AP Battles Blogs

Posted By: thebillenator @ 06/19/2008 4:18:55 PM

Comment: There are a couple of big issues at play.

First this isn't just a 'Blogging" issue. It directly impacts all online communication.

Second is "fair use" and in general the AP is looking like it is trying to force the online community into accepting draconian licensing that is arguably not required. This is especially bad since the AP routinely paraphrases, excerpts and lifts content for the news articles they publish.. Bloggers are publishing proof
There are a couple of big issues at play.

First this isn't just a 'Blogging" issue. It directly impacts all online communications.

Second is "fair use" and in general the AP is looking like it is trying to force the online community into accepting draconian licensing that is arguably not required. This is especially bad since the AP liberally paraphrases, excerpts and lifts content for the news articles they publish from others.. including from the blogs, but also from other news papers and news entities.

Third: What you don't mention is that AP has online forms that claim to pay for using more than four words of text.. So the AP has essentially set a defacto standard that to them fair use is four words of text. Using five or more will cost you $12.50 to $100. This is eyebrow raising and to be blunt, no company gets to set what is fair use.

Fourth: Given the shown behaviour of AP using other's work they look like hypocrites. They need to abide by the exact same standards.. They're not special.

No wonder people are mad...