Forum Moderators: not2easy
However, in my unqualified view, much of what determines whether the things you mention are illegal or just plain morally dubious will likely depend on how they are being presented.
What you need is specialist advice. If you were in the UK, my suggestion would be to make contact with the National Union of Journalists - regardless of whether you're a paid up member. Do you have any similar organisations in your country? If so, try there as a first port of call.
Similarly, what about any broadcast unions? Certainly they would be worth contacting, even if only to ask under whose aegis such things belong.
Syzygy
[edited by: Syzygy at 3:17 pm (utc) on June 20, 2008]
1: Facts are public domain. You can't copyright fact.. period. If someone reports a fact that fact is free to all
2: Expression is copyrightable and protected. This means no direct lifts or plagiarism. Original re-writes are okay.
3: Videotaping that broadcast... you've likely got huge issues.
I mean a general world news wire will cost you about $1000 a month or something for 10-20 stories per day. Additional specific regional/topic feeds might be $500...depending on agency and use. But go to PA, AP, Reuters, AFP, DPA not one of these rewrite budget agencies who just have some guys sitting at home paraphrasing agencies who actually have people on the ground/region.
Also you will get all the corrections that you do not see on sites. Wires send lots of corrections and additions in the background feed. That will improve the quality of your content. Plus you can email them to confirm things and even request event coverage, additional fees though.
[edited by: FattyB at 4:12 pm (utc) on June 21, 2008]
I don't think anyone really cares!
A local TV news station uses MSNBC news for a lot of its breaking news stories - I know coz I read those same headlines earlier in the day.
Is it possible that local TV news station has an arrangement with MSNBC - maybe even paying MSNBC?
Is this local station an NBC affiliate? If Yes, this is probably part of the affiliate contract.
I don't think anyone really cares!
A lot of people really do care.
FarmBoy
I realize the facts of news stories can't be copywrited ...
That's not as absolute as some make it seem.
We go to CNN, BBC, etc, the major news websites and pick our top 7 or 8 stories. We re-write these stories, despite the fact that below each story it says "Cannot be copied, re-written, re-distributed or broadcast in any way without the expression permission of..." etc etc. I wonder how happy BBC or CNN lawyers would be about us stealing their stories...
I get the impression you know this is wrong but are wondering what to do. Is that correct?
There is an old saying that character is what you do when no one is looking or when you think no one will find out.
Forget the company for a moment and consider your own character, reputation, future, etc. Do the right thing.
I'm just wondering how hard it's going to hit me personally.
It depends on your level of responsibility. It's certainly not going to help you.
FarmBoy
Its becoming very clear that the AP's traditional business model is dead and that the AP is wrongfully (and some would say criminally) attempting to hijack fair use and hot news complaints in using the cost and threat of litigation to take rights to facts that no legislative body would ever grant..
Nothing here is about Plagiarism.. Hell if you do nothing but cut and paste the full text of someone else's work you deserve what you have coming.
But the real issue is that the AP is trying to recast what is "Fair Use" and to take un-entitled ownership of publicly available facts.
AP's strategy and behavior raises lots of questions and concerns. A quick google for "AP Bloggers" yields plenty of fodder
