Yahoo dragged to Singapore court copyright infringement charges

One of the largest media groups in Asia, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), is suing the Southeast Asian unit of Yahoo Inc, accusing it of copyright infringement and reproducing news items from its leading titles without permission.

SPH has asked Singapore's high court to direct Yahoo to stop reproducing articles from its newspapers and also sought unspecified damages.

According to Chin Soo Fang, spokeswoman for SPH, the company has reproduced nearly two-dozen articles from three of its newspapers – including its flagship, the Straits Times – over the past one year, without licence or authorisation.

''We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against this suit,'' said Alan Soon, managing director, Southeast Asia, Yahoo Inc. ''Our editorial business model of acquired, commissioned and original content is proven.''

Both SPH and Yahoo are competing for online advertising from Southeast Asian firms along with other internet giants including Microsoft's MSN.

SPH, which publishes 18 newspapers and has a dominant position in Singapore's newspaper market, has seen group revenues decline by 10 per cent for the financial year ending August 31. However, revenues from its publications division have gone up by four per cent.