Navigating Legal Changes in the UK News Media Industry: What Publishers Need to Know in 2021

The legal landscape for news media in the UK is rapidly evolving, with key changes on the horizon for 2021. The Copyright Directive, which would have provided additional rights to press publishers, will not be implemented in the UK post-Brexit. This means that UK publishers will not have the same protections as their EU counterparts when it comes to online content sharing.

Additionally, the Online Harms Bill is set to impose a legal duty of care on tech platforms to remove harmful content or face significant fines. While this legislation aims to protect users, news media publishers are concerned about potential impacts on freedom of the press.

The news industry is lobbying for a blanket exemption for news media content under the Online Harms Bill to ensure that legitimate news posts are not inadvertently removed by tech platforms. The debate over balancing online safety with media freedoms continues, and publishers must be proactive in protecting their content in this rapidly changing legal landscape.

As technology continues to reshape the news media industry, the pressure to regulate tech platforms grows. The industry is calling for robust legal protections to ensure the viability of legacy media outlets in the face of increasing competition from Big Tech. Stay tuned as these legal and commercial changes unfold in the coming year.