Webitpr launches proveit online cuttings service

Webitpr has launched proveit, a service that provides PDF cuttings alongside analysis and details of online coverage achieved using the company's realwire distribution service.

The initiative marks a significant step for copyright compliance in connection with online media content, which may be overlooked by PR professionals who collect and archive press cuttings for clients and corporate departments without permission from online publications.

Each cutting produced by webitpr and delivered to clients has received pre-approval free of charge by the copyright owners to be used as part of the proveit service.

PR executives who use the service can then share internally and archive the cuttings without breaking any copyright laws.

The service is based on free of charge permission from the online publications and the benefit of is passed on to the client without any additional cost.

The initiative is ongoing and the company has received responses from over 1,000 online media publications so far with 810 (81 per cent) granting permission and 233 (22 per cent) denying it.

Publications that are governed by the Newspaper Licensing Agency or those that are based on a subscription model were not contacted, but are classified as such and copies of the articles are not provided.

The service is based on free of charge permission from the online publications and the benefit of is passed on to the client without any additional cost.

Newspaper industries around the world often have governing bodies that protect newspaper copyright collection and provide a license to those that need them.

However, the online media industry is much more dynamic than its offline counterparts with no one regulatory body to enforce protection of online content.

Geographically, the company received a granted permission rate of 84 per cent from online publications in the UK and Europe, 69 per cent from North America and 78 per cent for the rest of the world.

On an industry basis, websites and blogs that cover gaming were the most lenient with 87 per cent granting permission.

This was followed by consumer at 86 per cent; Electronics and Engineering at 82 per cent; IT and telecoms at 81 per cent individually and Bio/Health/Pharma at 56 per cent.

The PDFs are generated exactly how they look on the publication's website or blog and include the advertising shown on the web page at that given time.

A copyright watermark is visible along with a nota bene on each pdf generated to remind clients of the basis on which the permission has been granted.

The copyright permission does not allow clients the right to use the cutting for any other purpose including in sales material on their own websites.

Should clients wish to use the PDFs for any other purpose, webitpr will direct them to the website or blog owner to agree commercial terms.

Webitpr Chief Executive, Adam Parker, said: "Copyright infringement is a serious issue and one that we don't want our clients or indeed ourselves to face.

"That's why we've spent a lot of time approaching online editors and bloggers on a one-to-one basis to seek permission to use the coverage our clients have generated through using our service on their respective sites and blogs.

"These publications aren't charging us to repurpose their content which is why we aren't charging the users of our service any additional cost to use it.

"Obviously some publications cannot or will not allow us to use their sites within proveit so we see part of our role to educate clients that such publications would find it unacceptable to use their content in this way".

Webitpr Managing Director, Jonathan Dolby, said: "The response we've received so far has been very positive with many website owners, editors and bloggers thanking us for taking the time to ask for permission in the first place.

"It's no surprise that PR professionals are increasingly looking to gain online coverage as the medium continues to grow in both reach and readership.

"The same rules still apply to online as they do to off, however, and we may well see an increase of copyright infringement cases as time goes by".

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