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SPH, Yahoo settle copyright infringement suit

Singapore Press Holdings and Yahoo Asia Pacific Ltd have reached an amicable settlement of the copyright infringement suit started by SPH in 2011.

In a joint statement by both companies issued on Monday evening, Yahoo said it had paid unspecified damages and costs to SPH. It also acknowledged that its Yahoo Singapore News site had reproduced content from SPH newspapers without approval.

Yahoo said it has also undertaken not to knowingly or intentionally infringe SPH copyrights.

In November 2011, SPH filed a lawsuit against Yahoo, citing 23 articles in which it said the internet giant had substantially reproduced content from its stable of newspapers without permission.

Below is the copy of the joint statement in full.

=JOINT STATEMENT=

1. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (“SPH”) and Yahoo! Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (formerly known as Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd) (“Yahoo! Asia Pacific”) have reached an amicable settlement of the copyright infringement suit commenced by SPH against Yahoo! Asia Pacific under Suit No.831 of 2011/F and the counterclaim filed by Yahoo! Asia  Pacific.

2. Under the settlement, Yahoo! Asia Pacific acknowledges that it has, in connection with its Yahoo! Singapore News site, reproduced content from SPH’s newspapers without SPH’s approval.

3. As publishers, Yahoo! companies strive to respect the intellectual property rights of others wherever they do business. The actions here by a small number of Yahoo! Asia Pacific employees are deeply regretted.  The responsible employees have been disciplined or terminated.

4. Under the terms of settlement, Yahoo! Asia Pacific has paid damages and costs to SPH, and has also undertaken not to amongst other things knowingly or intentionally infringe SPH’s copyrights.