The Associated Press, one of the largest news media organizaitions in the world, has decided to draw the line and that the internet's traditional model of linking and quoting, and well established fair use doctrine does not apply to them.

The huge gorilla AP has filed lawsuits and take down demands for what many contend correctly to be "Fair Use" of news facts.

The AP is trying to force bloggers into accepting arbitrary terms of "Fair Use" that they are not legally entitled to and that no court would ever give them.

The AP has had up a page that lists out prices for quoting AP text.

* 5-25 words: $ 12.50
* 26-50 words: $ 17.50
* 51-100 words: $ 25.00
* 101-250 words: $ 50.00
* 251 words and up: $ 100.00

AND The AP claims that it has the RIGHT to revoke the license at any time if it feels you're saying something negative about the Associated Press: "Publisher reserves the right to terminate this Agreement at any time if Publisher or its agents finds Your use of the licensed Content to be offensive and/or damaging to Publisher’s reputation."

Sorry AP! You don't get to dictate what is legally allowable under the First Amendment. You don't have the right and the online world won't let you get away with this ripoff
------------------

I guess what makes it so much worse is that AP doesn't think that they need to abide by the same rules.. Bloggers and news papers are sharing on blogs that the AP often steals huge chunks of text.. How hypocritical.

Dispundit
Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S.A.