News companies, including those behind the New York Times and
the Washington Post, are suing an internet company that transmits
their news articles to mobile phones in California.
The company, GoSMS.com denies that it is infringing the
copyright of the companies bringing the action. It takes the
stories from the publishers’ web sites and sends them in SMS (Short
Message Service) format to mobile users. SMS technology limits the
messages to 160 characters at a time, although messages can be
lengthened by sending them in batches. The lawsuit also claims that
GoSMS.com is providing false advertising and is unfairly competing
against the publishers’ own web sites.
A lawyer for the publishing companies said: “What we’re
objecting to is their use of our content without permission; this
is copyright infringement pure and simple.”
GoSMS.com claims to make no money from the service.
