How to update our news pages
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What news we report on
What
Given that running-related news is extremely difficult to find in mainstream media, CoolRunning aims to fill a void and discover and publish news thought to be of interest to Australian Runners. In general this means that 99% of our news postings will be about Australian runners, or Australian races in some way, regardless of whether it is original content (only on CoolRunning) or linked to elsewhere. We would like to establish the mantra "if its not on CoolRunning, its not anywhere". Generic overseas news is better sought elsewhere but some items may be displayed that are considered of interest eg major World News.
News posters should use the over-riding litmus test of "is this going to be interesting to Australian Runners".
Where From
Original news items from emails, media releases and the like, can be posted in their entirety to a separate page and linked from the home page OR they may be in the forms of links to other websites.
In general CoolRunning receives a contant stream of news alerts from Google (see item in right hand box of this page) that are then posted by our helpers if it is relvant. However there are always emails, media releases floating around via email from race and clubs and we welcome these too as befits "if its not on CoolRunning, its not anywhere"
Posting Direct Links
In time gone past CoolRunning used to post either complete or partial news items as most news websites only kept their links current for a couple of days. In general, most sites keep their data at the same link for quite some time (possibly even permanently). Certainly it is much quicker to post a direct link, and is legally a more sound approach. The time/effort involved to do anything else is too much to do any different. We have to live with the fact that links will break or rot over time.
Posting "Deep Links"
Always we want to point our links directly at the article not at a generic homepage. We want to make it as easy as possible for our readers to find the guts of the news, one click if at all possible. In general deep linking (to other than the homepage of a site) is considered to be legal and fair in numerous courts of law regardless of whether the website requests to not deep link or not. The theory is that if a site doesn’t like deep linking they will amend their website so that deep linking is not possible. Many many court cases have bogged down on these points and it is highly unlikely CoolRunning is legally exposed here.
Questionable items
Self-promotional pieces by race directors and the like are to be titled "Media Release" as distinct from "news". There is of course a fine line between a media release that our readers will be interested in and pure spam. Items considered as of no value for our readers will be seen as spam and will not be posted. Care is required as with a large readership, somebody may well find an item useful so if in doubt post it.
Legal concerns
CoolRunning aims to be a well-liked, respected and credible source of information. This means that it cannot be seen to be breaking any Australian laws. CoolRunning reports news, information and facts of interest/Gossip to runners and does not infringe copyright. In general, CoolRunning will take immediate action to comply with any formal request from news and/or media agencies concerning our news coverage.
Further notes on copyright & reporting news from our lawyer
Facts and Information are not copyrighted
Generally speaking, copyright cannot be claimed in mere ideas, facts, methods or systems, but only in the expression of the ideas, facts, methods or systems as expressed in a material form. A significant problem in this area is where to draw the line between an idea/information and its expression. Copyright tends to attach itself to literary and original works where there is some skill and labour involved. There would at least need to be some analysis and commentary by the author in addition to the information and facts in a literary work to attract copyright. A lot of the material I've read on the website is straight information and facts rather than a literary work.
Defence of Fair Dealing – Reporting News
There is a statutory defence to copyright infringement for reporting news.
Copyright Act Section 42 FAIR Dealing For Purpose Of Reporting News 42(1) [News reporting]
A fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or with an adaptation of a literary, dramatic or musical work, does not constitute an infringement of the copyright in the work if— a] it is for the purpose of, or is associated with, the reporting of news in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical and a sufficient acknowledgement of the work is made; or b] it is for the purpose of, or is associated with, the reporting of news by means of a communication or in a cinematograph film.
Section 42 of the Copyright Act 1968 uses the word "news", and the view has been expressed that "news" is not restricted to current events. Courts have held the meanings of ``news are as follows: 1. a report of any recent event, situation etc 2. the report of events published in a newspaper, journal, radio, television, or any other medium. 3. information, events, etc, considered as suitable for reporting. 4. information not previously known...
In conclusion, most of the material posted in the news section of CoolRunning is news which would not infringe copyright, and much of the news reports are not copyright in the first place.
