A federal judge ruled on 11/19 that The Independent violated Santa Barbara News-Press copyrights when it posted a story on independent.com written by NP staffer Scott Hadley. The Indy argued the article was protected by the fair-use doctrine since the News-Press had refused to publish it, but the judge disagreed. An unfair business practice charge was the only part of the News-Press’s case against The Indy not thrown out, with no word yet on damages or penalties.
