Forum Moderators: not2easy
And if this is coming from a wire service - do you leave the (PRnewsire, etc) on the release?
Check what the service's website says to get the exact details of what they want.
I use several news wires daily and never credit the service itself; they are just the carriers (it would be a bit like crediting the postal service because you received a press release in the mail!). Rather, I link to the original source; those who put the story on the wire in the first place.
Bear in mind that the press release you put on your site has probably been placed with many wire services, as well as sent to many other sources by either the creators of the story themselves/or their PR company if they are using one.
Syzygy
Once you are on the original provider's site look for the link that says 'news', 'press' or 'media'.
Click through this and you will have access to the original press release - the actual source (from the horse's mouth, so to speak).
Be warned that many companies require registration/accreditation/login of some description and if you are not from the 'press' you will not get access. (In my line of work I get access to certain types of stories several days before they hit the news; thus I could tell you what will be in the news in a few days hence...).
Now, from your point of view, when you access the public press releases you can copy these, edit them (preferably), and use on your site (I'm presuming that you have no nefarious intentions...).
Simple...(trade secrets exposed, but don't tell anyone).
;-)
Syzygy
One situation that comes to mind is running competing ads, affiliate links, or Adsense on a release. A company that found the content on your site being used to sell someone else's product might be unhappy.
Also, I think that at least some of the release agencies do have some use restrictions. Reprinting a press release or two that fit the content of your site is unlikely to be a problem; scraping a few thousand and putting them on your site is more likely to be an issue.
The sure-fire way to avoid copyright problems is to get permission from the copyright holder.
One situation that comes to mind is running competing ads, affiliate links, or Adsense on a release. A company that found the content on your site being used to sell someone else's product might be unhappy.
If you are able to place an article in a magazine or newspaper you have no control over who may be advertising alongside this content. Likewise, if you have an article placed on a website, you have no control over who will be advertising alongside it.
If you don't like who is advertising alongside your editorial then either a) I'll drop your story from the site, or b) suggest that you advertise alongside your own editorial in order to maximise the impact of your presence on this site. You do want as much exposure for your story as possible don't you?
Also, when media sales teams learn from their editor that an article from Widgets plc is to run in the next issue, it is standard practice (and always has been) for them to specifically target that organisations competitors and try and get them to advertise (especially if Widgets plc has been too tight to spend money on a nice expensive corporate advert to run alongside their free editorial).
This is how it is in the commercial publishing world at any rate, whether relative to the paper product (magazine) or online version...
Also, I think that at least some of the release agencies do have some use restrictions.
Perhaps some agencies do apply restrictions, but I must admit that I've never come across one yet, from any country. Embargoes, yes (ie, you cannot publish this press release before a specified time). Of course, the point is to check - and double check, and if in any doubt, refer to the copyright holder.
Reprinting a press release or two that fit the content of your site is unlikely to be a problem; scraping a few thousand and putting them on your site is more likely to be an issue.
That really depends upon the nature of your site. But, as you say, the content has to be relevant to be of value to anyone.
Syzygy
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