Editors Guild of Manipur (EGM) has announced its decision to pursue legal action against individuals who upload or share news items, including e-newspapers, PDF files, screenshots, photos, and digital clippings on social media platforms without the approval of the competent authority.
The decision came after thorough deliberations among publishers and editors of media houses in Manipur, as stated in a release issued by EGM on Tuesday.
EGM emphasized that such unauthorized uploading and sharing of news content violate the provisions of the Indian Copyright Act of 1957, the Trade Marks Act of 1999, and the Information Technology Act of 2000.
While individuals are permitted to share links to news stories and articles published by media houses, the direct sharing of copyrighted materials without consent is deemed illegal, the release clarified.
Despite earlier appeals by media house publishers and editors to cease such illegal activities, instances of unauthorized uploading and sharing persist on various social media platforms, EGM noted.
In response, after careful consideration, publishers and editors of media houses have decided to initiate legal proceedings under relevant laws against individuals who continue to share news items illegally, the release added.
EGM concluded by urging the public to refrain from engaging in such illegal actions and warned that violating the Copyright Act could lead to imprisonment for up to six months or a fine of Rs. 50,000. Offenders are advised to be prepared to face legal consequences for copyright infringement.
