Google News Site Faces Copyright Row In Hong Kong

by Mary Swire, for LawAndTax-News.com, Hong Kong

14 September 2004

Following the launch of its Hong Kong news website on Thursday, internet portal, Google has found itself facing a number of copyright infringement complaints made by local news services.

According to the South China Morning Post, which reported on the launch, the government-owned RTHK radio station, the owners of the Ming Pao newspaper, and the Sing Tao electronic news service have all asked Google to refrain from publishing news summaries drawn from their material on the website.

University of Hong Kong law and computer sciences associate professor, Kevin Pun Kwok-hung suggested to the SCMP that the news organisations might have grounds for legal action if Google does not withdraw the relevant summaries, explaining that:

"There is a possibility of criminal liability under the Copyright Ordinance if a reproduction is carried out for commercial purposes and the party knows that it is an infringement of copyright."

Google spokeswoman, Debbie Frost responded by revealing that although the firm has no intention of withdrawing the Hong Kong news service:

"We are a law-abiding company. We feel that if publishers do not want to be included in Google news for whatever reason, they can always come to us and we can take them out."

However, she went on to add that:

"People read the headlines on Google and choose which website they want to visit. After you click on the link, you will be immediately taken to the website of a publisher. The information is not on Google but is on the publisher's website. Our role is to help you to find the website."

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