This move is not about hyperlinks; it is about the commercial use of newspapers’ copyright content. All newspapers have terms of use; all prohibit the commercial use of their content. The new licences cover this.

I suspect that there is a similar case for online content.

The hyperlink patent–properly known as the Sargent patent–describes a system in which multiple users, located at remote terminals, can access data stored at a central computer. BT had argued that the Internet infringes the Sargent patent and that a third party facilitates infringement by its subscribers by providing them with access to the Internet.

My guess is that there is a similar case in the NLA approach.

The outcome of the case was reported by Cnet http://news.cnet.com/2100-1033-955001.html.

The media content provided online is such that it has a specific nature. That nature is that it is part of the internet and not different from any other content.

I wonder how robust this move by the NLA is in law.

Will we have to use USA servers to access press coverage and media story URL’s or will it be Russian servers that will provide the facility we have come to expect of the ‘inter’ net.