The SPUR Coalition (Standards for Publisher Usage Rights) is a non-profit coalition of news publishers established to shape the technical and commercial environment within which IP owners can control and monetise the use of their content by generative AI applications.
The announcement, made at WAN-IFRA’s World News Media Congress, marks a significant moment in the coalition’s growth since its public launch at the end of February, and signals that publisher-led action on AI is consolidating into a coordinated, international movement.
The group includes a new founding member, CMA Media, joining from France.
Jean-Christophe Tortora, Deputy CEO of CMA Media, said: ‘By joining SPUR at board level, we are making a clear commitment to collective international action. The exceptional success of the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille demonstrates that the world’s leading publishers are determined to open a new chapter in their relationship with technology platforms and public authorities: a ‘new deal’ based on fair value sharing, content protection, and the defense of reliable and independent journalism in the age of artificial intelligence.’
SPUR will also welcome two new global affiliate organisations: WAN-IFRA/FIPP and the European Publishers Council (EPC).
Joining as standard members are: a cohort of leading Canadian media organisations: The Globe and Mail, Quebecor, Postmedia, Torstar, CBC/Radio-Canada, La Presse and TVO Media Education Group. Alongside them are: SIPA Ouest-France Group, Ringier, Citywire, Sanoma Media Finland, Der Standard, Bonnier News and FD Mediagroep.
Affiliate members will include: Digital Content Next (DCN), the Association of Online, Publishers (AOP), Independent Publishers Alliance, Newsworks, the News/Media Alliance (NMA US), Independent Media Association (IMA), News Media Canada, theHungarian Publishers’ Association, Hebdos Québec, and the PPA (Professional Publishers Association).
SPUR will also welcome associate members: Times Higher Education, RNZ and AMLIntelligence. With these additions, SPUR will bring together 36 publishers and affiliate organisationsto develop a market ecosystem that works for both publishers and AI developers. The coalition is inviting journalism organisations around the world to join in shaping how AI develops on terms that are fair, transparent and sustainable for the sector.
Stig Ørskov, CEO of WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers and one of SPUR’s new global affiliate organisations, said: ‘Announcing the significant expansion of SPUR at the World News Media Congress – the world’s largest gathering of news media leaders – underscores the importance of this initiative. WAN-IFRA strongly believes that collective publisher action is essential to creating a fair and workable AI licensing market. The global news industry should be an active participant in shaping standards for the AI era, and our affiliation with SPUR marks an important step in that direction.’
SPUR’s founding members – the BBC, Financial Times, Guardian Media Group, Sky News, Telegraph Media Group and Mediahuis – welcome the new cohort and will work alongside them on the coalition’s technical, strategic and engagement priorities.
Since launch, SPUR has made significant progress on its telemetry work: the technical infrastructure that enables publishers to see, in real time, how AI systems are using their content. The SPUR telemetry standard, which has been developed with SPUR members and technical partners, offers a framework for collaboration between content owners, AI platforms and intermediaries. Further details on this are expected shortly.