Meltwater (company)

The company was founded in 2001 as Magenta News by Jørn Lyseggen and Gard Haugen. The company's first product was a news clipping service that scanned 100,000 news sources to collect keywords of relevance to its business customers.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/03/01/story9.html?b=1267419600%255E2949431|title=Meltwater Hits $100M as Software Flows in New Directions|first=Patrick|last=Hoge|publisher=San Francisco Business Times|date=February 28, 2010|access-date=January 4, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanceo.com/profiles/jorn-lyseggen-meltwater-group/|title=Jorn Lyseggen|publisher=EuropeanCEO|date=November 15, 2010|access-date=January 4, 2017}} The pair bootstrapped the company with US$15,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.techworld.com/blog/from-garage-glory/meltwater-could-this-be-norways-secret-unicorn-3605379/|title=Meltwater: Could This Startup be Norway's Secret Unicorn?|first=Sam|last=Shead|publisher=Tech World|date=March 25, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2017}} In 2005, the company relocated its headquarters to San Francisco and changed its name to Meltwater News. In 2008, through the company's non-profit arm, the Meltwater Foundation, Lyseggen launched the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology in Accra, Ghana to provide entrepreneurial, software and business training to its Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs).{{cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/421076/meltwater-foundation-to-establish-world-class-software-devel.html|title=Meltwater Foundation to Establish World Class Software Developer in Ghana|first=Samuel Nii Narku |last=Dowuona|publisher=Modern Ghana|date=October 1, 2012|access-date=January 4, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/06/14/out-of-africa-a-whole-mest-of-startups-emerges-in-ghana/|title=Out of Africa - A Whole MEST of Startups Emerges in Ghana|first=Mike|last=Butcher|publisher=TechCrunch|date=June 14, 2012|access-date=January 4, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100916006441/en/Meltwater-Foundation-Announces-Opening-Non-Profit-Incubator-Ghana|title=Meltwater Foundation Announces the Opening of a Non-Profit Incubator in Ghana, Africa|access-date=2018-02-23|language=en}}

In 2010, the company announced the release of Meltwater Press, a web-based media contact database that uses natural language processing technology to connect journalists with their most relevant covered topics.{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/05/prweb3993384.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518143057/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/05/prweb3993384.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 18, 2010 |title=Meltwater Group Launches New Service For Media Outreach |publisher=Prweb.com |date=May 13, 2010|access-date=January 4, 2017}} After the acquisitions of the Bangalore-based social media monitoring company, BuzzGain in 2010, and the CRM software developer JitterJam in February 2011, Meltwater released the social marketing and business intelligence tool Buzz Engage in June 2011.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/15/meltwater-debuts-social-media-monitoring-platform-buzz-engage/|title=Meltwater Debuts Social Media Monitoring Platform Buzz Engage|first=Leena|last=Rao|date=June 15, 2011|access-date=January 4, 2017}} In August 2011, the company acquired the real-time social search engine, IceRocket, and integrated its functionality into its rebranded Buzz Engage platform, Meltwater Buzz.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/08/04/meltwater-acquires-realtime-search-engine-icerocket/ |title=Meltwater Acquires Mark Cuban-Backed Realtime Search Engine IceRocket |first=Leena|last=Rao|publisher=TechCrunch |date=August 4, 2011 |access-date=January 4, 2017}}

In 2015, the company launched a new media intelligence platform, called "Meltwater".{{cite web|url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1338165/meltwater-simplifies-real-time-data-monitoring-revamped-tool|title=Meltwater Simplifies Real-Time Data Monitoring With Revamped Tool|first=Diana|last=Bradley|date=March 16, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2017}} In March 2016, Meltwater acquired the analytics startup, Encore Alert, and integrated its functionality into its Smart Alert product offering.{{cite web|url=http://www.martechadvisor.com/news/social-media/meltwater-acquires-encore-alert-to-bolster-social-capabilities/|title=Meltwater Acquires Encore Alert to Bolster Social Capabilities|first=Rohit|last=Roy|date=March 31, 2016|access-date=January 4, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://dcinno.streetwise.co/2016/03/29/dc-tech-marketing-startup-encore-alert-acquired-by-meltwater/|title=Local Analytics Startup Acquired, Team Heads to San Francisco|first=Eric |last=Hal Schwartz|publisher=DC Inno|date=March 29, 2016|access-date=January 4, 2017}} In early 2017, Meltwater acquired Wrapidity, an Oxford University spin-out, to add AI to media monitoring capabilities automating extraction of data from unstructured web-based content.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/21/meltwater-acquires-wrapidity/|title=Meltwater acquires Oxford Uni spin-out Wrapidity to add AI to media monitoring capabilities|last=O'Hear|first=Steve|website=TechCrunch|date=21 February 2017 |access-date=2017-03-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.meltwater.com/uk/press/meltwater-acquires-oxford-university-data-extraction-spinout-wrapidity/|title=Meltwater acquires Oxford University data extraction spinout Wrapidity – United Kingdom — Meltwater|work=United Kingdom — Meltwater|access-date=2017-03-22|language=en-GB}} That same year, the company acquired the Hong Kong–based big data company Klarity,{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/19/meltwater-acquires-hong-kong-based-klarity-to-boost-social-media-monitoring-in-asia/|title=Meltwater Acquires Hong Kong-based Klarity to Boost Social Media Monitoring in Asia|publisher=TechCrunch|first=Steve|last=O'Hear|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=September 4, 2017}} the media monitoring arm of the Postmedia Network, Infomart, the media monitoring company, Encore Alerts, and the data analysis startup, Cosmify.{{cite web|last=Magistretti|first=Berenice|date=August 15, 2017|title=Meltwater Bolsters its Machine Learning Portfolio With Cosmify Acquisition|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/08/15/meltwater-acquires-cosmify-to-ramp-up-its-machine-learning-capabilities/|access-date=September 4, 2017|publisher=Venture Beat}} In August 2017, Meltwater acquired Algo in combination of cash and stock.{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/29/meltwater-acquires-algo-an-ai-based-news-and-data-tracker/|title=Meltwater acquires Algo, an AI-based news and data tracker|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-11-20|language=en}} In March 2018, Meltwater acquired DataSift.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/19/meltwater-has-acquired-datasift-to-double-down-on-social-media-analytics/|title=Meltwater has acquired DataSift to double down on social media analytics – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=19 March 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-20}} In April 2018, Meltwater acquired Sysomos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meltwater.com/press/meltwater-acquires-sysomos/|title=Meltwater acquires leading social analytics company Sysomos|last=Wang|first=John|website=Meltwater|date=24 April 2018|language=en|access-date=2020-03-09}} In May 2020, Niklas de Besche took over as CEO from Jørn Lyseggen{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Kim |date=27 May 2020 |title=Meltwater names Niklas de Besche CEO |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1684304/meltwater-names-niklas-de-besche-ceo |website=prweek.com}} with Lyseggen continuing in the capacity of chairman of the board.

In November 2020, Meltwater announced John Box as CEO.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meltwater.com/en/about/press-releases/meltwater-announces-john-box-as-new-ceo|title = Meltwater Announces John Box as new CEO|date = 17 November 2020}} In December 2020, Meltwater listed on the Euronext Growth Oslo (ticker code: MWTR]). In December 2020, Meltwater became the title partner for the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, an online chess tournament where the best players in the world compete in total of ten tournaments for a total prize pool of US$1.5 million. As part of that partnership, Magnus Carlsen, the four-time World Chess Champion, became a global brand ambassador for Meltwater.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meltwater.com/en/about/press-releases/meltwater-becomes-title-partner-of-champions-chess|title = Meltwater becomes title partner of Champions Chess Tour|date = 3 January 2021}}

In 2021, Meltwater acquired five companies in the span of eight months. In March 2021, the Company announced an agreement to acquire Linkfluence, a French SaaS company which uses artificial intelligence to algorithmically mine social media for consumer insights.{{Cite web |last=Bach |first=Natasha |date=19 March 2021 |title=Meltwater acquires social intelligence company Linkfluence |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1710522/meltwater-acquires-social-intelligence-company-linkfluence |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=prweek.com |language=en}} In April 2021, the Company announced an agreement to acquire their long-time partner, Klear, the market leader in the influencer marketing space.{{Cite web |last=Bach |first=Natasha |date=15 April 2021 |title=Meltwater acquires Klear |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1713022/meltwater-acquires-klear |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=prweek.com |language=en}} On June 18, 2021, Meltwater entered into an agreement to acquire Owler,{{Cite web |last=Bach |first=Natasha |date=21 June 2021 |title=Meltwater continues acquisition spree by buying Owler |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1719974/meltwater-continues-acquisition-spree-buying-owler |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=prweek.com |language=en}} a Silicon Valley innovator in the $30 billion market for business information, for $18.9 million in cash and $5.6 million in company equity.{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/18/2249608/0/en/Meltwater-acquires-business-information-company-Owler-for-24-5-million-in-a-combination-of-cash-and-equity.html |title=Meltwater acquires business information company Owler for $24.5 million in a combination of cash and equity |work=Intrado |publisher=GlobeNewswire, Inc. |date=2021-06-18 |access-date=2021-06-18 }}

Meltwater has been involved in legal proceedings surrounding the legality of temporary copies and its online media clipping service. It was ruled unlawful in the United States under the "fair use" doctrine and lawful in the UK (under UK and EU copyright law).

{{main|Associated Press v. Meltwater}}

On March 21, 2013, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York rejected Meltwater's claims that its use of Web stories drawn from a scan of 162,000 news websites from more than 190 countries was a fair use of copyright-protected material, in a lawsuit brought by The Associated Press. All claims and counterclaims were dismissed in July 2013.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/29/ap-meltwater-settle-copyright-dispute/2595769/|title=AP, Meltwater settle copyright dispute|work=USA TODAY|access-date=2018-02-23|language=en}}

{{main|Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) v The Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA)}}

The case revolved around whether a client lacking a license would infringe copyright by being shown, and viewing, the extracts from copyrighted material in this way (it was common ground that to subsequently view a full article would require a license).{{cite news|last=Masnick|first=Mike|title=UK's Times Online Starts Blocking Aggregators Hours After Aggregators Win Copyright Tribunal Ruling Against Newspapers|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100317/1128238596.shtml|newspaper=Tech Dirt|date=March 17, 2010|author-link=Mike Masnick}}{{cite web|last=Charlton|first=Graham|title=The NLA explains why it is going after the news aggregators|url=http://econsultancy.com/blog/4902-the-nla-explains-why-it-is-going-after-the-news-aggregators|publisher=Econsultancy.com|date=3 November 2009}} and was due to be heard in February 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/990380/Copyright-Tribunal-rules-favour-PRCA-NLA-challenges-license-opposition/|title=Copyright Tribunal rules in favour of PRCA after NLA challenges license opposition|publisher=PRWeek|last=Cartmell|first=Matt|date=15 March 2010}}

In mid-March 2010, in an interim jurisdiction question the Copyright Tribunal ruled in favor of Meltwater and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), with the NLA was ordered to pay the costs of the suit. However, on July 27, 2011, Meltwater lost upon appeal in the UK High Court.{{cite web|last=Orlowski|first=Andrew|title=News leech loses appeal on High Court copyright case|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/28/meltwater_headlines_are_copyright_supreme_court/|publisher=The Register|date=28 July 2011}}{{cite web|last=Conlon|first=Edward|title=Meltwater Loses Headline Appeal|url=http://www.managingip.com/Article/2873947/Meltwater-loses-headline-appeal.html/|publisher=Managing Intellectual Property|date=27 July 2011}}

The decision was reversed in 2013 by the UK Supreme Court,{{Cite web |url=http://www.supremecourt.uk/decided-cases/docs/UKSC_2011_0202_Judgment.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308062504/https://www.supremecourt.uk/decided-cases/docs/UKSC_2011_0202_Judgment.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-08 |url-status=dead }} which ruled Meltwater's activities legal—subject to certain questions referred to the European Court of Justice intended to clarify matters of a cross-border nature. The rationale was that viewing of copyright works was not, and had never been, illegal in either the UK or European law,{{rp|item 36}} and Article 5.1 of the European Directive 2001/29/EC (which covers "temporary copies"{{rp|item 9,11}}) permitted automated copying of a temporary nature for a lawful purpose. As mere viewing by Meltwater's clients was lawful under UK and EU law, the technical automated creation of temporary copies to enable and facilitate this were also lawful.{{rp|item 16–17}}

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Category:2020 initial public offerings

Category:Software companies established in 2001

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Category:Software companies of Norway