The Copyright Tribunal has ruled, in its Final Decision on the copyright case fought between the NLA and Meltwater supported by the PRCA, that licensing can now begin on mutually accepted terms.

The decision is a result of the lengthy case, reported throughout by Communicate, involving Newspaper Licensing Agency’s (NLA) Web End User Licensing scheme (WEUL), which Meltwater Group challenged over its legality and the reasonableness of its fees for online news content.

A uniform branding strategy is being implemented across all government departments, with each adopting a royal crest logo.

Online access to the 47 sections of HM Government will be facilitated through a single website in a bid to improve online communications. 

The gala dinner of the Corporate and Financial Awards 2012 took place last night in London with the night’s top prizes going to the in-house communications team at Eversheds LLP, and to communications agency MHP Communications.

In its first year the ceremony, which gives out the only awards to celebrate financial communications, saw guests entertained by Radio 4 Today Programme host Simon Jack at the Light in Bishopsgate, and Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category taking home trophies.

Chime Communications, owners of PR agency Bell Pottinger, has reported significant progress in its management buyout (MBO) as a result of low revenues in its PR sector.

The main terms of purchasing a significant stake in its public relations department have been authorised, and involves the companies: Bell Pottinger Sans Frontières, Bell Pottinger Public Relations, Bell Pottinger Middle East, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs and Chime’s 60% and the 40% management stake in Pelham Bell Pottinger.

Former News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, says he approached the role of director of communications to David Cameron reluctantly.

During his appearance before the Leveson inquiry today, Coulson says he met with George Osborne to discuss the comms position “with a degree of reluctance,” and claims there were no improper discussions between News International and the Conservative party.

Cardiff City Football Club’s alleged rebrand has caused fans to respond with a petition against changes to its traditional blue colours and bluebird emblem.  

The petition, entitled “Cardiff City fans for preservation of the Bluebird,” asserts the value of the traditional branding and the historical bond fans have with it.

Boris Johnsons’s communications director, Guto Harri, is rumoured to adopt a communications position at News International.

Harri was appointed back in May 2008 to be Johnson’s communications director and was previously approached by David Cameron to adopt the position of media chief.

Sustainability in financial services is set to come to the forefront of the global agenda, as the Principles for Responsible Investment Initiative (PRI) has today appointed Lansons Communications as strategic communications advisors.

PRI is backed by the United Nations, and is partners with the UNEP Finance Intitiative and the UN Global Compact.

The Financial Times’ collaboration with a former supplier, commissioned to develop its web app, has brought about a new business unit dedicated to creating news delivery solutions.

The FT were clearly impressed with Assanka’s development of the new Financial Times Web App, and have now collaborated to create new brand, FT Labs, a team dedicated to improving the news provider’s digital services and technology products.

Amid the Tottenham Court Road bombing incident, Thomas Cook has attracted some unwanted attention as a result of the #TCRbomb hashtag.

When typing in the hash tag, Thomas Cook’s advertorial, or ‘Promoted Tweet’, was the first listed in the feed due to the TC search term being recognised.

A growing number of large companies are failing to manage their digital strategies effectively.

Research compiled over the last 12 months by the 2012 Financial Times Bowen Craggs Index assessed 81 of the largest companies within the FT Global 500 in terms of their use of digital channels.

Amongst the worst performing sectors is IT, with a number of companies failing to translate expertise in consumer technology development into coherent digital corporate communications.

The Social Brands 100 shortlist has been announced.

After much analysis, the successful brands go forward to the final round of judging to decide upon their individual ranking.

In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP’s corporate reputation is evidently making a steady recovery. 

The oil and gas giant was named the biggest improver in the UK RepTrak Pulse 2012 survey; however its reputation is still ranked as ‘weak’.

BP’s reputation score, which is ranked out of 100, currently stands at 58.41 and saw an almost 15 point increase from 2011.

The winners of the Strategic Planning Society (SPS) awards were announced last night at the 6^th annual Strategic Value in Corporate Reporting Awards.

The awards are presented to the FTSE 350 companies who put their strategic thinking, planning and management into practice and, as a result, offer directors and investors the opportunity to better assess future potential and worth.

Ian McDonald Wood, chairman of the Strategic Planning Society, says: “The Government expecting all listed companies to publish a Strategic Report from next year that the SPS has confirmed the remarkable benefit of getting this right.”

Speculation that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be abolished after the Olympics poses doubt over the future regulation of the communications industry.

It is suggested that the media sector will become part of Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS), while other departments split between local councils and the Department of Health.

A new innovation in mobile technology gives PR professionals access to a comprehensive database of media information while on the move.

The optimisation of FeaturesExec Media Database for mobile, launched by DWPub, grants industry professionals a wealth of media contacts, outlets and forward features at their fingertips, as well as a streamlined view of the website.

The future of the PR industry is looking positive, as new business and client budgets improve.

The PRCA’s quarterly survey revealed that optimism in the PR industry had grown by 39% in the last quarter, and faith in the economic condition of the industry over the next 12 months showed 53% growth.

Centrica plc is the first FTSE100 company to launch a web app as part of its corporate communications strategy.

The app, developed by The Group, has been fully optimised for all tablets and a range of mobile devices. This includes the iPad due to the growing audience accessing content through the device.

Plans to launch individualised brand domains have been paused following a problem with the application system.

Following an information leak, the application system allowing businesses to apply for their own “dot Brand” Top Level Domains (TLD) was shut down. The technical mishap allowed some users of the TLD Application System (TAS) to see file names and user names belonging to other applicants.

Google’s social networking tool Google+ has launched its updated look – along with figures claiming that the would-be competitor to Facebook and Twitter now has 170 million registered users.

The new-look Google+ has a revamped landing page tracking news and trends, and for brands the network seems to be building an emphasis on communities around certain trends in content.