Steal this post! http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/steal-this-post/ The decline of Jewish newspapers is being accelerated by the rise of Jewish news aggregation Web sites which steal content from more prominent sources, robbing them of desperately needed licensing fees and revenue-generating traffic. And JTA’s director of digital media, Dan Sieradski, has something to say about it—and plenty of rabbis to back him up! en-us dsieradski@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-06-04T;22:05:00-05:00 Comment by Sholom Shuchat rabbishuchat@gmail.com Everything in life has two ways to go about it: 1) a positive way ("Aseh Tov” in Jewish literature) 2) a negative way ("Sur MeRah in Jewish literature) Since this issue is a common issue with regards to these websites (and not only from JTA but from every news-site around the world), then there are two ways to prevent it: 1) Make the text into a flash website and then the text cannot be copied (unless someone wants to retype the whole thing, or post a picture of the article...). 2) Sue them in court for copyright infringement. I would say to do the first option, which is a beneficial option and it is in the positive realm. It will also save the money from the trial. === Alternatively, there is a certain way of preventing copying from sites which is available here: http://www.cdisys.com/products/netis.shtml It is Israeli technology and it works perfectly (and you are also supporting Israel while doing it) Everything in life has two ways to go about it:
1) a positive way ("Aseh Tov” in Jewish literature)
2) a negative way ("Sur MeRah in Jewish literature)

Since this issue is a common issue with regards to these websites (and not only from JTA but from every news-site around the world), then there are two ways to prevent it:
1) Make the text into a flash website and then the text cannot be copied (unless someone wants to retype the whole thing, or post a picture of the article...).
2) Sue them in court for copyright infringement.

I would say to do the first option, which is a beneficial option and it is in the positive realm. It will also save the money from the trial.

===

Alternatively, there is a certain way of preventing copying from sites which is available here: http://www.cdisys.com/products/netis.shtml It is Israeli technology and it works perfectly (and you are also supporting Israel while doing it)

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Daniel Sieradski dsieradski@jta.org “By the way, nice picture. Where’d you license it?” Zing! FWIW-I have contacted these news organizations previously—with cease and desist letters.  I therefore didn’t quite expect they’d be eager to participate in an interview on the subject. If any wish to submit a response, however, I’d be happy to publish it. “By the way, nice picture. Where’d you license it?”

Zing!

FWIW-I have contacted these news organizations previously—with cease and desist letters.  I therefore didn’t quite expect they’d be eager to participate in an interview on the subject. If any wish to submit a response, however, I’d be happy to publish it.

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Ronald Coleman rcoleman@goetzfitz.com Happy to help out, Daniel. I thought this article was fair enough, given that your thesis was transparent as soon as you started asking questions.  I don’t believe you “singled out” so called ultra-orthodox Jews, merely websites that share a similar readership:  that group.  Fundamentally, I agree with your thesis and your observation.  I have to admit I always kind of wondered how such websites were finding the money to pay licensing fees.  Some people are just naive, I guess! You could have moved this post to the status of journalism if you had at least tried to contact the people running those websites, though, to at least see if they responded, and if so, what they think they’re doing, and why. By the way, nice picture. Where’d you license it? Happy to help out, Daniel. I thought this article was fair enough, given that your thesis was transparent as soon as you started asking questions.  I don’t believe you “singled out” so called ultra-orthodox Jews, merely websites that share a similar readership:  that group. 

Fundamentally, I agree with your thesis and your observation.  I have to admit I always kind of wondered how such websites were finding the money to pay licensing fees.  Some people are just naive, I guess!

You could have moved this post to the status of journalism if you had at least tried to contact the people running those websites, though, to at least see if they responded, and if so, what they think they’re doing, and why.

By the way, nice picture. Where’d you license it?

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Michoel @Chareidio michoel@chareidio.com Negotiations between news organizations and Google News relate only to legal rights over headlines, not plagiarizing articles.  -Michoel@Chareidio Negotiations between news organizations and Google News relate only to legal rights over headlines, not plagiarizing articles.  -Michoel@Chareidio

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Moshe mycra@att.net The law of the land has not been decided. There is still the similar on going discussion between news organizations and Goggle News. The law of the land has not been decided. There is still the similar on going discussion between news organizations and Goggle News.

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Tim Lehmann tim@21stcenturychristian.org Faigi makes a good point. There is even another point of view. I go through many papers every day for my web site, but rather than copying the articles, I offer a link directly to the original (I hope) source. This way I am spreading the news that I believe needs to get out and not violating copyright laws; not to mention stealing ad revenue from the papers. I depend on the reporters who work hard to gather the news so I can appreciate the problem plagiarism.  My web site is http://21stcenturychristian.org Faigi makes a good point. There is even another point of view. I go through many papers every day for my web site, but rather than copying the articles, I offer a link directly to the original (I hope) source. This way I am spreading the news that I believe needs to get out and not violating copyright laws; not to mention stealing ad revenue from the papers. I depend on the reporters who work hard to gather the news so I can appreciate the problem plagiarism.  My web site is http://21stcenturychristian.org

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Clare Feinson cfeinson@dcpca.org Perhaps JTA should publish a list of advertisers who support the pages that reprint content illegally.  Just a list—readers can decide for themselves whether or not they want to avoid buying the products. Perhaps JTA should publish a list of advertisers who support the pages that reprint content illegally.  Just a list—readers can decide for themselves whether or not they want to avoid buying the products.

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Michoel @Chareidio michoel@chareidio.com Faigi, your comments are well taken, and in terms of Yiddishkeit I wholeheartedly agree that dissemination is a key, nevertheless attribution is appropriate and ethical, and one should still ask permission. However, news production, even Jewish news is usually not Torah by any means. News is an industrial product served up usually with advertising, often in order to make money. In the least, journalists are typically paid for their work even if the publisher isn’t. Copy-paste is plagiorization plain and simple. My news service doesn’t make money, and I don’t do it for the money, but when I am researching the articles that I write, and come across literally word-for-word replications- (with no shame), it pains me to see editors, who should know better, piggybacking on other journalist’s hard work. From your post, you sound very idealistic, (I am too), but I believe that this particular application of your idealism as described in your comment above is misdirected. The ideal of “spreading-the-word” is only beautiful if it is performed properly and ethically. Otherwise it is a disgrace and is counter-productive.  -Michoel@Chareidio Faigi, your comments are well taken, and in terms of Yiddishkeit I wholeheartedly agree that dissemination is a key, nevertheless attribution is appropriate and ethical, and one should still ask permission. However, news production, even Jewish news is usually not Torah by any means. News is an industrial product served up usually with advertising, often in order to make money. In the least, journalists are typically paid for their work even if the publisher isn’t. Copy-paste is plagiorization plain and simple. My news service doesn’t make money, and I don’t do it for the money, but when I am researching the articles that I write, and come across literally word-for-word replications- (with no shame), it pains me to see editors, who should know better, piggybacking on other journalist’s hard work. From your post, you sound very idealistic, (I am too), but I believe that this particular application of your idealism as described in your comment above is misdirected. The ideal of “spreading-the-word” is only beautiful if it is performed properly and ethically. Otherwise it is a disgrace and is counter-productive.  -Michoel@Chareidio

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by faigi fk770@yahoo.com Interesting how different types from different stripes view the same issues in a different light.  I am an editor of a website-and there is nothing that makes me happier than to see my articles and news items being posted on various websites across the board.  It is then that I am sure that my mission- disseminating Yiddishkeit, is being done on a much broader scope than I could do by myself.  I would like to be credited (not personally, but at least write the source..) but I don’t dwell on it.  I also write for an international magazine, under pen names and I was tickled to recieve a newsletter from literally the other end of the world with a story that I translated and edited, retranslated by a cousin of mine and republished for a readership that has no access to the original.  He had no idea that I wrote that peice.. Zocho melachto naase al yedai acherim… Let’s all work together, and our impact and Kiddush Hashem on the web would be that much greater, and with unity we will merit Moshiach, speedily. Interesting how different types from different stripes view the same issues in a different light.  I am an editor of a website-and there is nothing that makes me happier than to see my articles and news items being posted on various websites across the board.  It is then that I am sure that my mission- disseminating Yiddishkeit, is being done on a much broader scope than I could do by myself.  I would like to be credited (not personally, but at least write the source..) but I don’t dwell on it.  I also write for an international magazine, under pen names and I was tickled to recieve a newsletter from literally the other end of the world with a story that I translated and edited, retranslated by a cousin of mine and republished for a readership that has no access to the original.  He had no idea that I wrote that peice..
Zocho melachto naase al yedai acherim…
Let’s all work together, and our impact and Kiddush Hashem on the web would be that much greater, and with unity we will merit Moshiach, speedily.

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Michoel @Chareidio michoel@chareidio.com I don’t know if the problem is only Orthodox or not, but it’s pervasive and frustrating for me especially after spending several hours every day working to produce original news stories for my site, and then discovering competing sites displaying nothing but plagiarized text. I recommend that we design an emblem that may be displayed only on news portals containing original content, and that we develop and implement other approaches that will help keep the pressure on Jewish sites that don’t maintain decent journalistic standards. JTA, will you lead the drive? I’ll help!  -Michoel@Chareidio I don’t know if the problem is only Orthodox or not, but it’s pervasive and frustrating for me especially after spending several hours every day working to produce original news stories for my site, and then discovering competing sites displaying nothing but plagiarized text. I recommend that we design an emblem that may be displayed only on news portals containing original content, and that we develop and implement other approaches that will help keep the pressure on Jewish sites that don’t maintain decent journalistic standards. JTA, will you lead the drive? I’ll help!  -Michoel@Chareidio

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00 Comment by Stuart Stu@stuartschnee.com I think this article is very unfair. You besmirch a whole “group” (as you call them) because of some people who have decided to do something wrong on the internet. I assume you would never do that to any other group (gays, Arabs....whoever). Why is it ok to do that to “ultra Orthodox”. I think this article is very unfair. You besmirch a whole “group” (as you call them) because of some people who have decided to do something wrong on the internet.

I assume you would never do that to any other group (gays, Arabs....whoever). Why is it ok to do that to “ultra Orthodox”.

]]> 2012-05-24T;14:04:00-05:00