There has been quite a fall-out against AP in the wake of their attacks on the DRUDGE report for alleged illegal misuse of quoted material and news clips.
Many blog sites are banning Associated Press from their band widths.
In recent days, AP big-wigs pointed an accusing finger at DRUDGE for linking up to their news reports and providing short quotations via reader submissions.
According to Tech Crunch, DRUDGE is doing nothing more that what Digg, TechMeme, Mixx and dozens of other sites do.
Obviously, because DRUDGE is the big honcho on the block - who savors a widespread influence in his capacity as an innovative news outlet on the world-wide-web - AP has elected to either ding him for the privilege of using their musings - or in the alternative, at least - shut him down altogether.
In the wake of the controversy, Technorati - numero uno blog spot on the planet - has banned Associated Press from their band widths altogether.
For good reason.
AP does not want people quoting their stories despite the fact that such activity very clearly falls within the fair use exception to copyright law.
As long as bloggers and reporters from news outlets give proper credit for the quotes, there should not be any problem, in my humble opinion.
If Associated Press labels the fair use activity as an infringement, then I say bullsh**.
In essence, AP is trying to secure a monopoly on the news.
And, in my estimation, that is un-American.
Notwithstanding, it should be noted that on any occasion that I have ever "chosen" to quote AP myself, it amounted to "throwing a bone" their way.
Because I attempt to give a balanced view of the news, I often include a myriad of viewpoints from a handful of news sources to add depth and dimension to the report. If ever I quoted AP, it was because I chose to, not because there was any pressing need for their material.
Personally, I can survive quite nicely without Associated Press.
If anything - they are stuffy and old guard and are ham-strung in many respects when they report on their white bread "news" - anyway.
A.P. Vice President Jim Kennedy says they will issue guidelines telling bloggers what is acceptable and what isn't over and above what the law says is acceptable.
Over your dead news organization!
He had the audacity to note for the record that AP intends to "define clear standards as to how much of its articles and broadcasts bloggers and web sites can excerpted without infringing on the AP copyright".
Boy, he's full of himself, isn't he?
Kennedy went on to warn that those who disregard the guidelines risk being sued by the AP even if those guidelines are in direct conflict with applicable Laws.
In my mind's eye, their downfall is surely on the way.
Who needs 'em?
Bloggers, blog sites, and Internet Web news sites are proliferating, and gaining respect and stature in the news industry; but, more importantly, are changing the face of the news arena daily.
In the near future, AP will be turning to bloggers for news stories!
Are the blogsters going to let 'em use the material?
The jury is still out.
Meanwhile, bloggers and blog sites are turning their backs on Associated Press.
AP is banned until they abandon their lunatic strategy.
Likewise, Bloggers will no longer quote 'em or link to 'em or even acknowledge their petty meaningless existence.
Voltaire once said,
We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongue, at our peril, risk and hazard.