Another Publisher Challenges Legality of Links 288
NewtonsLaw writes: "It seems that the legality of hypertext linkiing has once a gain been called into question according to
this story running on Wired.com.
As the former online publisher of 7am.com, I was once threatened by the Nando Times in a similar manner when I was linking to their stories.
Local TV broadcaster TVNZ also made all sorts of noise about the illegality of linking to their content
back in 1966 but have since come to their senses.
Over the years I've had similar bitchy complaints from a number of online publishers who simply haven't worked out that links from other sites are something to be encouraged because the drive traffic and boost search-engine ratings.
A great resource for those interested in the history, opinions and law on the matter of the legality of linking is the
Link Controversy page created and maintained by Stefan Bechtold.
Most publishers eventually realize that trying to block linking through the courts is a really dumb thing to do -- but there's always someone who simply doesn't get it."
Prior art for the BT patent (Score:3, Funny)
1966? Excellent prior art for the BT patent!!
Do NOT link to me! (Score:1, Funny)
When I was your age... (Score:3, Funny)
'Course, back then we didn't have no fancy new-fangled Pee Cees ta link with. We had ta write our "web pages" on paper, and instead of a link, we wrote down driving directions for how to find the specified document. Porn 'taint no fun when ya gotta drive 250 miles o' back country roads ta find it. I tell ya, the Interweb was different back then... we had ta use REAL superhighways instead o' this Information Superhighway.
indeed (Score:5, Funny)
Anyway, I'm reminded of something from the currently ongoing bnetd fiasco: The EFF linked to a Penny Arcade comic on the subject. Penny Arcade doesn't agree with the EFF and said, "Instead of linking to the comic, please link to the rant." One guy from the EFF said, "OK" and removed the link, then an hour later the link was back and an email arrived saying "Linking's perfectly legal, we'll do as we like." So PA changed the target of the URL to some messed up thing involving dogs and some old guy. Very amusing.
Moral: if you don't want someone linking to you, don't raise a fuss, just mess with your referrer permissions and all.
Re:Why are they suing? (Score:2, Funny)
Days 2-6: People read it and link to it.
Day 7:
They'll soon stop linking
cancelled my BT (UK) sub, got though to BT lawyer (Score:2, Funny)
BTCSO 'oh, why's that..(random BT bulls***T Qs)
me: 'I disagree with BT hyperlink patent [usatoday.com] and think it an absurd waste of my monthly sub.
BT CSO 'er...' [transfers me to supervisor]
BT CSOSupervisor: 'Why do you want to leave BT?'
me: (as above)
BT CSOS: 'er...' [transfers me to someone else]
Very Obvious NON-Customer Facing Lawyer: 'hello'
me: 'hi i want to leave BT 'cos I disagree with BT hyperlink patent and think it an absurd waste of my monthly sub...
VONCFL: 'ah..well..do you knw about..prior art..amount spent on R & D...have to protect consumers (!)...blah.......1976...bullshit....etc
I, amazed at some guy's dedication to (crappy) job, him amazed at (geek) customer ability to speak to him, agreed to differ. cancelled anyway...BT now owes 14 BIL UKP. Me, happy. BT still flogging dead horse. Have better things to spend money on. I think anyway.
Re:Clicking links is theft (Score:3, Funny)
The nature of the web is that a web page is open unless proven otherwise. It is like a store with no locks on the door. If it is locked then I won't go in. If the door is wide open, I will go in.
My website is not a store. It is more like my house. By accessing it you are trespassing on my private property. It doesn't matter whether or not I locked the doors.
M$ new deep linking policy (Score:2, Funny)
Today M$ announced a policy banning deep linking to the Internet for all Windows users. All users, upon logging onto the Internet from a windows machine, will be presented with new license terms that will, in part, only allow them to enter the Internet from M$N.com, and will only allow them to navigate through certified hyperlinks.
To facilitate this new policy, a new version of Internet Exploder will be automatically downloaded, using existing security holes, to the user's machine. This version of IE will have www.m$n.com hard coded as the startup page, the URL box will removed to prevent users from manually deep linking, and most navigation controls will be disabled. All other browsers on the user's machine will be destroyed. To further insure that users are not deep linking, each page accessible to the Windows users much be registered and verified by M$ employees. M$ has stated it will perform this service at costs. As an additional safeguard, all links will be automatically verified and recorded by MS servers before the user is allowed to load the requested page. MS says this information will only be used to protect and serve it customer base.
A M$ spokesman stated "Microsoft has a great respect for intellectual property, and we feel it is our patriotic duty to protect all IP. Deep linking is the greatest threat to IP, and MS will work will all copyright holders to protect such property. We feel that to offer maximum protection all deep linking should be banned. As such, and to protect our users, we will only allow access to the Internet through M$N.com." M$ is rumored to be hiring lobbyist to codify such a policy into law.
In a related story, M$ has also formed an alliance with BT to push the hyperlink patent. It has pledged an undisclosed amount of money to become the sole licensee of the patent.
Re:Stealing Content and Representing it as Your Ow (Score:2, Funny)