We are in a new era of war between Big Tech and the regulatory state Hugh Linehan: Suddenly, 2021 feels a lot like 2012 all over again
Sat, Feb 20, 2021, 07:00
Back in 2012, this columnist, in the course of his then job as online editor of The Irish Times, became embroiled in a dispute over the use of hyperlinks to Irish newspaper sites. The newspaper industry’s representative organisation, National Newspapers of Ireland (now Newsbrands Ireland) claimed anyone posting links to its members’ articles was in breach of copyright unless a licence had been purchased. Matters came to an embarrassing head when a charity found itself on the end of a demand for payment for links on its website.