UK aggregator NewsNow today said that it would pull links to the sites of NLA members from its paid-for subscription services rather than sign-up to the NLA web licensing scheme.

“We believe that other organisations who privately agree with our position have reluctantly signed the NLA agreement under pressure. However, we are not in a position on our own to fund a extremely costly legal case on behalf of the entire industry,” said Struan Bartlett, managing director, NewsNow

NewsNow said that “the legal basis for the NLA’s claims that a licence is or was required remains unsubstantiated. It also took issue with the NLA’s reporting requirement to hand over customer details to the NLA.

“We see this as a slippery slop towards and free-to-access web site demanding licence fees from any organisation for circulating or cling on links,” said Bartlett.