Copying WhatsApp Messages? This Could End Up in a Lawsuit

In an unprecedented ruling, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court determined this week that copying a WhatsApp message without permission could be considered copyright infringement — even if it's a short text. The case began when a natural health consultant posted about breast cancer in a WhatsApp group, and the message was quickly copied by a therapist and shared in other groups. The consultant did not stand idly by and filed a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Judge Mohammad Haj Yahya ruled that despite the post's brevity, it constitutes a "literary work" eligible for protection under the law. As a result, the therapist who used the content without permission will be required to pay financial compensation to the creator.

This case highlights the legal implications of sharing content on social networks, even if they appear in places seemingly private like WhatsApp groups. The boundaries of copyright issues in the digital world continue to shift, and this may be a precedent that opens the door to further lawsuits in the future.