Apparently the Associated Press is setting guidelines for how bloggers can repurpose their content (ironically, you’ll need a New York Times log-in to read that link). This has some bloggers in a bit of a tizzy. Enough of a tizzy, in fact, that some bloggers are trying to start a boycott and petition the AP. It all started with DMCA takedowns filed against Drudge Retort . Am I getting obscure enough here for you? Let me sum it up for you quickly: basically, bloggers will use excerpts from AP articles and then link to the article. The problem (from the AP’s point of view) is that this constitutes “hot news” misappropriation, and is a violation of copyright law. Patently absurd, in my opinion, and I don’t even rely on AP news feeds directly for content. It smacks of the continuing tendency of large, established organizations (the RIAA & MPAA spring to mind) that are used to monopolizing an industry suddenly figuring out that those weirdos on the intra-nets are actually having an impact on life, commerce, and the world in general. I’m not actually supporting the boycott, but I found it amusing that the same week I bought the domain dissociatedpress.com for personal & parody usage, serious bloggers were creating AP-like logos and going on a rampage about not getting their free stuff anymore. So, since I’m swiping the boycott graphic to make my post more visually interesting, here’s a link to one of the boycott pages. While you’re over there, ask them why they’re using jpg’s for 3-color images. Sheesh. And a thought for the bloggers involved: instead of copying AP content and getting all weepy when they sue you, why don’t you just write your own stuff? I thought that was the beauty of (I can’t believe I’m using this word) the “blogosphere”.