Thelondonpaper Owners Could Expand Free Title

News International has bought internet domain names for a variety of regional newspapers, giving rise to speculation that it could expand free newspaper thelondonpaper to other UK cities.

“We registered several names when we launched thelondonpaper as a matter of course but we are 100% focused on London for the foreseeable future,” a News International spokeswoman told the trade press.

Such a move was standard procedure nationally and internationally to protect intellectual property after the launch of any new title, she said.

News International has registered .co.uk and .com domain names for the Birmingham Paper, the Bristol Paper, the Leeds Paper, the Liverpool Paper, the Manchester Paper, the Hull Paper, the York Paper, the Edinburgh Paper, the Glasgow Paper and the Cardiff Paper.

Regional newspaper companies such as Johnston Press and Trinity Mirror would be concerned by any rollout of thelondonpaper, as the afternoon free newspaper would compete directly with many of their paid-for flagship and most profitable titles.

News International: 020 7782 3922 www.newscorp.co.uk