Judge Posner on the Future of Newspapers

In the June 21 post to his blog, Judge Richard A. Posner of the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals writes about the newspaper business and suggests that, to survive, papers may have to end hyperlinks:

Expanding copyright law to bar online access to copyrighted materials without the copyright holder's consent, or to bar linking to or paraphrasing copyrighted materials without the copyright holder's consent, might be necessary to keep free riding on content financed by online newspapers from so impairing the incentive to create costly news-gathering operations that news services like Reuters and the Associated Press would become the only professional, nongovernmental sources of news and opinion.

I predict that, at a minimum, there will likely be a transition from free web access to newspaper content to micro payments from readers in the near future.

"For the Love of Animals" by Kathryn Shevelow

In today's Washington Post, Jonathan Yardley gives a positive review to For the Love of Animals, The Rise of the Animal Protection Movement by Kathryn Shevelow. According to Mr. Yardley, the book is "exemplary in every respect."

Animal protection continues to be a growing area of interest in the law. This story from the District of Columbia Bar Magazine looks at the topic: Animal Law by Kathryn Alfisi. In another law link, Gary Becker and Richard Posner discuss trusts for pets in the July 13, 2008, post at The Becker-Posner Blog.