You may be asking yourself, “Can I legally copy content from other websites to use for my own marketing efforts or for my publication’s editorial calendar?”
In short, the answer is no.
To legally put news content on your website from a source other than your own, you’ll need to obtain permission from the author. Why? Because republishing work without permission takes away the content owner’s ability to profit from their original work. Besides, putting third-party content on your website without a copyright license is plagiarism, and illegal. Even if you are just curating content for the news section of your website, citation is not enough if the article is posted in full or pieces of the content are extracted onto your webpaces.
Since copyright can be complicated, many marketers and businesses have questions on how to use material legally. Here, we’ll provide some insight into copyright law and how you can use news stories on your website in a compliant manner.
Can I Ever Use News for My Website Without Permission?
Posting an entire news story on your website won’t be covered under the fair use doctrine. However, there may still be cases where you can use the news. (Satire, for example, is often covered under fair use).
Copyright is defined as a form of intellectual property law that protects original works of authorship. Copyright protection arises as soon as an author creates an original work and publishes it within a tangible medium. This law is meant to protect authors and defend the value of their work.
There are certain circumstances where you can use news content without permission as outlined by copyright law’s fair use policy. This is when someone can use small parts of copyrighted works without the permission of the author.
When determining if you can use content under fair use, you must consider the following factors:
- The nature of the use, including whether the content is being used for commercial, nonprofit and/or educational purposes.
- The nature of the copyrighted work. For example, if the content is highly creative like a song or movie, or if it is less creative, like scientific data or quotes from a historical record.
- The amount or substantiality of the work that is used.
- The effect of the use on the potential market value of the work itself.
You can often use small parts of copyrighted work for teaching, criticism or research. Typically speaking, the more educational or informative a piece of content is, the more it can be considered in favor of being fair use.
It’s important to remember that there is no universal copyright law and not every country recognizes fair use. International treaties like the Berne Convention work to create a minimum set of standards for copyright. However, since these laws can still differ across the globe, it’s especially important to consider where the source material comes from.
In fact, only a few countries, such as the United States, Israel and Poland, recognize fair use. How fair use is interpreted may also differ in each country. The United Kingdom and many of its former colonies have guidelines known as “fair dealings” that outline when permission is not needed, but these can differ from fair use in the United States.
If you are ever unsure if content is covered by fair use, we encourage you to contact your legal team. Additionally, check out our guide on when your team can use copyrighted material without permission.
Can You Republish News Articles on Your Website?
If you have copyright permission, you can legally repost articles on your website. The simplest and most legally safe way to use other people’s news on your website is through content licensing or one-time rights agreements. To learn more about consistently using news content on your website, we recommend reading our guides on how to get a copyright license and how to republish newspaper content. Many publications, such as The New York Times, have a licensing division that can help you curate news articles while also remaining compliant.
Content licensing is the distribution of media assets and intellectual property to a third party for a fixed term and a fee. NYTLicensing offers an array of licensing options for news articles from world-renowned publications like The New York Times, Harvard Business Review and The Economist. With our wide variety of content licensing packages available, you will have the ability to incorporate our expert storytelling into your content marketing strategy or publication’s editorial calendar by accessing current and archival content across an extensive range of subjects.
Final Thoughts
It is important to abide by all copyright laws that protect the value of authentic material, both on the internet and in print. To ensure that your business has all the content you need to adequately tell your story, we recommend sourcing news content through a copyright license.
When you license content from NYTLicensing, you can inspire your audience with our expert storytelling. Our wide array of content licensing packages give audiences stories that will inform, entertain and inspire. Explore more about our strategic content feeds and packages today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Online News Copyrighted?
Yes, online news is copyrighted. Also, just because a news article doesn’t exist behind a paywall, does not mean you have the rights to use it in any way you please.
What Are the Rules for Republishing Articles?
The rules for reposting articles differ from publisher to publisher. Some articles may be covered under a Creative Commons license, which may allow users to reuse material under specific use cases. However, users will typically need to reach out to the copyright holder to get permission to repost an article to a website.
Is Sharing an Article Copyright Infringement?
It depends on how the article is shared. A link to an article that’s not behind a paywall is usually fine to share. However, copying an article in its entirety, even if it is free to access, is typically not compliant with copyright law.
Can I Put Links to Other Websites on My Website?
Typically, you do not need to get permission to post a link on your website. The exception to this rule is if an asset or piece of content is gated or behind a paywall. Sharing a link that is meant for paying customers can result in legal trouble.
Is It Illegal to Translate Website Articles or News and Post It on My Blog?
In most circumstances, it would be illegal to post translated website articles or news. Not only do you need to secure written permission to post an article, but you also need written permission to translate an article. Copyright agreements will outline how material can be used and this includes the translation of a work.
Can I Publish an Article on My Website if My Company is Featured?
No, if your company is featured in an article, it does not give you permission to repost the article on your website. If the content isn’t gated, you can consider adding a link in your newsletter or on your website. But if you want to repost, you’ll need to request permission to use the article.
