Singapore newspaper publisher sues Yahoo for infringing copyright

SINGAPORE, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has filed a copyright infringement suit against Yahoo!, alleging that the search giant reproduced news content from its newspapers without its permission, local daily Straits Times reported on Wednesday.

In its statement of the claim, SPH cited 23 example of articles from its newspapers which Yahoo! was alleged to have reproduced substantially over a 12-month period without its authorization. The newspapers included The Straits Times, The New Paper and My Paper.

The lawsuit, believed to be the first pitting a predominantly traditional media owner against a new media firm, was filed last Friday in the Singapore High Court.

The articles, including political and crime stories, were first published in the print editions of The Straits Times, The New Paper and My Paper between Nov. 16 last year and Oct. 20 this year. They allegedly appeared on the Southeast Asia section of Yahoo!

Content in The Straits Times print edition, which is available for sale and subscription, is also available online.

SPH is asking the court to declare that Yahoo! Southeast Asia has infringed on its content, an injunction against the company from continuing the infringement, and damages.

Media experts say this latest copyright infringement lawsuit is possibly a landmark case.

The Straits Times said Yahoo! Southeast Asia managing editor Alan Soon declined comment on Tuesday.

Singapore Press Holdings is one of the two press holding companies operating in Singapore. Nearly all the mainstream newspaper were controlled by the group which has close ties with the government, including the Straits Times and the Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao.