EGM cautions against unauthorised sharing of news clips, PDF
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 13 2024: In a move to address widespread circulation of news clips and PDF from registered newspapers and electronic media on social media platforms, affecting the functioning of the media houses, the Editors' Guild of Manipur (EGM) on behalf of editors and publishers has appealed to all concerned to refrain from unauthorised sharing while cautioning of initiating legal action against offenders.

In a statement, EGM expressed concern over the flagrant violation of both the Copyright Act and the Information Technology Act.

Unauthorised sharing not only infringes upon the intellectual property rights of media houses but also poses significant threat to journalistic integrity, as original content can be manipulated or misrepresented with the spread of fake news.

Prior to this decision, the EGM and media houses in the state had issued appeals to the public, urging them to refrain from sharing newspapers through social media channels without obtaining prior permission.

Despite these appeals, instances of unauthorised sharing persist, prompting the EGM to take decisive action, the statement said.

Emphasising the gravity of the offence, the EGM highlighted the legal ramifications of violating the Copyright Act, which can result in imprisonment for a minimum of six months or a fine of Rs 50,000.The Guild warned that individuals found guilty of copyright infringement must be prepared to face legal consequences.

The EGM reiterated that the unauthorised circulation or distribution of newspapers and their contents is a clear violation of Section 51 (b)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957.However, individuals are permitted to share links to news stories from media organisation websites, provided they adhere to copyright regulations.

In light of these developments, the EGM urged the public to respect intellectual property rights and refrain from engaging in unauthorised sharing of news content.

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