Can links kill?
Linking to online content is the essence of the web. But for newspapers, when does it cross the line to stealing content?
The future of online journalism may depend on the outcome of a legal battle between two financially ailing media giants.
In one corner: the New York Times Company, whose Boston Globe has launched a series of websites, called Your Town, intended as one-stop destinations that link to everything of interest in a given community – including content from other newspapers. Currently in three suburbs, the goal is to roll out Your Town sites in 120 cities and towns.
In the other: GateHouse Media, a national chain that publishes nearly 400 local newspapers, including some 125 in eastern Massachusetts. GateHouse has sued the Times Company for copyright infringement and related charges, claiming that the Your Town sites are an attempt to steal the content of GateHouse's Wicked Local websites for the Times's own commercial gain.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
Interesting concept.
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