Racing Post data row set for tribunal

The ongoing row between the Racecourse Data Company and UK industry newspaper the Racing Post is set to take another twist as the provider of UK horseracing data information prepares to convince the courts it has no case to answer.

The Racing Post has filed a challenge to the Copyright Tribunal and the Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court as to whether the RDC holds the rights to pre-race data (PRD) following the RDC’s decision to increase the fees it charges for information such as race fields, jockeys and weights.

A case had been scheduled for September, however, the RDC told eGaming Review it had never claimed to own the data rights and on Friday will tell a Copyright Tribunal that it has no jurisdiction to hear a case on the matter.

The row first erupted earlier this year after the RDC took control of the licensing of PRD and published a new rate card which the Racing Post said would have seen its annual £150,000 fee rise to as much as £750,000.

A refusal to pay the new fee saw the Racing Post‘s PRD feed switched off on 12 July and has since been sourcing PRD information from “various sources”.

The RDC argued that the new rate card would ensure the Racing Post paid a fair sum considering how the publication re-packages the information for its B2B customers.

“The Racing Post has not been paying a fee reflective of how their businesses extensively use data, so these charges are bringing them into line as to what RDC believes is a fair rate,” a spokesperson for the RDC said.

The new rate card has been backed by 57 of the UK’s 58 racecourses, with only Towcester having so far refused to lend its support.

As well as supplying Betting Shop Editions to most betting shops in UK and Ireland, the Racing Post also provides B2B partners such as William Hill, Coral and Paddy Power with PRD feeds for betting purposes.

The Racing Post said none of its partners have been affected by the row.