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Hockey Bloggers Beware
by Alanah McGinley on 06/17/08 at 03:14 PM ET
Comments (16)
From the Associated Press, a new profit scheme for anyone who wishes to cite excerpts from their articles:
You’ve got to be kidding. Can’t Stop the Bleeding notes, “Time will tell if other wire services follow suit, but despite the challenges this will present to CSTB, I’m confident the sports blogosphere’s leading lights will soldier on.”
Indeed they will. And they will be happy to do so without citing or linking to AP materials posted at any website on the internet—and sites who pay for AP feeds on their website will lose part of the traffic that drives their advertising dollars.
Great plan, AP.
Filed in: hockey media | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: associated+press, media,
Comments
For what it’s worth I think that pricing guide has already been there prior to this latest AP “I hate bloggers” episode.
Posted by Mike from NYC on 06/17/08 at 02:53 PM ET
Thanks for that link, Mike.
And here’s a really great irony - that Tech Dirt article you noted had a link to an AP article out today that mentioned the AP is committed to working with some blogger representative group (that I’ve never heard of) to sort out this issue.
Now - I’d quote from that article, but hell… I didn’t pay for it. And I could give you a link to read it yourself, but it doesn’t say much… and frankly, screw them. 
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 06/17/08 at 03:03 PM ET
“blogger representative group”
Man, I never know there was a rep for us. Now I know where to take all my various complaints about my blogging workplace conditions and other grievances.
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 06/17/08 at 03:13 PM ET
The AP doesn’t have the authority to charge bloggers for using small excerpts of articles. It is covered under US copyright law (and I believe Canadian too) as far use. The AP has no legal standing to make the claim, it is actually kind of hilarious that they would even try to make the claim.
I’m not handing out legal advice, but if I ran a blog I would just ignore the AP’s threats.
Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 06/17/08 at 03:31 PM ET
Nice to see a mention of CSTB. After all, the man behind it is also the man behind bringing the best rock band this side of the Beatles—Pavement—to us.
Sure, some other label would’ve snatched up that tape regardless, but hey, he did it, so he gets credit.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/17/08 at 03:38 PM ET
Since it’s all on the internet, if someone is really that interested in citing AP stuff, maybe they could repeatedly email them a scanned image of a one dollar bill.
Since no paper is involved…
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/17/08 at 04:21 PM ET
The AP must be talking with the music industry lawyers on what best way to serve your customers and make them happy.
This move by the AP is the last desperate move of a dying industry. The AP cannot handle the fact that bloggers help the consumer control their own content and make up their own mind. The AP grew up in a world in which they owned the content and they decided what you would see and hear. Those days are over...and they don’t know what to do.
Posted by GZ Expat on 06/17/08 at 05:35 PM ET
As John from Austin points out, bloggers can argue that they fall under the “fair use” provisions of sections 107-118 of the Copyright Act. But there are some gray areas in there (which should go without saying since lawyers came up with this stuff).
The AP would probably argue that most bloggers are not reporting “news” so they aren’t using the quoted material as a “summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report.” Eventually, some judge will have to rule on what is or isn’t acceptable.
Until then, I like Alanah’s approach: screw AP...and the sites that use them.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/17/08 at 06:31 PM ET
Okay so what i remember in my brief stint in News Media class (when i wasn’t drooling). I believe i remember that news agencies could quote an ENTIRE article without even giving AP recognition.
Obviously no one does this, however, the question is IF news agencies can quote without “paying” to quote why not bloggers.
Anyhow doing this will create such a major can of worms no one would be able to enforce it. AP would be spending more money and time trying to track down all their quotes then writing it.
Posted by Sims on 06/18/08 at 09:48 AM ET
Anyhow doing this will create such a major can of worms no one would be able to enforce it. AP would be spending more money and time trying to track down all their quotes then writing it.
I like that. I’d almost be tempted to use AP more, just to see how much poking they’d be able to take.
Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary, AB on 06/18/08 at 10:51 AM ET
Heaven forbid bloggers actually drive traffic to the original source. Bloggers should develop licensing that demands credit and/or compensation for AP stories that take their sources from bloggers.
Posted by John Bollwitt from Vancouver, BC on 06/18/08 at 01:31 PM ET
I find it’s easier just to make stuff up. Everybody knows bloggers are full of crap anyway.
Posted by LeNoceur from Inside AP Headquarters on 06/18/08 at 03:51 PM ET
I like that. I’d almost be tempted to use AP more, just to see how much poking they’d be able to take.
And use four-word quotes, too. I like that idea.
They wouldn’t know what hit them if they provoke too many bloggers.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/18/08 at 05:20 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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Yup, the AP will be dead to us, save the occasional link, and that’s that…
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/17/08 at 02:24 PM ET