McClatchy Company et al v. EBSCO Information Services

On May 28, 2025, The McClatchy Company and several major metropolitan newspapers filed a federal lawsuit in New York against EBSCO Information Services and its affiliate Zendy. The plaintiffs allege that EBSCO, a major database aggregator, systematically reproduced and distributed their copyrighted news articles within academic and corporate subscription products without proper licensing. The complaint contends that EBSCO’s actions amount to mass copyright infringement, undermining the publishers' ability to monetize their journalism. The publishers seek statutory damages and an injunction to halt the unauthorized use, framing the case as a critical battle over the value of original reporting in the digital age. The suit highlights escalating tensions between news creators and information aggregators.

The case is pending as of the filing date on May 28, 2025. The court has not yet issued a substantive ruling or set a trial date.

The central dispute is whether EBSCO possessed valid licenses to distribute McClatchy's copyrighted content or if its inclusion in databases like Zendy constitutes unlicensed, systematic infringement. A key contention involves the scope of any existing institutional subscriptions versus allegedly unauthorized redistribution.

The lawsuit represents a significant flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between traditional news publishers and digital aggregators, drawing comparisons to earlier actions against AI training data use. It has amplified industry debate regarding fair compensation for journalism and the legal boundaries of database subscription services.