AP rethinking blogger use of its content
Cory Bergman June 16th, 2008
Last week the Associated Press sent the Drudge Retort (with a “t” not a “p”) a letter asking that it remove excerpts of AP content — 39 to 79 words in length — saying it was a copyright infringement. Over the weekend, the AP backed off a bit on the letter, but said it was taking a new look at non-member bloggers and their use of AP content “when we feel the use is more reproduction than reference.” This, as you might imagine, has riled up the blogging masses. TechCrunch, for example, has banned AP stories on the site. “The AP doesn’t get to make it’s own rules around how its content is used, if those rules are stricter than the law allows,” writes Michael Arrington. Terry Heaton takes it a step further, “The real problem for the AP is that it can’t win this argument, and by pressing the issue, they’re very likely to end up with a business model that dies overnight.”
So, are blogs getting a free ride? Or is the AP going too far? Where do you draw the line between refererence and reproduction?
3 Comments Add your own
1. Dude | June 16th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
When talking to AP about RSS and the related issues to this blog, they always told me there was a character limit on the abstract/teaser that can be displayed via RSS. I think they limited it to 13 words. It will be interesting to see if they create a different rule for another publisher.
2. Rocker | June 17th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I struggle with how to look at AP. Somehow though, I’m always left with the impression that they’re increasingly up to no good.
3. Rocker | June 17th, 2008 at 8:33 am
As Terry Heaton (I think) says, one of the basic functions of the internet is that it disintermediates the middleman. Maybe that’s what’s going on with AP, as the ultimate “middleman”, they’re grasping at straws, but if Terry’s theory is correct, they’re probably inevitably doomed.
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