Axel Springer's Copyright Battle Against Ad Blockers: Is Website Code Software?
2025-08-19
German publisher Axel Springer has been battling ad blocker Adblock Plus for years. Initially using competition law, they lost. They then pivoted to copyright law, arguing Adblock Plus' modification of their website code constitutes infringement. The German Federal Court of Justice overturned a previous ruling, siding with Axel Springer, stating website code is copyrightable software, and its modification may be infringement. This case has drawn significant attention; its outcome could profoundly impact the software industry, internet ecosystem, and even the future of online news' pay models and access to information.
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