Publishers Launch Standard to Better Control Content
Nov 30, 2007
After a year-long pilot project, an international coalition representing the publishing industry unveiled a new standard yesterday that is designed to give content providers better control over how their material is used online. Known as ACAP (Automated Content Access Protocol), the standard was jointly developed by the World Association of Newspapers, the International Publishers Association and the European Publishers Council in conjuction with search companies and other partners.
Version one of ACAP, which is now available, focuses on ensuring that search engines automatically recognize publishers' rules about access and use of content. According to Intellectual Property Watch, ACAP supporters like the Associated Press, Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America "hope the tool will encourage rights holders to make their works easily available online while avoiding expensive legal battles between search engines and content providers."
While they've reportedly been involved in discussions, so far, Google, Yahoo and MSN haven't formally endorsed ACAP, and Yahoo's vice president of intellectual property Joe Siino told Intellectual Property Watch that his company is taking a wait-and-see approach for now because he thinks "it's going to be a multi-year evolution."
Meanwhile, European Union commissioner for information society and media Viviane Reding said that Europe will be watching ACAP as it considers new rules to promote the online content market.
For more, check out Intellectual Property Watch, or visit ACAP's site.
Tags:
ACAP, copyright, European Union, Search
