MKB Juristen drafts custom legal documents
It is best not to cobble together or copy important contracts, terms and conditions, and other legal documents yourself. We help entrepreneurs on a budget with customized legal solutions, clear costs upfront, and practical explanations.
- Custom contracts, terms and conditions, and legal documents
- Budget-friendly and clear about the costs upfront
- Request a free consultation or a no-obligation quote
If you launch a news website or channel, you may not simply copy the work of others: news photos, texts, and videos are also protected by copyright. However, the law does provide for a number of exceptions relevant to the press: the right to quote, the press exception, and the reporting exception.
News is also protected by copyright
It is common practice in the press to quote each other and reproduce excerpts, but copyright does not always permit this. Copyright applies to photos, articles, and videos with their own original character. Individual facts are free, but their elaboration is not.
The right to quote
Under the right to quote (Article 15a of the Copyright Act), you may quote from a work subject to conditions: the quote must be functional (for example, for a review or news report), proportionate to the purpose, and you must mention the source and the author. Copying an entire article does not fall under this.
The press exception
The press exception (Article 15 of the Copyright Act) permits news media to copy reports on current topics from one another, subject to conditions. Important: this exception does not apply if the creator has expressly reserved their rights (a 'copyright reservation'), which many media do.
The reporting exception
In a report on a current event, work appearing in image or sound may be included under certain conditions, to the extent necessary to depict the event (Article 16a of the Copyright Act). Here, too, limits regarding proportionality and source attribution apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
May I reproduce a news article from someone else?
Not simply in full. Quoting is permitted under conditions (right of quotation); reproduction via the press exception is not allowed if the author has reserved their rights.
May I use news photos?
News photos are protected by copyright. Use only with permission or license, or within the limits of an exception with attribution.
Do I need to cite the source?
Yes, source and name attribution are required for quoting and most exceptions.
Is your news platform legally in order?
Our legal experts advise on copyright and press exceptions. View our copyrightor IP lawteam, or schedule a free consultation.
