The issue of copyright protection has come to the forefront in Malta’s media landscape as PMN Malta, an online newspaper, raises concerns about rampant content theft among local media houses. The editor of PMN Malta, Mario Camilleri, has brought this matter to the attention of the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM), urging for immediate action and stricter adherence to copyright laws.
The controversy erupted this week when PMN Malta published an exclusive video on their TikTok account, which can be viewed here. The video, capturing a significant moment involving ABBA leader Ivan Grech Mintoff during a political debate, was subsequently downloaded and republished by four major media outlets without permission. Instead of embedding the content as per standard practice, these outlets directly uploaded the video to their platforms.
The media houses involved in the alleged copyright infringement include:
Newsbook – Initially republished without permission, but later corrected the article to embed the content after being contacted by PMN Malta.
This conduct, according to Mario Camilleri, violates Chapter 415 of the Laws of Malta: the Copyright Act (the “Act”), which mandates that copyright rights must be observed, especially among newsrooms. The PMN Malta editor emphasized the importance of respecting intellectual property to maintain the integrity and professionalism of journalism in Malta.
The editor has called for the IGM to address this pressing issue in their next general meeting, highlighting the need for a collective effort to curb copyright infringement and uphold ethical standards in the industry.
“We believe that this issue needs urgent attention. It is imperative that we, as a community of journalists and media professionals, respect each other’s work and adhere to copyright regulations. This ensures the trust and professionalism of our industry,” Camilleri stated.
PMN Malta’s call to action underscores the broader implications of copyright violations, not only for the creators of original content but also for the credibility and ethical standards of Maltese journalism. As the IGM deliberates on this matter, the media community awaits effective measures to ensure that such infringements are curtailed and that the rights of content creators are protected.
