AP Bulldog Bites Bloggers!

On Friday, June 13th, 2008, the Associated Press delivered a DMCA takedown demand to the blog "Drudge Retort," claiming seven copyright violations. The violations, upon investigation, are over headlines and short excerpts of 40 to 80 words. Each blog entry included a link to the AP story on the Associated Press website.

The House Wyldstar position on the issue:

The AP needs to wake up to the reality of today's Internet.

The Associated Press over the years has used clips and quotes from other sources, claiming in their defense that such use is covered under the "fair use" doctrine. This is, in our opinion, a correct use of that doctrine. However, the AP is now demanding bloggers stop doing the same thing when it comes to their material. This is hypocrisy at its finest.

One, the bloggers are making fair use of the materials by only using excerpts and linking to the original article for readers to access, if they should so choose. This is no different than article indexes used in public libraries that point people to the correct article in the correct magazine.

Two, the AP is totally ignoring the fact that bloggers using the material in this manner is FREE PUBLICITY for the Associated Press. What business or organization in their right mind would file a complaint over someone else sending customers their way? This is sheer idiocy and definitely beneath the AP's reputation. In a single day the AP has destroyed the credibility it has taken it decades to build.

Many bloggers have responded by calling for a total boycott of the AP unless and until they change their attitude and drop the idiotic DMCA takedown demands it has issued. As a firm advocate for freedom of the press, public discourse of the issues, and preservation of human knowledge and history, I join in this call.

Organizations like the Associated Press need to rethink what they are doing. DMCA demands can be just as easily filed against them in many cases, undermining the usefulness and mission of their organization in the same way that it is undermining the efforts of bloggers to share information and participate in public debate.

Grow up AP!

The Peace of Islam

Two boys accidently killed in a French car accident with police
Days of violent riots with dozens injured or killed

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

An innocent girl forced into a dark corner and raped
The rapist growls in her ear "Allah is great"

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

A cartoonist draws something critical of Islam and Muhammed
Islamic followers riot and swear a blood oath for his death

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

In the Phillipines, Islamics riot and rape underaged girls
Some pinning them down as others rape them saying "Allah is great"

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

Thousands were murdered when massive skyscrapers came down
Islamic nations cheered and cried "Death to America"

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

Islamics fire mortars and missiles into residential neighborhoods
Then scream for international protection when counter attacked

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

Four American Marines are killed by a suicide bomber in a marketplace
Dozens of unwary Islamic women and children die at the same time

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

An Islamic professor is gunned down in the middle of class
His student, speaks out ... how long will she live

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

A young girl, raped by an Islamic brother, is pregnant
An Islamic court sentences her to death for premarital sex

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

A school teacher is arrested, rioters demand her execution
All for letting her students name a stuffed animal Muhammed

Yet Islam is a religion of peace

What were you saying about Muhammed?