London, United Kingdom // May 21, 2025 – Exchange Data International (EDI), a disruptive provider of global financial and economic data, has published a new paper titled “Are tickers subject to copyright?”. The paper examines whether stock ticker symbols qualify for copyright protection under laws in the major intellectual property jurisdictions.
The paper considers whether the basic characteristics of ticker symbols meet the legal thresholds required for copyright in key jurisdictions, including the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Author of the paper, Andrew Martin, Legal Consultant, comments: “Through this paper, we examine the legal considerations surrounding ticker symbols and their potential. It’s important to address these issues as they could have significant implications for the financial data ecosystem, affecting exchanges, data vendors, and the broader market. I hope this analysis provides clarity on the subject and contributes to the ongoing conversation about rights and access to financial information.”
Tapping into case law, regulatory rulings, intellectual property standards, and competition law, the paper argues that exchanges do not own the copyright in tickers. They have however been trying to monetize this data that they are obliged to generate as part of their core function. Data vendors, financial institutions, and the broader market are adversely affected by these unjustified copyright assertions; these restrictions will bring significant implications.
“This is a timely publication that highlights important legal and commercial questions,” said Jonathan Bloch, CEO of Exchange Data International. “We believe the paper contributes meaningfully to the broader conversation about rights, access, and innovation in the financial data ecosystem.”
The full paper is available to read here. For additional information about EDI products, please contact info@exchange-data.com.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Exchange Data International | Romy Threadgold, Head of Marketing | r.threadgold@exchange-data.com
About Exchange Data International
Exchange Data International (EDI) is a leading provider of global securities data, offering detailed and reliable information across reference data, corporate actions, pricing, and economic indicators. EDI supports the operational and analytical needs of financial institutions around the world.
Romy Threadgold is the Head of Marketing at Exchange Data International (EDI), where she has been shaping the company’s marketing strategy for over six years. With extensive experience in the financial data industry, Romy is a key driver of EDI’s brand development, client engagement, and communications initiatives.
As a seasoned marketing professional, Romy’s strategic insights and innovative approach continue to solidify EDI’s reputation as a leading provider of financial data