Lawsuits: Failing Newspapers Declare War On Bloggers

It had to come to this: failing newspapers all over the country are filing lawsuits against bloggers (big and small) who republish large chunks of their stories on their blogs.

We’re not talking about your usual run-of-the-mill cease & desist letters or DMCA take down notices either. According to the LA Times, one newspaper has already filed 30 lawsuits against websites and blogs, including a small cat blog that has no ads.

Reporters and editors get understandably peeved when they see paragraph after paragraph of their work reprinted by competitors — regurgitation so extensive that there’s no reason for the reader to seek out the original, even when a link is provided. [LINK]

If you’re a small blogger who generously helps yourself to entire news stories from other media outlets, you should pay attention because you might be next.

“It took some blood, sweat and tears to get this material,” said Mark Hinueber, general counsel for Stephens Media. “It’s just wrong to then have some guy in his basement taking this stuff wholesale, selling ads around it and making money.” [LINK]

Newspapers are laying off staff and shutting down all over the country. The few remaining papers are hemorrhaging money and they have decided something has to be done about the little upstart bloggers who are stealing their hard work.

The LA Times article provided tips for bloggers who wish to avoid future litigation: “…don’t republish more than three paragraphs. Always name your source. Always link to the original.”

OutsidetheBox

Well. As it should be.
FloridaChick813

I dont blame them. Give credit where credit is due damm.it!!!!
lawgirl

Uh oh Sandra maybe you will have to take up Frank Ski on his offer and replace Sophia….You will need another job or apply to be Chris Brown publicist. Or Niki lover…. You have a wide array of options.
FreeToSpeakUp

Is it a money issue or a source issue? If blogs are helping their money run out of their pockets, why would they be satisfied only if the story is sourced?

SN: I agree in giving the credit.
http://chokolatemilk.blogspot.com Choco

I was under the impression most bloggers knew this…even my amatuer lil blog I used to update named sources…
http://twitter.com/Ms_Missy2791 missy
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

I knew this already but damn. Sandra you’ll be fine because you always publish the original source of your stories. I only read two blogs and both of you do this so no need for you to worry. I almost always click the link to the original story just because I have a tendency to want more information and happen to know that a blog is not a news outlet and tend to be biased but many people probably don’t. It’s a damn shame that newspapers are going out of business but at the same time it’s a relief to me that I changed my major when I did because right now I could have a degree in a dead industry
pointhimout

i think it’s a business opportunity. the AP works this way. do you honestly think a thousand different news sources come up with news? no, they dont. the associated press is the provider in most cases.

i think the newspapers and blogs can come together and piggy back off each other, for an agreeable fee between the two. ajc and the like should buy or invest in blogs.
CorporateHoodB-tch

Sandra was offered Ms. Sophia’s job? Wow, I’ve been out of the loop
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

Thanks for the warning.

These newspaper should be grateful that we link back to their websites. Otherwise, who is checking for them. Blank stare. Get with the program.
http://oneperfectassistant.com ggouch

I don’t think this will affect Sandra Rose. Sandra I must say gives credit. She also moniters her blogg diligently therefore minimizing posters who will uknowingly orknowingly pledgerize.
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

Bloggers should always cite the source from where they obtained the information contained within their posts.
http://oneperfectassistant.com ggouch

Thanks for the warning.

These newspaper should be grateful that we link back to their websites. ___________________________________________________________________
It def opens up a person’s range of news sources
pointhimout

why would SR turn down sophia’s job? i missed talk of the offer and her decline. the summed up version please and thank u.
OutsidetheBox

I got my July Elle and Rihanna is bangin’ on the cover..all though they left (Photshopped) some of her off :/

#FAIL
Krysi J

The LA Times article provided tips for bloggers who wish to avoid future litigation: “…don’t republish more than three paragraphs. Always name your source. Always link to the original.”

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isn’t this like common knowledge…..hell if they forgot to use it, then they deserve to be sued.
Anna

Ms. Everything says:

I knew this already but damn. Sandra you’ll be fine because you always publish the original source of your stories. I only read two blogs and both of you do this so no need for you to worry. I almost always click the link to the original story just because I have a tendency to want more information and happen to know that a blog is not a news outlet and tend to be biased but many people probably don’t. It’s a damn shame that newspapers are going out of business but at the same time it’s a relief to me that I changed my major when I did because right now I could have a degree in a dead industry

~~~~~~~~~
I also read the link, as you stated some blogs are biased and may only report half and it’s a new site I would have never clicked on, that’s how I found this site.
FloridaChick813

CorporateHoodB-tch says:

Sandra was offered Ms. Sophia’s job? Wow, I’ve been out of the loop
____________________

Who is Ms Sophia???
http://twitter.com/eastpointvet eastpointvet

thats why the success of the ipad is important for newspapers. if they can successfully make money off the digital age then they wouldnt come for the little people so to speak because they can get back to making money they are loosing. and even though most bloggers site there sources if you quote most of the article its really no reason to go to the source so all the ad revenue and stuff they get for hits is not counted because you read the story elsewhere.
KrayZKat

I remember when I took a writing course in college, we had a whole section just on siting sources, and it can get very extensive.
kwall

Newspapers are laying off staff and shutting down all over the country.
——————————–
i am the product of a HUGE newspaper layoff…which ironically was the best thing that EVER happened to me.

got my guap and got to start over elsewhere.

and since they cut off one of the LAST perks of working there…my FREE newspaper…i haven’t read one since. i DO miss my free concert tix, club passes, and discounts to everywhere imaginable tho…
Cinderella

@Flo, Miss Sophia is a cross-dressing, loud-mouthed radio personality in Atlanta. I hated to hear him/her on the radio and Im glad he/she is gone.
Val

UMMMMMMM HUMMMMMM
http://www.soulfulbeauty.com soulfulbeauty

Yeah they’ve been talking about this for a minute now, and I suppose skipping the cease and desist letters is the only way they feel they can get bloggers to stop stealing the content that they personally generate. I can’t much blame them to an extent.

I always try to cite sources (the main source), and it’s rare that I copy content word for word in it’s entirety, especially if I’m not familiar with the source. I’m sure the only ones that do, are the one’s that don’t have a clue what it is they’re doing.

At the same time, some of these news sources are hurting and it seems they’re taking advantage of fact that a lot of bloggers don’t know the rules.

I’ve had one “smaller” news source tell me I couldn’t reference them by saying “according to,” and if I didn’t know any better I would have believed them. It’s one of the ways they’re trying to use scare tactics to get bloggers to just come up with their own content.
mzvirgo78

Thanks East for pointing that out! The source is irrelevant if no one clicks the link.
http://facebook.com/renz.renegadesince1985 renegadesince1985

Auntie…can we get a new post puhleeaaasseee????
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

@Anna, that’s how I found this site too

@Free, it’s a money thing. Just like blogs, the newspaper industry makes money off how many people click on their sites and read the stories. If people are able to get their news from blogs without visiting the original source, the papers don’t make as much money off ad revenue. The internet killed the newspapers industry so many stopped home delivery and things of that nature because people simply arent picking up the paper, now the blogs are killing that option because too many people are simply to lazy to click the link and get the full accurate and original story. That is why they are suing, to send a message to bloggers that they won’t accept plagiarism (because that’s what it is) and attempt to slow the death of their jobs. Plus think of how you would feel if you took the time to investigate a story, pitch it to your editors, write and publish it and then someone came behind you and stole it, added their own twist and republished it on a different site under their name. I would be pissed and I sure they are. As much as I love the blogs I do read, I’m still a writer and journalist at heart and couldn’t imagine someone stealing my work, putting my job on the line and finding that their is nothing I can do about it. The lawsuits will stop that and send a message to other bloggers that they can not do that and get away with it
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

I’ve got some typos in that last comment. Sorry
cheeks8683

just saw the gary coleman deathbed photos…that bish is crazy! She posed with th pics and took them on purpose…
cheeks8683

correction she posed in the photos and knew what they would be used for…just trife
FreeToSpeakUp

@ Ms. Everything,

I AGREE that blogs need to source thier information. However, by doing so the news source is still not going to make money. Half the time we don’t click on their link to get further information unless we are that interested in the story and not just trying to get a cheap thrill. Basically, what I was trying to say is this, even if all blogs sourced their info and the newspaper industry had no one to sue, the problem still wouldn’t be resolved and they would still be losing money. Right?
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

@ Cheeks I heard about them but I don’t want to see them but if I was one of his family members I would beat the shit outta that broad. Some people don’t have no kinda sense, compassion, ethics or anything. If you supposedly loved someone as much as she’s running around saying she loved him, why would you take pictures of him dying/dead anyway? and then sell them? I know some people take casket pictures and that’s one thing (although I don’t like or agree with them) but to take pictures of this man dead in the hospital and sell them. He couldn’t get any peace while he was alive and now they won’t give him peace while he’s dead.
FreeToSpeakUp

@ Cheeks

It’s more than thrife…it’s sick.
Tommykimon

I seen those pictures as well, Something is off about that woman. You know sleezy TMZ brought the pics for $10,000
cheeks8683

@ Ms. Everything…the sad part is he has no real family. She didn’t even wait either, along with the 911 tape, her mohammad ali comment, and now the pics, I’m convinced she was dropped several times as a child, on her head, unfortunately she fool someone ito taking her in…
iyonah

@Cheeks … I don’t think its nice to parade around pics of folks dead. It makes me like really when people post them or do ish like take them and sell them. its a corpse of a person that was loved by somebody. That ish gets BESIDE ME in a very bad way.
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

@Free, I almost always click the link and I’m not the only one so yes they would still be losing money but not as much. Most importantly, if the blog does not cite the original source then they are not giving the reader the opportunity to make the decision on whether they want to click the link or not. By suing and winning, they are forcing the bloggers to give their readers that choice. Not to mention it’s plagiarism which is basic theft and any blogger who posts a story word for word without citing where they got the story from deserves to be sued, simple as that. In college if you write a paper and don’t include a bibliography and properly cite your references you will be expelled and you deserve it. Writing a story is not easy and to have someone go in, take it and republish it is wrong. There isn’t a guarantee that everyone will click the link, but some will which means they are losing money even if it’s a penny lost, they are still losing money because someone chose to cut, paste and steal their work. Adding a link to the original source will not hurt the blogger, it’ll take only a few extra seconds and will make everyone happy so they need to just do it the right way or don’t try and blog
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

Cheeks,I know and that’s the saddest part. Something is seriously wrong with her but I’m just happy he had a will so at least whatever is done is according to her wishes and I hope whoever the executor of his estate is sues her and puts a gag order on her. The more she talks the more I think he didn’t fall accidentally.
kwall

With our local paper that I got laid off from… it wasn’t the blogs as much as it was other local media outlets that were not properly attributing stories to the correct source. One (which will remain nameless…) would blatantly plagiarize. I mean all out with it. If there was a shooting and WE got the story first…they would literally cut and paste our lead to their news site and follow it with “details to come”…lil sneaky stuff like that. Yes journalists work HARD to get the story, but that is like stealing candy from a baby. We telling you WHERE to get the story and you STILL take it from us…almost word for word? Without proper credit? That is evil. All kinds of wrong too.
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

I meant according to his wishes
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

Theres a station out here that does stuff like that Kwall and I hate it because you can tell its not their story. My whole thing is do the work yourself or at least be honest and say I got the story from xyz. Its not like the music industry where you have to pay to use other peoples material. All you have to do is type a few extra words and insert a link, so why is that so hard?
crzasallgetout

@cheeks
Where did you see the gary pics?
FreeToSpeakUp

Ms. Everything says:

@Free, I almost always click the link and I’m not the only one so yes they would still be losing money but not as much. Most importantly, if the blog does not cite the original source then they are not giving the reader the opportunity to make the decision on whether they want to click the link or not. By suing and winning, they are forcing the bloggers to give their readers that choice. Not to mention it’s plagiarism which is basic theft and any blogger who posts a story word for word without citing where they got the story from deserves to be sued, simple as that. In college if you write a paper and don’t include a bibliography and properly cite your references you will be expelled and you deserve it. Writing a story is not easy and to have someone go in, take it and republish it is wrong. There isn’t a guarantee that everyone will click the link, but some will which means they are losing money even if it’s a penny lost, they are still losing money because someone chose to cut, paste and steal their work. Adding a link to the original source will not hurt the blogger, it’ll take only a few extra seconds and will make everyone happy so they need to just do it the right way or don’t try and blog

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Yes, uh huh and they will still be losing money I still buy my paper because blogs usually post entertaining news. Sandra I think is the only blog that points out politcal issues. The newpaper is not publishing Monica’s performance at the NBA finals, Gucci’s jail release party, Tiny & Tip parading around New York, Antonia Carter’s photoshoot and so on…
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

@Free, I still read the paper too, I have a subscription and I only read SR and one other blog. The rest of my daily internet consumption comes from news sites BUT many don’t. There’s an entire generation that’s come up not watching or reading the news and getting their information about the world from blogs, BET and entertainment websites whose only exposure to real news is if they get curious on a story and happen to click on a link to find out more. Not to mention that even if they are losing money, like I said before, they will lose less by doing this and it will slow the death of an industry that the world really can’t afford to lose. But that’s jmo and I’m biased on the subject
FreeToSpeakUp

I always value the opinions of others. I believe in not plagarizing information but I also believe in not pointing the finger at someone else for gain or beating up the little people who don’t make THAT big of an impact on your situation. Blogs have stories that are entertaining and “popular.” Clearly a blog stating information about the oil spill can not be wrecking the sales of the news industry. It’s a hot topic, people are picking up the paper, magazines and blogging about it because it’s a current event/issue. And 90% of a blog is pure entertainment.
http://lovingme782.wordpress.com Ms. Everything

You have a point but although the impact is not that big right now it has the potential to become a bigger problem. If you’re hungry and steal a loaf of bread from the store, that 99 cent loaf doesn’t have a huge impact on the stores overall profits but it’s still a crime and still deerves to be punished. I’m all for supporting the little guy but only when the little guy is trying to come up the right way. You can’t commit a crime and say oh well I’m just trying to come up and it’s hard right now. A crime is a crime regardless of who does it or why and citinga source is such a simple thing and doesn’t cost the up and coming blogger anything.