I am so happy for everyone that creates free and open content that newspapers won this victory.
For a long time I have been watching as so called aggregators ex. Google, Yahoo, Techmeme, etc, have had a free hand ‘adding’ value to content and making money off the back of authors.
I have had my content stolen from me and peers on a number of occassions and it doesn’t feel good and I admit its on a similar level to someone stealing a physical item.
In my opinion something has to be done to try to fix the situation and thankfully the newspaper industry has the money to fight and take on big organisations like Google.
A Belgian court has ordered Google to stop reproducing articles from French-speaking newspapers in the news section of one of its Belgian Web sites, a local press organization said. The complaint against the world’s most popular Internet search engine was lodged by Copiepresse, an organization that manages copyright for the Belgian French and German-speaking press.
Source: Google loses in Belgian court | CNET News.com
[tags]google,belgian,press,newspapers,copyright[/tags]
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Jeff 09.18.06 at 11:35 pm
I recently was reading about what happend with Robert Scoble’s content getting ripped off by some splog.
Its really infuriating when that happens, but I have to admit I totally disagree with you about the aggregators. I am more excited than disappointed when Techmeme or Tailrank publish my content.
Jeff
Jeff 09.19.06 at 12:35 am
I recently was reading about what happend with Robert Scoble's content getting ripped off by some splog.
Its really infuriating when that happens, but I have to admit I totally disagree with you about the aggregators. I am more excited than disappointed when Techmeme or Tailrank publish my content.
Jeff
Gabe 09.19.06 at 1:38 am
Roger, your quote from CNET News.com is long than the quotes that Techmeme uses when linking to someone. So are you making money off the back of CNET’s authors? Why is your quoting OK?
Gabe 09.19.06 at 2:38 am
Roger, your quote from CNET News.com is long than the quotes that Techmeme uses when linking to someone. So are you making money off the back of CNET's authors? Why is your quoting OK?
Roger Kondrat 09.19.06 at 9:51 am
Hi Gabe,
Sorry for the slow response. Actually I understand that Techmeme, TailRank and ‘maybe’ Reddit only show summaries if the blogger uses summaries in their RSS feed. Am I wrong? Why does this matter? Because I want my readers to enjoy my full feed but I don’t want the aggregators to use my full feed when they republish.
As well I didn’t just link to the Cnet article, I discussed it and am currently debating the merits with you now. That is definitively added value and if anything is more likely to drive traffic to Cnet and thereby generate more ad revenue.
When you aggregate information, do you comment? Do you add your opinion?
What you do is called syndication and Newspapers have been doing that for decades. Through the syndication model authors are compensated for each publication or paid a flat fee.
If you want to aggregate/syndicate the work of authors you should offer them a compensation mechanism that is proportional and respectful. It is because of us you make money, not the other way around.
That is what I think of the difference between us. What are your thoughts Gabe?
Roger Kondrat 09.19.06 at 10:51 am
Hi Gabe,
Sorry for the slow response. Actually I understand that Techmeme, TailRank and 'maybe' Reddit only show summaries if the blogger uses summaries in their RSS feed. Am I wrong? Why does this matter? Because I want my readers to enjoy my full feed but I don't want the aggregators to use my full feed when they republish.
As well I didn't just link to the Cnet article, I discussed it and am currently debating the merits with you now. That is definitively added value and if anything is more likely to drive traffic to Cnet and thereby generate more ad revenue.
When you aggregate information, do you comment? Do you add your opinion?
What you do is called syndication and Newspapers have been doing that for decades. Through the syndication model authors are compensated for each publication or paid a flat fee.
If you want to aggregate/syndicate the work of authors you should offer them a compensation mechanism that is proportional and respectful. It is because of us you make money, not the other way around.
That is what I think of the difference between us. What are your thoughts Gabe?
Gabe 09.19.06 at 8:34 pm
Roger, Techmeme only shows summaries, and always has. I can’t speak for other sites, but I’m pretty sure your blanket statment is mostly wrong. Publishers’ RSS feeds have nothing to do with anything for Techmeme. Also, Techmeme have never made any money, though I hope it does in the future.
Furthermore, I’m certain publishers are making money because of me. In various ways, but most obviously because many are paid on a CPM basis.
I also disagree on the “adding value” point. If Techmeme wasn’t adding value, people wouldn’t come to Techmeme in the first place, since it never has the full text anyway. The value is in what it picks, when it picks it, and how items are grouped.
If what I’m doing is syndication, requiring compensation, then the same should be true for any hand-picked link blog, e.g. http://newslinx.com/ . In fact, any kind of list or compilation made mostly of quotes, regardless of the work put into to.
Gabe 09.19.06 at 9:34 pm
Roger, Techmeme only shows summaries, and always has. I can't speak for other sites, but I'm pretty sure your blanket statment is mostly wrong. Publishers' RSS feeds have nothing to do with anything for Techmeme. Also, Techmeme have never made any money, though I hope it does in the future.
Furthermore, I'm certain publishers are making money because of me. In various ways, but most obviously because many are paid on a CPM basis.
I also disagree on the “adding value” point. If Techmeme wasn't adding value, people wouldn't come to Techmeme in the first place, since it never has the full text anyway. The value is in what it picks, when it picks it, and how items are grouped.
If what I'm doing is syndication, requiring compensation, then the same should be true for any hand-picked link blog, e.g. http://newslinx.com/ . In fact, any kind of list or compilation made mostly of quotes, regardless of the work put into to.
Roger Kondrat 09.19.06 at 10:07 pm
Hi Gabe,
I stand corrected on a couple points regarding Techmeme
no ads on Techmeme,and no more than summaries.
Regarding the value added I still feel in most instances its dubious and your arguement that people wouldn’t come unless they saw value could be dismissed no differently than convenience. If I steal a stack of CDs and sell them half the price does that mean I have added value?
Now you may feel Gabe that I just called Techmeme theives but I think what you corrected me on implies that you group are not, however that may not be the case for other companies, groups, etc.
I will cross out the direct reference to your site since based on your comments I would have discovered upon further review of your site Techmeme doesn’t fit with my generalisation and for that I will make the correction and do apologise to you and your group.
Roger Kondrat 09.19.06 at 11:07 pm
Hi Gabe,
I stand corrected on a couple points regarding Techmeme
no ads on Techmeme,and no more than summaries.
Regarding the value added I still feel in most instances its dubious and your arguement that people wouldn't come unless they saw value could be dismissed no differently than convenience. If I steal a stack of CDs and sell them half the price does that mean I have added value?
Now you may feel Gabe that I just called Techmeme theives but I think what you corrected me on implies that you group are not, however that may not be the case for other companies, groups, etc.
I will cross out the direct reference to your site since based on your comments I would have discovered upon further review of your site Techmeme doesn't fit with my generalisation and for that I will make the correction and do apologise to you and your group.