WBN Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

The value of original journalism lies in its originality. When WBN's reporters investigate a story, when our analysts synthesise intelligence signals, when our engineers build a new platform feature, or when our editorial teams develop a new content format, they are creating something that did not previously exist. Intellectual property protection is what makes it possible to invest in that creation — by ensuring that the value of original work accrues, at least in part, to the people and organisations who produced it. Without that protection, the economics of serious journalism and innovation become very difficult to sustain.

WBN's commitment to intellectual property is not purely self-interested. We recognise that the same principles that protect our work also protect the work of independent journalists, authors, photographers, software developers, and creators across every field. We hold ourselves to the same standard of respect for others' intellectual property that we ask others to apply to ours.

WBN's published content carries a copyright notice in the form: © WBN News Corp Inc.™ [Year]. All rights reserved. The presence or absence of a copyright notice on any specific piece of content does not affect WBN's ownership of that content. All content produced by WBN is protected by copyright from the moment of its creation.

WBN's copyright in its content covers the specific expression of ideas — the words, structures, arrangements, and creative choices that give a piece of content its distinctive form. Copyright does not protect facts, raw data, or general ideas — but it does protect the way in which WBN's journalists and editors have researched, synthesised, and expressed those facts and ideas. The distinction matters: while underlying facts are available to all, WBN's specific articles, reports, and analyses are not available for reproduction without authorisation.

The duration of copyright in WBN's content is governed by the copyright laws of the relevant jurisdiction. In most jurisdictions where WBN operates, copyright in original works subsists for the life of the author plus a period of years, or for a fixed term in the case of works owned by a corporation. WBN does not represent that content whose copyright term has expired in one jurisdiction is freely available in all jurisdictions — copyright duration varies by country and by the nature of the work.

Unless WBN has expressly granted a licence in writing, all rights in WBN's copyrighted content are reserved. This means that reproduction, distribution, modification, adaptation, public display, public performance, or any other use of WBN's content beyond what is expressly permitted under applicable fair dealing or fair use provisions requires WBN's prior written authorisation.

• Reference use. Third parties may refer to WBN and its products by their correct trade marked names in the context of factual, accurate reference — for example, in journalism, research, or commentary about WBN. Such use must be clearly referential and must not suggest endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship by WBN.
• No commercial use without permission. WBN's trade marks may not be used in connection with any commercial product, service, or activity without WBN's prior written consent. This includes use in domain names, social media handles, business names, product names, or advertising.
• No modification. WBN's logos, wordmarks, and brand assets must not be altered, modified, distorted, or combined with other marks in a way that changes their appearance or dilutes their distinctiveness.
• No misleading use. WBN's trade marks must not be used in any way that suggests a false association with WBN, that misrepresents the nature of a product or service, or that could damage WBN's reputation or brand.

WBN monitors the use of its trade marks and takes action against misuse, misappropriation, and infringement. Organisations or individuals who use WBN's marks without authorisation, or in ways that are misleading or damaging, may be subject to legal action. Requests to use WBN's trade marks or brand assets should be directed to legal@wbnn.news.

Individuals may access, read, and share WBN content for personal, non-commercial purposes. Sharing a link to a WBN article on social media, forwarding content to a colleague, or printing an article for personal reference are examples of personal use that do not require a licence. Personal use does not extend to systematic downloading, bulk copying, or making WBN content available to others in a way that substitutes for accessing it directly through WBN's platforms.

Educational institutions may use WBN content in genuine educational contexts — including classroom discussion, academic research, and curriculum development — in ways consistent with applicable fair dealing or fair use provisions in their jurisdiction. Educational use does not extend to commercial republication, systematic distribution to students as a substitute for subscription access, or use in commercially operated educational platforms without a licence.

WBN acknowledges the principle of fair dealing (in Canadian, UK, and Commonwealth jurisdictions) and fair use (in the United States and some other jurisdictions) — statutory exceptions that permit limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as research, private study, criticism, review, news reporting, and education. The availability and scope of these exceptions varies by jurisdiction and by the specific use in question. WBN does not waive its rights under applicable law in jurisdictions where fair dealing or fair use exceptions are more limited than in others.

• Brief quotations from WBN content for the purposes of commentary, criticism, or news reporting — with clear and prominent attribution to WBN as the source
• Quotations that are proportionate to the purpose — a sentence or short passage, not a substantial reproduction of the article
• Quotations that do not substitute for the original work or reduce the incentive for audiences to access it directly

• Reproducing substantial portions of WBN articles, reports, or intelligence content — even with attribution — without a licence
• Using quotations in a way that misrepresents WBN's editorial position or takes content materially out of context

WBN encourages linking to its content. Providing a hyperlink to a WBN article or platform does not require permission and is a form of attribution that WBN welcomes. Framing WBN content within another website's interface in a way that removes WBN's branding, obscures the source, or reproduces the full content within an external environment is not permitted without authorisation.

All licensing and permission requests should be directed to legal@wbnn.news. To help us respond efficiently, please describe the specific content you wish to use, the purpose for which you wish to use it, the audience and distribution channel, and the territory and duration involved. We aim to respond to all licensing enquiries within ten business days.

Commercial reproduction or republication of WBN's editorial content — including reproduction in print, online, in newsletters, in databases, or in any commercial product or service — requires a written licence from WBN. We consider requests for commercial reuse on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature and purpose of the use, the commercial context, and the potential effect on WBN's own distribution and commercial interests.

WBN's content may be available for syndication to media partners, publishers, and distribution platforms under licence arrangements. Syndication licences are granted in writing and specify the content covered, the territory and duration, the platforms on which content may appear, attribution requirements, and the commercial terms. Syndication licences do not transfer ownership of copyright to the licensee.

WBN enters into content partnership arrangements with publishers, platforms, and organisations that align with its editorial values and quality standards. Content partnerships are governed by written agreements that specify the nature of the arrangement, the rights granted and retained, editorial standards applicable to the partnership, and attribution requirements. Enquiries about content partnerships should be directed to legal@wbnn.news.

Contributors to WBN's platforms generally retain ownership of the copyright in their original work. WBN does not claim ownership of content created by independent contributors unless this is specifically agreed in a written agreement. Where WBN employs journalists or other editorial staff, content created in the course of their employment belongs to WBN as the employer, in accordance with applicable employment and copyright law.

By submitting content for publication on WBN's platforms, contributors grant WBN a licence to publish, distribute, archive, and promote that content across WBN's platforms and through WBN's distribution channels. The specific scope, duration, and exclusivity of this licence are determined by the contributor's agreement with WBN. Contributors who wish to understand the specific terms applicable to their arrangement should refer to their written agreement or contact legal@wbnn.news.

All content submitted by contributors must be their own original work. Contributors must not submit content that reproduces or adapts the work of others without appropriate authorisation, that plagiarises any source, or that has been previously published in a way that conflicts with the exclusivity terms of their agreement with WBN. Contributors warrant that their submissions are original and that they hold the rights necessary to grant WBN the licences described in their agreement.

Where contributors use AI tools to assist in the production of content submitted to WBN, they remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, and intellectual property compliance of that content. Contributors must ensure that AI-assisted submissions do not reproduce copyrighted material without authorisation and must disclose the use of AI assistance where required by WBN's editorial standards or their contributor agreement. AI assistance does not transfer intellectual property ownership or reduce the contributor's obligations under their agreement with WBN.

Users retain ownership of the copyright in original content they create and submit to WBN's community platforms. WBN does not claim ownership of user-generated content.

By submitting content to any WBN community platform, users grant WBN a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, reproduce, distribute, and adapt that content in connection with the operation of WBN's platforms and services — including for moderation, archiving, promotional purposes, and the improvement of WBN's products and services. This licence does not transfer ownership of copyright and persists for the duration of the content's availability on WBN's platforms, subject to applicable removal rights.

Users are solely responsible for ensuring that the content they submit does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party. By submitting content, users warrant that they hold all necessary rights to make the submission and to grant WBN the licence described above. Users who submit content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights may have that content removed and may be subject to account restrictions as described in WBN's Community Guidelines.

• Licensed content. Where WBN uses images, photographs, video, audio, software, or other content owned by third parties, it does so under appropriate licences. WBN does not publish third-party copyrighted content without authorisation.
• Attribution. WBN attributes third-party content clearly — crediting photographers, image agencies, wire services, researchers, and other creators whose work appears on our platforms. Attribution is not a substitute for a licence where a licence is required, but it is a minimum standard of respect for the work of others.
• Wire services and sourced content. Where WBN publishes news content sourced from wire services or news agencies, this is done under licence and attributed accordingly. Wire-sourced content is clearly identified where it appears alongside WBN's original reporting.
• Software and open source. Where WBN's platforms incorporate open-source software or third-party libraries, WBN complies with the licence terms applicable to those components. WBN maintains records of third-party software dependencies and their applicable licences.

If you believe that WBN has published content that infringes your intellectual property rights or the rights of a party you represent, please contact us at legal@wbnn.news. Please include a description of the allegedly infringing content and its location on our platforms, the intellectual property right you believe has been infringed, your contact details, and a statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorised. We investigate all credible infringement reports promptly.

Where WBN identifies or is made aware of the unauthorised use of its copyrighted content by third parties, it responds in proportion to the nature and scale of the infringement. Initial responses may include a request to remove the infringing content or to enter into a licence arrangement that legitimises the use. Where informal resolution is not appropriate or is refused, WBN will pursue its legal rights through applicable legal channels. WBN does not issue speculative or disproportionate infringement claims — but it does protect its intellectual property consistently and does not ignore credible infringement.

Where WBN's platforms host user-generated or contributor content that is alleged to infringe a third party's copyright, WBN follows a defined process:

• Report received. WBN receives the infringement report at legal@wbnn.news and acknowledges it within two business days.
• Investigation. WBN reviews the reported content against the claimed right, assessing whether the use appears to fall within the scope of the claimed copyright and whether any applicable exception — such as fair dealing — may apply.
• Content review. Where the infringement report is credible and the content does not appear to fall within an applicable exception, WBN takes action — which may include removing or disabling access to the content while the matter is investigated further.
• Notification. Where practicable, WBN notifies the user or contributor who submitted the allegedly infringing content of the report and the action taken.
• Repeat infringement. Users or contributors who repeatedly submit content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights, or who submit content with a clear pattern of deliberate infringement, will have their accounts restricted or permanently removed.

Content produced with AI assistance on WBN's platforms — including articles, intelligence summaries, and analytical outputs — is produced under the direction, review, and editorial responsibility of human editors and analysts. To the extent that copyright subsists in AI-assisted content produced by WBN, WBN asserts ownership of that content on the basis of the human creative contribution, editorial judgment, and oversight applied in its production. WBN does not assert copyright in content that was produced entirely by an AI system without meaningful human creative contribution.

WBN is committed to responsible AI practices that respect the intellectual property rights of third parties. We do not use AI systems to reproduce, redistribute, or systematically extract copyrighted content from third-party sources without appropriate authorisation. Where WBN's AI systems are trained on or interact with third-party content, this is done in accordance with applicable licence terms or applicable law.

Where AI systems have contributed materially to content published on WBN's platforms, this is disclosed in accordance with WBN's Editorial Standards and Responsible AI Policy. Disclosure of AI involvement does not alter the intellectual property ownership of the content — it is a matter of transparency with our audiences, not a statement about copyright.

WBN does not permit the use of its copyrighted content to train third-party AI models without a written licence. Systematic scraping, crawling, or extraction of WBN content for the purpose of AI model training — whether by automated means or otherwise — is prohibited and constitutes infringement of WBN's intellectual property rights. WBN actively monitors for unauthorised AI training use of its content and will take action where it is identified. Enquiries about licensed AI training use of WBN content should be directed to legal@wbnn.news.

WBN's intellectual property rights and practices are informed by major international frameworks — including the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the WIPO Copyright Treaty, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and applicable regional frameworks such as European Union intellectual property directives. These frameworks provide a common baseline for copyright protection across most jurisdictions where WBN operates.

WBN acknowledges that the scope of copyright protection, the availability of exceptions such as fair dealing or fair use, the duration of copyright, and the procedures for addressing infringement vary significantly between jurisdictions. Where this Policy describes WBN's rights and the rights of others, those descriptions reflect general principles that may be qualified or modified by the law of specific jurisdictions. Users, contributors, and partners are encouraged to seek local legal advice where they are uncertain about their rights or obligations in a specific jurisdiction.

WBN's trade marks and copyrights are protected in the jurisdictions in which they are registered or in which protection arises automatically under applicable law. Where infringement occurs in a jurisdiction where WBN's rights are protected, WBN may exercise those rights through the legal mechanisms available in that jurisdiction. WBN cooperates with intellectual property authorities and follows applicable legal processes in the jurisdictions where it operates.

Intellectual property law, publishing practice, AI technology, and the digital media landscape are all evolving rapidly. WBN reviews this Policy at least annually and updates it when relevant legal, technological, or operational developments warrant a revision. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this document reflects the most recent change. Previous versions of this Policy are available on request.

WBN takes the development of this Policy seriously and does not treat it as a static document. As AI capabilities, international IP frameworks, and the nature of digital publishing continue to evolve, this Policy will evolve with them — reflecting WBN's commitment to remaining at the forefront of responsible intellectual property practice in global digital media.

Where updates to this Policy materially affect the rights or obligations of contributors, users, or partners, WBN will communicate those changes through its platforms and, where applicable, directly to affected parties. Continued use of WBN's platforms following a material update constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.