AP wants to charge bloggers who quote from articles on a per-word basis. The news service already set up this page to quote prices and process sales. The price starts at $12.50 for excerpts of 5-25 words.
News services have a right to protect themselves from unauthorized use of their material. Perhaps this will lead bloggers to take not unreasonable new approaches to the way they apply Fair Use and quote articles.
However, I can’t imagine anyone shelling out the kind of money AP’s asking for. Consider the following:
• A good number of quotes and facts reported by AP appear in other news services.
• Any blogger worth his salt can paraphrase the key info (with an appropriate citation and link) or just include a link with less explanation.
• BetaNews notes other interesing issues related to AP’s “toll booth for bloggers.”
UPDATE June 18: Via Pajamas Media: Thumbs up to Michael Silence who talked directly to Media Bloggers Association president Bob Cox, clearing misinformation about AP’s related controversy with Drudge Retort.
UPDATE June 19: Bob Cox clears further misconceptions.
