TechCrunch UK on Sky News - The Associated Press debacle

by Mike Butcher on June 19, 2008

Last night Sky News asked me to comment on the Associated Press move to stop sites quoting AP articles (BTW TechCrunch has now banned linking to AP stories. Payback sucks):

Comments

alfie - June 19th, 2008 at 12:17 pm PDT

‘nod’ *tick* ‘nod again’ *tick* ‘banana’ *tick*

“who’s copying who here?” oooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooOOOOOOOOH!

“some blogs may go and some may stay…” Was that a threat, sirrah?

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Jonathan - June 19th, 2008 at 12:21 pm PDT

Great piece Mike. My favourite quote on this from TC readers so far - - Alternate headline: “Dinosaur takes angry swipe at meteor”.

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Mike Butcher - June 19th, 2008 at 12:31 pm PDT

Well, the main idea was to get the word banana in. Had a lot of requests on that from Twitter. It’s an important issue, right? Bananas?

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James Whatley - June 19th, 2008 at 12:33 pm PDT

Good points, well made.

Nicely done Sir.

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Justin Davies - June 19th, 2008 at 12:50 pm PDT

Very nicely done mate. All hail Mike, our spokesperson to the real world!

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Jake Stride - June 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm PDT

Awesome! Well done Mike.

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Mike Butcher - June 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm PDT

@Justin Davies - Sorry? There’s a “real world”? What is this thing of which you speak?

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Mat Atkinson - June 19th, 2008 at 1:26 pm PDT

Mike

So are “illegitimate bloggers” just b***ards who don’t link to their sources:

Anyway, I’m sure that this is all just AP linkbait?

Excellent interview.

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Yinka - June 19th, 2008 at 2:43 pm PDT

Nice one there Mike! well done

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Vero Pepperrell - June 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm PDT

Well said, Mike! Clearly the old media is starting to shake in its trousers, fearing that blogging, what was once a wee little trend they dismissed, is turning into a fair sized competitor. And hey ho, one with more ethics (generally) than old media.

You got “banana” in this time, next time “milkshake”?

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Mike Butcher - June 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm PDT

@Vero - Gotcha - Mikshake it is. “Google’s takeover of Microsoft is like a huge mixed fruit Milkshake.” Works for me.

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Andrew J Scott - June 19th, 2008 at 4:25 pm PDT

Go Mike - Voice of the digirati!

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Marcus Greenwood - June 19th, 2008 at 4:43 pm PDT

Nice one Mike. Spot on!

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Murky - June 19th, 2008 at 6:01 pm PDT

“Payback sucks?” Really? I love TechCrunch…but you’re talking about a global media organisation, mate. Specifically the one who sends reporters into places like Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan in the form of APTN cameramen.

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Anton Mannering - June 19th, 2008 at 10:38 pm PDT

Ooooo don’t you look good on the telly.

Seriously though AP=mental. Doubt there bothered about link backs because it appears they don’t think that it’s important. Oh well.

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Mike Butcher - June 20th, 2008 at 12:07 am PDT

@Murky - Precisely why AP arguing over 39 words being quoted on a social news site (Drudge Retort) does such a huge disservice to those excellent journos who put their lives on the line to get a story they want to world to hear about, discuss and link to. And we are not going to do that if the AP wants forms in triplicate to discuss its work.

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Ray - June 20th, 2008 at 1:28 pm PDT

Mike, Someone on Techcrunch US suggested you were like a British version of Chandler Bing. I have to say the resemblance is uncanny, both in look, demeanour and wit. Made me laugh I have to say, just thought I’d share it with you in case you missed it.

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Murky - June 20th, 2008 at 7:26 pm PDT

@Mike Butcher,

I’m not sure if AP is clear on this issue themselves…perhaps they’re a little too bureaucratic for their own good. But I found this today which looks on surface to counter their stance:

I just went to an AP story atop which there was a link entitled “Post.”

When I clicked it, I got this:

“Post this article on your website, blog, social networking page, or intranet for a limited time, free of charge, with ads.”

What am I missing? Is the “limited time” (which I think is 30 days) the issue?

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Personal FInance Budgeting - December 24th, 2008 at 8:19 am PST

How about now? Did AP still coming up with this issue?

Thanks

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