Former journalists exonerated

YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta district court exonerated Monday three former journalists of Kedaulatan Rakyat daily who were accused of violating copyrights.

Presiding judge Sri Boediastuti said the three must be freed as there was no evidence that they had violated copyrights as charged by the management of the daily.

The Kedaulatan Rakyat management had accused journalists Bambang Legowo, Sumanto and Pardoyo of violating intellectual copyrights by publishing a book titled Setengah Abad Meniti Buih (A Half Century Walking Over the Froth) containing the daily's editorials.

The three published the book in 1995 after a tight selection. They said the publishing of the book was aimed at exploring the daily's attitude toward the political situation then.

The Kedaulatan Rakyat management was upset and accused the three of violating intellectual copyrights. (23/sur)