Meltwater and the NLA have worked together in close consultation to reach agreement on the finer details of the licensing payment model. Their joint proposals were agreed by UKMMA (representing other MMOs) and submitted to the Copyright Tribunal.

To read the FAQs on the Copyright Tribunal's verdict, and the agreed fee structure for the WEUL please click here: Copyright Tribunal and Fees FAQ

 

Collecting Societies and Codes of Conduct

The PRCA, along with a number of other concerned trade associations, has successfully lobbied for statutory regulation of collecting societies. The Government has introduced an amendment to the Enterprise Bill that creates a statutory backstop to ensure that all collecting societies adhere to an ethical code of conduct that promotes good behaviour.

PRCA welcomes legislation to regulate collecting societies

If you feel you are still being mistreated by the NLA please get in touch.

 

Future of Content Debate

The PRCA held a debate on the Future of Content in August 2011, which included an interesting discussion on the issue involving all sides. To see the keynote speaker, NLA debate and full debate, please click here.

 

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