Re: "copyrighted story" - CNN

On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Richard Hopkins <RHopkins[_at_]activision.com> wrote:
>
> A recent article on CNN's web site referred to an article regarding
> reporting missle sightings in NY the day of the TWA crash:
>
> "In a copyrighted story, the Pioneer Press reported that investigators
> are piecing together tapes of air traffic control radar recorded the
> night of the sightings. "
> [http://www.cnn.com/US/9704/10/missile.reut/index.html]
>
> Why would CNN make such a comment? Simple ignorance of copyright
> law? Are they suggesting that the Pioneer Press has some exclusive
> right to this bit of news?

Sounds to me more like a CYA thing. If the news agency had questions about the accuracy of some of the content they were re-reporting, they might say something like this to reduce their own liability, right?

Probably not a very good answer, but it somehow seems more likely to me than an assertion that CNN somehow thinks Pioneer Press owns the rights to a particular fact.

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