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The affected app was later revealed to be Podcast Republic, which runs on the Android operating system. The CBC also disabled the ability for users to access its content on the app.

However, the CBC said that this is a routine practice: “It’s not uncommon for this issue to pop up, and when it’s brought to our attention, we view it as an opportunity to discuss licensing opportunities.”

Podcast Republic does sell banner ads at the bottom of its display, but does not sell ads specifically on CBC content, nor does the app make any alterations to or place ads on any podcasts including those published by the public broadcaster.

One of Canada’s leading experts on digital and intellectual property law was left baffled by the CBC’s message.

“I don’t get the claim,” said Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. “An app that simply brings in a publicly available feed that you have made public is not something I’m convinced is a commercial use.”

Geist added that CBC News articles have terms and conditions associated with them, as does the broadcaster’s website. “If I read a news article through a browser or any other reader, which are applications that access publicly available content, that’s not a commercial misuse.”

“This all leaves beside the broader issue of why the CBC would want to limit the access the public has to content and information they paid for,” he said.

While the CBC does not disclose its digital advertising revenue, last year saw a considerable shrink in its overall advertising revenue from to $220.1-million from $474.6-million – that was in large part due to the loss of NHL television rights beginning with the 2014-15 season.

Financial Post