AP Goes RIAA Route

Well, it looks like the Associated press has decided to try and go the route of the RIAA and MPAA, and create a new "property" right on their material which completely eschews the idea of fair use.

Specifically, they have gone after the Drudge Retort, asking them to take down 7 links, "ranging from 39 to 79 words".

This places me in the unpleasant position of agreeing with Jeff Jarvis, Liebercrat extrordinaire, that they are stupid, or insane, or both.

According to Whiskey Fire, the AP now has a schedule of licensing fees which start at $12.50 for 5 words...I'm not joking here....Also, it appears to apply to blog comments too.

Interestingly enough, the terms of service are even more restrictive than that. According to Patrick Nielsen Hayden, they also want to prohibit you from criticizing the Associated Press, which means that all those folks following the hacktacular exploits of Nedra Pickler are simply out of luck, I guess.

As a result, TechCrunch, and some other bloggers, including me, will boycott AP stories for the foreseeable future.

Boycott link here.