The PRCA and Meltwater have been fighting the decision by the Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA) to demand a license fee from some companies that share news and links from UK newspaper websites. The outcome is perhaps a little scary for anyone using online services: it is the case that newspapers can demand money from some groups of people before they share links, headlines and stories with others. But, the good news is that the NLA can’t charge as much as they wanted.

So who has won? The PRCA and Meltwater are celebrating saving companies an estimated £100M per year, whilst I’m sure the NLA will be delighted with a new source of revenue that is likely to amount to £10M per year or more. Make up your own mind by reading the NLA’s view and the opinion of the PRCA<.

Author

  • Mike Maynard

    In 2001 Mike acquired Napier with Suzy Kenyon. Since that time he has directed major PR and marketing programmes for a wide range of technology clients. He is actively involved in developing the PR and marketing industries, and is Chair of the PRCA B2B Group, and lectures in PR at Southampton Solent University. Mike offers a unique blend of technical and marketing expertise, and was awarded a Masters Degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Surrey and an MBA from Kingston University.

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Technology and Marketing Legislation UK and British Technology Publications