Bloggers: Big Media Is Watching [copyright-related battles online like the recent AP-blogger flap]

Business Week ^

[Sub-Driver]

Bloggers: Big Media Is Watching As content recognition software gets more sophisticated, expect more copyright-related battles online like the recent AP-blogger flap

by Peter Burrows

The Associated Press unleashed a firestorm in the blogosphere earlier this month when it demanded that a political site take down AP content it said violated copyrights. Bloggers, including Michael Arrington of TechCrunch.com and Markos Moulitas of Daily Kos, cried foul, saying the AP's move threatened the free flow of information over the Web. The furor abated a few days later when the AP tempered its demands.

But the dustup between the AP and bloggers was just an early skirmish in what's likely to become a protracted war over how and where media content is published online. On one side are bloggers and other Web sites eager to ensure continued access to information. On the other are media companies intent on controlling or cashing in on the dissemination of their stories, videos, and other digital media. One reason: For the first time, content owners are able to track exactly where and how their words and images show up, thanks to an emerging class of technology called content recognition systems.

[xDGx]

DoD should start copyrighting everything they have and sue AP into the stone age everytime something is leaked.

[musicman]

"DoD should start copyrighting everything they have and sue AP into the stone age everytime something is leaked."

[AliVeritas]

Ok, so how do we stop them from getting news from us?

[AliVeritas]

Amen.

Also... If only the DOJ would do the same re: leaks on the hill/floor.

[Tzimisce]

When we said “free press”, we didn’t mean for you.

-The American Left

[Stark_GOP]

Associated Press plans to copyright the letters of the English alphabet.

[Santino Sonny Corleone]

you can’t. They’ll change a word and it’s theirs. Sue them and $4 million and 12 years later you’ll have to give up.

[RetiredArmy]

Don't laugh. This is one way they can prevent the truth from getting out. Sites such as FR post items and that is how a lot of us find out about this stuff. Otherwise, we would probably never see it. FReepers find posted material all over the web and let we other FReepers and lurkers know what is happening. This way, they can say what they might to their own side, much of which we all avoid. If ABC, CBS, NBC, PMSNBC, CNN, etc. copyright everything, then of course we nearly never watch their crap, thus we would never know. The Marxist Congress will probably aid and abet this mob with some nice new laws once they are sworn in this coming January.

[bert]

....The Marxist Congress will probably aid and abet this mob with some nice new laws once they are sworn in this coming January.....

The Democrats and especially the Civil Rights types have taught us to simply ignore such laws. There is a bigger principle at stake.

[HAL9000]

This problem was predicted decades ago, it points to some huge flaws in the current infrastructure of the world wide web.

Features like transclusion and micropayment royalties and fair use parameters should have been part of the original design. Instead, we have exorbitant copyright fee demands and constantly-breaking links.

[DBrow]

If we are not vigilant we’ll go back to the days when there were four news outlets- the three networks and the local paper. Back in the day, oddly enough, they all seemed to provide the same content.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[wastedyears]

Wow, they’re even going after DailyKos.

This could get good.

[Squantos]

Is there such as a blanket copyright possible for FR that covers all registered members ?

Stop these asshats from posting OUR threads and comments !

[MississippiMan]

You’re right. This is where I come not just for discussion, but to follow the news. FR is the best newsgathering entity I know of. If something happens, it will be posted on here in very short order.

So crap like this really is a big deal with far-reaching implications.

MM

[HiJinx]

DoD should start copyrighting everything they have and sue AP into the stone age everytime something is leaked.

Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen - since all published and posted DOD material is public domain.

OTOH, properly marked classified material that finds its way into the press is an entirely different story. That the Press is not prosecuted for those leaks is telling...

[smithone]

Bump. This has possibly serious repercussions for FR.

[EBH]

most systems struggle to identify when a clip is being used as part of a book review or political parody, both legally protected uses

Videos seems to be the main focus of the technology. It says it uses a digital fingerprint, so what if you excerpt without copy-paste? Literally retype the article in word and then post? Not trying to get around them per se, but as pointed out in the article using things legally.

In addition it is funny how the example of book review is used in the article instead of clearly stating comment and criticism. Which is exactly what we do here on Free Republic. Articles are posted for comment and criticism about our political process.

[NonValueAdded]

Everything you post IS copyrighted automatically. No further notice or registration on your part is required. Ah, but the effort to enforce that is incredible. As an earlier posted mentioned, big bucks and many years later you'd still be battling big media's lawyers.

As a condition of access and in return for posting privileges, it is possible for you to assign your copyright rights as part of the account agreement. I do not believe FR does that, in part because the liability would probably transfer as well.