3 Jan 2013

Liverpool-Kop.com: Use of News Sources and Copyright Issues

Like practically every other news-related website on the planet (including ALL major newspapers), Liverpool-Kop.com makes use of publicly available news sources in articles published on the site. This is standard industry practice, and is perfectly legal, However, this site's detractors continue to spread the lie that use of external news sources is content theft. That is not true in the slightest, as I will illustrate below.

The LAW

* The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 states that use of any published work for the purpose of reporting current new events constitutes - with sufficient acknowledgement - 'fair dealing', and is a valid exception to copyright.

Section 30(2) of the act is reproduced here, verbatim:

"Fair dealing with a work (other than a photograph) for the purpose of reporting current events does not infringe any copyright in the work provided that (subject to subsection (3) it is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement".

* The UK Copyright Service outlines the copyright law as follows:

"Fair dealing is a term used to describe some limited activities that are allowed without infringing copyright. Briefly these are as follows"

Criticism or Review

Quoting parts of a work for the purpose of criticism or review is permitted, provided that:

* The work has been made available to the public.
* The source of the material is acknowledged.
* The material quoted must be accompanied by discussion/assessment
* Material quoted is no more than is necessary for the purpose of the review.

News Reporting

Using material for the purpose of reporting current events is permitted, provided that:

* The work is not a photograph.
* The source of the material is acknowledged.
* The amount of the material quoted is no more than is necessary for the purpose.

Liverpool-Kop COMPLIANCE

* Every source used on this site is cited and linked without fail.

* The site only uses small quote snippets in articles, and the bulk of the site's content is original discussion/assessment/analysis

* Every major news provider on the planet uses other sources in their reporting. Again, this is standard industry practice.

* This is how the online news ecosystem operates. The idea that it is content theft is, quite simply, cretinous.

* In fact, sharing links in this manner is beneficial for other sites as it helps with SEO; site ranking; raising awareness, and traffic generation.

The Stalker's Obsessed Campaign

The stalker has contacted editors/writers who work for the The Guardian, BBC, The Mirror, Liverpool Echo, The Telegraph,  the Daily Mail etc and spun his usual lying, fabricated BS, trying to convince them - via gross exaggeration, embellishment and shameless LYING - that my site is stealing content. Examples:

Screen Shot 2014-01-06 at 09.33.43

Well, let's see what the news organisations concerned have to say about it.

News Organisations SLAP DOWN the stalker

On Monday 6 January 2013, I contacted the editorial departments of the The Telegraph; Guardian; BBC; Daily Mail; Liverpool Echo, and The Mirror (all of which were approached by the stalker). I explained to each how I run my site, and how I make use of small attributed and linked snippets of info from their publications.

Everyone single one of the aforementioned news organisations categorically REJECTED the stalker's deluded accusation that this is content theft. Below is a list of verbatim responses from the people with whom I discussed the issue.

* The GUARDIAN | Contact: James Dart (Deputy Head of Guardian Sport) | Called: 6 Jan 2013 - 8:50am

"As long as there is not wholesale verbatim copying of a Guardian article, there’s absolutely no problem with use of our content on other websites".

* The BBC | Contact: Michael Short (BBC Sports Editor) | Called: 6 Jan 2013 - 9:00am

"If it’s attributed and linked back to the BBC that’s absolutely fine. We do the same on our site”.

* The TELEGRAPH | Contact: Jim Bruce-Ball (Sports Editor) | Called: 6 Jan 2013 - 9:05am

"Use of quotes and articles snippets is perfectly fine if attributed. What you’re not allowed to do is rip-off huge swathes of content without attribution"

The DAILY MAIL | Contact: Matt Lawless (Deputy Sports Editor) | Called: 6 Jan 2013 - 9:15am

“As long as the content is linked back to the Daily Mail, it’s not a problem. That’s what we do when we use other news sources”.

The MIRROR | Contact: Anthony Schipani (Syndication Executive) | Called: 6 Jan 2013 - 9:20am

“If you’re using quotes and linking back to us then it’s not a problem. It’s actually good for us in terms of tracking for the website”

The LIVERPOOL ECHO | Contact: Dan Kay (Digital Journalist) | Called: 6 Jan 2013 9:25am

"As long as the info is clearly attributed to the Liverpool Echo, it’s fine”

So there you have it. The stalker's defamatory contention categorically debunked. Use of quotes and/or small snippets of other news is not content theft in any way, shape or form, and regular visitors to my site will see that 99% of the content posted there is original (i.e. original views and/or individual interpretation based on personal opinion/inference/analysis etc)

As you can see from the quotes above, high-profile news organisations actually encourage sharing of their content as it has huge benefits for them when it comes to SEO, traffic generation, and brand awareness. This is how the online news ecosystem operates.

This is all obvious and common-sense, but there are still weak-minded people out there who believe anything they read on the internet, even when it's vomited out by a clearly unhinged, obsessed, anonymous stalker.

Author:


25 comments:

  1. And suddenly LFCKopchat has achieved notoriety.

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  2. We're with you Jamie, don't sweat over these guys.

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  3. There is this different world online altogether, never knew people could do all kinds of stuff online, including harassment. Internet is making people switch off from real life.

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  4. What I fail to see is how all of this is Roy Hodgson's fault?

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  5. How dare you?! It is his fault! ;0P

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  6. This guy never ceases to amaze me. These internet warriors think they have power because "some" can't be traced. In real life they are complete losers.

    This claim is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in 2014 so far!

    How does he think news websites work?

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  7. Most of the newspaper football stories are made up anyway (see Stirling rubbish todays Mirror) do lies and inventions have copyright ?. do twisted facts, delberate misinterpretations and misquotes have copyright ? - no your ok Jamie - only joking.

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  8. So does this douche bag really believe that Jaimie needs to venture out everyday with his microphone and/or recorder, and ask questions to everyone that is subject to his articles?

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  9. I'm getting tired myself of the stalker. In any normal situation, you'd be able to just ignore it and let it go, but when the f**ker starts messing with your personal life, s*** gets to a new level.

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  10. haha.. its Roy !

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  11. Feel sorry for this stalker guy. A negative obsession such as his obviously leaves him feeling miserable and unfulfilled; bar the fleeting moments of satisfaction he garners from his ongoing smear campaign. A bit like a crack head. Don't let this inglorious basterd get you down Jaimie. Love the site and the input from all your posters.

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  12. Stalkers are here for attention cause they can't get any in the real world. Too bad they don't walk around with a keyboard sign on their chests and their blankets as their cape.

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  13. I like this site even though I do not always agree with Jaimie. At least I get to voice my opinion. This stalker obviously has no life. Find him, tie his hands up and hang him by his ears! Then beat him with a stick.


    Some sick people out there...

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  14. I don't know if this is intentionally ironic, but I like it!

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  15. To be fair though, you should have just went topsy-turvy on the fella and been like:
    "Content theft? So what, that's Scouse".
    No comeback to that, la.
    YNWA

    This isn't offensive, because I'm a Scouser. That's the way it works.

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  16. THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING JAMIE. WE ARE ALL LFC FANS THAT KEEP VISITING, COMMENTING AND READING ALL YOUR ARTICLES. i visit most of the LFC website and this is the first one that i got to for the articles i will admit i was a lil disappointed that you didnt leave a message thaT you would be gone thru new years, but you atleast apologized. HAHA JK. But your insight is good and the articles are great. Like my lil homie the GAME says "IM YELLING F*** THE WORLD ON MY VICTORY LAP" YNWA LFC TIA I NEVER BELIVED YOU WERE A MAN U FAN TOO. HAHA.

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  17. This guy. This is the guy.

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  18. To check if my internet is working I don't go to Google, I go to Liverpool-kop.


    Enough said...

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  19. Google is good though.
    One of my favourite websites.

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  20. Mr. Point Of View8:17 am, January 04, 2014

    go bite their arm !!!!

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  21. Nice try but you don't fool me........ or am I double bluffing. ..

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  22. If it's OK to copy information from other people's websites Jaimie.... why have you installed software on here that blocks the ability to copy & paste your words to block "content thieves"???

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  23. If I was a zombie, I would :-)

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  24. ...but then they'd be a zombie and you'd be zombie brethren with your enemy. I wouldn't want to go hunting for delicious brains with someone I can't trust.

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