Product details

This case is part of the PRISM case study portfolio of 15 cases on the intangible economy, funded by the European Commission. In 1998, Reuters developed ReutersNewsML, and then submitted the concept to the International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC), which managed the development of the NewsML specification. NewsML was ratified as an IPTC standard for the entire global news media industry in 2000, which Reuters has adopted as standard data format for its news delivery, and implemented first in its Internet Delivery System (IDS). This case is divided into four parts. In part one, background information is provided on Reuters and discusses the history of technology use within Reuters, highlighting both the high levels of innovation, and the predominantly proprietary nature, which have characterised Reuters' technology exploitation strategies. In part two, the case explores the content management and related challenges behind both Reuters' initial development of ReutersNewsML, and Reuters' continued commitment to the development and use of the IPTC NewsML standard. In part three, the case examines Reuters' decision to bring the ReutersNewsML concept to the IPTC and support the development of NewsML as a company-neutral, international standard, rather than a unilateral effort by any one organisation. In part four, the case provides a more technical discussion of the NewsML content management technology. The case concludes with comments on the relationship between XML technologies like NewsML and the major industry neutral trends which characterise the contemporary economy.