The safe side of the blogosphere
You have to admit, we social media marketing and business bloggers have it pretty easy. I mean, we could be embroiled in the same type of controversy that media and political bloggers find themselves engaged in right now.
You are aware of the current debacle between the Associated Press and their legal action against bloggers, aren't you? If not, you should be, because it's cause for concern which could have implications across the entirety of the blogosphere.
This excerpt from the L. A. Times Technology blog explains the issue...
The AP provoked outrage in the blogosphere last week when it issued a blunt legal demand that the Drudge Retort, a small online news and commentary site, remove seven posts containing snippets –- all less than 80 words long –- from AP stories. The website, named in satirical homage to the much-larger Drudge Report news site, promptly complied with the demand but started the furor by calling attention to the incident in an online posting.
Started a furor is putting it mildly. It's sparked some very outrageous responses. For example, TechCrunch's Mike Arrington says they're boycotting the AP. Buzz Machine blogger Jeff Jarvis says, "AP, I don't give a damn about your guidelines. I have my own." The liberal political blog the Daily Kos goes on a tirade and states, "I will copy and paste as many words as I feel necessary..."
However, cooler heads are prevailing. Bob Cox, head of the Media Bloggers Association was supposed to have to work out an equitable solution. (An action that Cox has been roundly criticized for.)
Just a few moments ago I read a Washington Post report that said the matter had been "closed" and that no official policy has been announced. It doesn't state whether Cox's intervention was a factor.
Honestly, I thought the relationship between bloggers and MSM (mainstream media) had progressed further than it has apparently has. I guess a latent prejudice remains on the part of some members of the MSM. It's silly to think they would bite the hand that feeds them (with traffic and links).
As for me, I can't recall the last time I quoted an AP story. It's just as well because, unlike Kos and Arrington, I don't have a "J.D." behind my name. Neither do I have the time or money to get tangled up in some ridiculous lawsuit.
If you'd like to get the full scoop on the story from all sides of the issue, Amy Gahran has put together a compendium of links on her E-Media Tidbits column at Poynter.
StumbleUpon: pchaney
While I think the AP went to far, I can see where they're coming from. My content is republished without my permission, often in it's entirety, every day. If the AP can't charge for it's news, it will cease to exist.
BlogWorld Radio will be covering this topic today with and interview of Bob Cox of the Media Blogger's association. http://tinyurl.com/6yq4cr
Posted by:Todd Carpenter | June 20, 2008 at 10:48 AM
AP does what it doesn't allow others!
Nothing worse than a company that behaves in a truly evil way.
Posted by:dispundit | June 24, 2008 at 01:05 AM