AP slams lefty blog, gets hand slapped.
Jun 17th, 2008 by Mark
AP attacks lefty blog, and left suddenly wants ‘freedom of press’.
Well isn’t this typical of the left? Yes, it is. That was a rhetorical question.
AP goes after lefty, lefties get pissed
This is unreal. The totally irrelevant lefty blog drudgeretort was asked by the AP to remove several postings that they believed infringed on their copyright.
The notice called for the blog to remove several postings that AP believed was an improper use of its stories. Other bloggers subsequently lambasted AP for going after a small blogger whom they thought appeared to be engaging in a legally permissible and widely practiced activity protected under “fair use” provisions of copyright law.
Now I am not shocked that the left would steal people’s work, they do it all the time. Hell they steal paychecks, retirement money, milk money, and don’t even feel a tinge of guilt about it. Some, like Barrack Obama parade the fact that they want to steal more from us, like it’s a flag on the Fourth of July.
What irks me is that the left is suddenly all afire and taken offense that the AP wants to protect it’s copyrights.
Typical AP
You may recall back in March that the AP sent a C&D to snappedshot.com, the liberals did not care that AP was trying to shut down a blog that was pointing out how many lies the AP told in photos. Now all of sudden they are upset. Typical.
The left never likes having to live by the same rules as everyone else. They also don’t think that you or I should get the same protections that they get. Highly unlikely they would defend a right wing blogger … oh wait, they didn’t, sorry my bad.
Lefties Rally
They have Media Bloggers Association all a twitter. It’s another lefty outfitthat The MBA seems to be only upset about the rights of the left looking to expand their influence. They are now ‘taking the lead’.
Jim Kennedy, the AP’s director of strategic planning, said Monday that he planned to meet Thursday with Robert Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association, as part of an effort to create standards for online use of AP stories by bloggers that would protect AP content without discouraging bloggers from legitimately quoting from it.
The meeting comes after AP sent a legal notice last week to Rogers Cadenhead, the author of a blog called the Drudge Retort, a news community site whose name is a parody of the prominent blog the Drudge Report.
Funny I don’t remember asking Mr. Cox to represent me. I don’t belong to his org, and I doubt he would have me.
I am aware that Glenn Reynolds belongs to this group, however the actions of the group to date are much more in line with the “elite” protecting themselves than protecting me. I hope this changes, but I am not holding my breath.
Open letter to Media Bloggers
Dear Mr. Cox,
You don’t speak for me.
Sincerely,
Mark L. Jackson
Free Blogger
Much Ado for Publicity
Sadly Mr. Cox and the AP are engaged in a publicity stunt and nothing more. It does illustrate the attitudes of the left, and the AP quite nicely though.
Other coverage
- AP caught with it’s bias pants down
- AP vs Bloggers
- APs customers deserve better — the same could be said for Jupiter Research’s
- FU AP — bizzy blog
- Tech Crunch gets it’s panties in a wad — Valley Wag may have some issues with TechCrunch since TC used to work for VW.
- TechCrunch bans AP stories — they still don’t get it.
- AP and Bloggers do battle
- AP hates bloggers, (some) bloggers hate back
- Michelle Malkin charges AP for use of her material — LMAO
- Bob Cringely seems to not like bloggers — well he has the right name
- AP clamps down on blogs — PCWorld
- Can AP control the blogosphere — MSNBC
- AP picks fight with Bloggers — LAT
- FU AP — Buzzmachine advocates wholesale theft of stories
- Fair Use Uncertainties — Wired; wrong again
Previously on the Island
rel=”tag”>associated press, ap, blog, jim kennedy, roger cadenhead, media bloggers association, robert cox, freedom of press
Mark,
I’m a conservative blogger, but I have to disagree with you here. You wrote:
“What irks me is that the left is suddenly all afire and taken offense that the AP wants to protect it’s copyrights.”
It’s not a matter of protecting copyrights. Federal fair use laws permit you to use portions of the content for criticism, commentary, news reporting, research etc.. It specifies that the use of portions of the content isn’t a violation of copyrights. The AP seemingly wants to override federal fair use laws with its own guidelines.
As for the MBA, it’s not only a lefty outfit. In fact, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit (a Libertarian-Conservative) is a member. Not saying they should speak on our behalf, just taking note that blogs of both sides belong.
Greetings Stephen,
Yes I am aware that Glen is a member, however many “Conservatives” belong to PBS, also. Which ironically MBA teamed up with for the Prez debates and credentialed bloggers as press.
My personal belief is that MBA is more interested in protecting the current crop of “top” bloggers; not little guys like me. In that vein they are not dissimilar from every other “guild” or “union” that seeks to retain power for it’s chosen few. I hope they are different. Acting like an “Al Sharpton” or “Jesse Jackson” of blogging, is not endearing them to me.
As for “fair use”; it’s “fair use” of copyrighted material. Granted they are not really protecting their work, but their revenue stream, and by that I mean their members.