"Another huge organization is trying to lay down rigid linking guidelines On a form on its website, National Public Radio says that "linking to or framing of any material on this site without the prior written consent of NPR is prohibited." [Story Link] via [GigaLaw]
I wonder if NPR has picked up a disturbance in the force yet? I am losing respect for that organization by the hour. Now is the time for them to respond to the criticism, and like I said earlier, it would be nice if they could track down and interview Tim Berners-Lee. He could draw them a picture. See, this here is the web. And this here (pointing to their page describing the linking agreement requirement) is the web, tarnished and defaced by stupid, pointless, mindless corporate rule-making. Any questions?
4:19:07 PM
Jenny writes: "Thanks to Rick Klau's article on LLRX about Personal KM and Radio, we've got an academic law librarian on board! Not only that, "I'm a retired Judge Advocate, I'm also interested in military issues and military law." Should be a great intersection of topics. Welcome to my aggregator, Leah!" via [The Shifted Librarian]
To quote the old song, "I second that emotion"...
3:41:03 PM
Adobe Acrobat and Document Production
Several people have written emails about my Adobe Acrobat article, and asked about several things that I didn't cover in the article. Here is a brief outline of what I do when I get documents to be produced to the other side. It applies in most cases. Please feel free to comment. I dashed it off and need to refine it so your comments will be well received, even if they are critical. Thanks.
3:26:30 PM
Update on NPR and Linking
Denise reports "Legality; Law. Wired News reports NPR's response concerning its linking form and policy. In the article, NPR ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin talks about links from commercial versus noncommercial sites, and NPR's reluctance to "give support to advocacy groups." ["Public Protests NPR Link Policy," via GrepLaw; see Slashdot] What Dvorkin does not address is whether the policy isn't enforceable because linking isn't unlawful."
I agree with Denise. Linking is not unlawful. In fact (and I'll say this quietly so that only the few of us here on the internet can hear), it's actually "good" thing. I seem to recall Tim Berners-Lee creating the World Wide Web protocols with the idea of linking as the primary idea. Maybe NPR could get him on the show and have him explain it. In fact, I'll donate $100 if NPR will interview Tim Berners-Lee and ask him what he thinks of their "permission to link" policy.
Oh, and by the way, here (via bOingbOing) are more thoughts from the NPR ombudsman. Geez, do these guys not get it!
Dvorkin said he told the e-mailers "that NPR does not refuse links but it just wants to make sure that the links are appropriate to a noncommercial and journalistic organization. "We wouldn't want a commercial outfit to use us in any way they pleased..." It isn't only commercial activity that concerns NPR. Asked if a link from someone's noncommercial homepage would bother the company, Dvorkin said: "It depends on your homepage -- what if you're an advocate for left-handed socialist diabetics? We wouldn't want to give support to advocacy groups."
