Internet
Legal dispute over SWR app drags on
The App “News Zone” of Südwestrundfunk (SWR). The legal dispute over the Südwestrundfunk (SWR) app is dragging on for a long time. photo
© Marijan Murat/dpa
“Newszone” is a thorn in the side of many publishers. Actually, a legal decision should be made in a few days. But the district court in Stuttgart apparently still needs advice on the matter.
The legal dispute over an app from Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is dragging on for a long time. A spokesman for the Stuttgart Regional Court said on Thursday at the request of the German Press Agency that a decision date planned for Monday (October 17) had been canceled. There will be a new hearing date. It was also said that there was obviously still a need for consultation with the parties.
The dispute is about the “Newszone” app of the public SWR program “Das Ding”. The ARD broadcaster’s range of news is primarily aimed at younger people. Numerous publishers in the southwest had complained. The core question is whether the app is too text-heavy. The publishers refer to the media state treaty, which also regulates the online offering of public broadcasting. Disputes between newspaper houses and public broadcasters in Germany about their online offerings are currently increasing again.
Information on the Media State Treaty app