Re:Ask HN: Can someone please explain the logic of Google vs...
by Tangurena on Monday April 06, 2009 @05:40PM
(#549718)
The facts can't be copyrighted so anyone can repeat them.
The AP would disagree with you, as they've got a number of old case precidents claiming that "hot news" is a property right, and that they own it.
http://www.mediabistro.com/webnewser/news_alert/90yearold_la...
I predict that AP, along with the other aggregators such as AFP and Reuters will fall in line with the RIAA to buy legislation protecting their obsolete business models.
So the newspaper business model is dead. Facts can't be copyrighted, opinion is available for free, cross-subsidisation is no longer viable, and across the developed world the newspaper reading population is trending down. There are bright spots, like India, but most 1st world journalists are screwed.
So an entire industry is thrashing around with two choices;(a) die (b) Find an alternative business model. As the biggest, most profitable pure play internet company, shaking Google down is a better choice than resigning oneself to death. As such if you're looking for someone to get mad at, someone to negotiate with as if they're the Internet, they're the best bet.