Lawsuit May Decide High School Game Rights Online

"We believe news organizations should be free to cover news with whatever technologies are at our disposal," Flannery said Monday. "We don't believe it's WIAA's jurisdiction to tell us how to operate our business."

The newspaper wants the court to recognize that the WIAA is working on behalf of public schools and declare its no-bid, long-term contracts for TV coverage and photography unconstitutional.

Peter Fox, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, said the case "has advanced further in the legal system than in any other state."

Athletic associations and newspaper groups elsewhere are closely watching.

"If newspapers lose in Wisconsin, I'll assume my (athletic association) will come back and start playing hardball again," said Paula Casey, Arizona Newspaper Association executive director.

Arizona has a truce in place regarding coverage policies, but hasn't looked into the issue of live webcasts or blogging.

The Illinois High School Association and the Illinois Press Association agreed last year to keep the IHSA from regulating the use of newspaper photos or other products at games and events.