26. Is it legal to link to a webpage (insert a hyperlink on one webpage that links to another webpage) without obtaining its owner’s consent?

26. Is it legal to link to a webpage (insert a hyperlink on one webpage that links to another webpage) without obtaining its owner’s consent?

In general, linking to a webpage does not require the consent of the copyright owner. This is because a link to a webpage contains essentially the web address of the webpage. Such addresses are not protected by copyright. However, while linking by itself is not copyright infringement, it may be objectionable on other legal grounds (e.g. if the linking defames the owner of the webpage, or misleads the public into thinking that there is a trade connection with the owner of the webpage). In such cases, the linking may be illegal.