I wouldn't begin to guess the legality of what they've done, but I'm pretty certain that the Metro Herald lawyers would soon start *bellyaching if we were to start using their articles without giving them credit for it.
* no pun on your complaint intended.
Some journalists are just plain lazy, and wouldn't even bother standing up if the building was on fire.
A cousin of mine worked as an office-junior for a national newspaper in Dublin years ago, and one of the travel journalists had to write an article on some holiday destination, even though he'd never been to the place. He sent her out to pick up a pile of brochures from various travel agents, then concocted his article as if he had spent time luxuriating in some 5 star hotel for a fortnight.