DFO: Let’s Review Online Linkage

At the Idaho Statesman, Opinion Editor Kevin Richert posts a clarification on the newspaper’s policy re: linking in wake of the recent flap with Idaho Conservative Blogger. Remember? A newspaper editor sent ICB a note asking in a polite way that the blog quit using Statesman copy wholesale. Adam Graham/Adam’s Blog and others have weighed in on the Statesman shot across the bow. As one who uses dozens of links throughout the day, I view this disturbance in the Idaho blogosphere as a good thing. Many bloggers and commenters don’t realize that you can’t use material produced by other online publications wholesale, including cut-and-paste comments. The key is to use a brief amount of copy, to credit the source, and to provide a link (so the original source receives benefit in the way of a page-view from a curious reader of the secondary blog). More here .

Question: Any more thoughts on using cyber material?