By Daryl Lang

The Associated Press plans to build a registry to manage online usage rights of stories, photos and videos created by the AP and AP members.

The AP’s plan, which was approved by its board of directors Thursday, is designed to curb online infringement, which AP leaders consider a big problem. The news agency recently settled a lawsuit against AHN Media, a Web site operator that AP accused of rewriting and redistributing its news stories.

The AP announced no technical details about its system, but said it would use a digital permissions format developed by the AP, which has been endorsed by London-based Media Standards Trust.

“The system will register key identifying information about each piece of content that AP distributes as well as the terms of use of that content, and employ a built-in beacon to notify AP about how the content is used,” the AP said in a press release.

The system is supposed to launch early next year, at which time it will cover only AP text content. It will then be expanded to include text from AP members, plus photos and video. The AP says it will fund the registry though 2010, then expects it to become financially self-sustaining.

The AP didn’t say how the system will generate revenue, but presumably it would collect fees from either the content owners, licensees or both. The registry will include tools that let content owners see who’s using their material, as well as payment services and enforcement support.

Other private organizations, including photo trade associations, have proposed registries before, but few have ever gotten off the ground, and none are widely used today.

Read the AP press release here.
Read the AP's Frequently Asked Questions page.