The question can be surprising because the answer seems obvious to many of us. We think, maybe it is just fine to copy a news article from a news blog because it is just a copy of something that is factual. However, it is clear that the law is polymorphic, so there is lots to consider. It is important to underline and keep in mind that the law protects tangible and intangible things differently:
â In the physical world, the possessor of a thing is presumed to be the owner. The owner can file a complaint in the event of theft, or if someone tries to use their idea/design, for example. All these concepts are known to us because we grew up with these principles.
â When in the 19th century, it is important to legislate the protection of property of immaterial things (writings, paintings, etc ...), Western lawmakers resume old principles of jurisprudence (dating back to the Romans) estimating that only intangible things that have certain characteristics can be protected. This point is fundamental because, unlike the physical world, the law does not protect everything, and (very) far from it.
The intangible world today knows several types of protection, mainly: Copyright which protects certain creations without any special procedure. This right applies to all types of creations, works or media, provided they meet certain criteria.
The patent which protects, by means of a precise course and procedures, an invention if you will. The mark which protects, by means of specific procedures, a term for a particular use. Some websites do not want you to copy their news, even if it is a popular topic of conversation.
Can you copy?
Of course the answer is, not word for word. If the themes are similar, then there's very little that can be done; however, when you copy and paste it (which many do), it is classed as a form of plagiarism and will not be looked down upon. Especially for your blog/site. Google will penalize you and therefore your site will be blocked and there will be less readers that will find you. In short, it will ruin your SEO ranking.
However, legally, to copy, you need one thing in particular. That is of course, the permission obtained by the author. If they agree, then it is vital to note somewhere in your article that this has been copied and posted via a named site. This way, Google will see that you have noted this.
You should also state that you have permission to do so. All digital content has copyright, even if you are just a small blog - however, this problem regularly occurs online. In legal terms, it is important to be able to document the creation of its site as well as possible and in the most detailed way. This way you can claim a right over its creation.
Otherwise, it must be determined before initiating proceedings. When you are creating your own news website, it is great to have your own clear news copy, written by yourself or your own writing team.
