archenemy blog

So, following a link from TJICblog I find the Globe wants me to register to view its content. I took a quick look at the membership agreement (hidden behind a link rather than presented onscreen during the signup process), and it appears to me that the Globe is trying to protect itself from bloggers:

2. BOSTON.COM CONTENT AND MEMBER SUBMISSIONS

2.1 The contents of the Boston.com Internet service are intended for your personal, noncommercial use. All materials published on Boston.com (including, but not limited to news articles, photographs, images, illustrations, audio clips and video clips, also known as the “Content”) are protected by copyright, and owned or controlled by The New York Times Company, The Boston Globe, Boston.com, or the party credited as the provider of the Content. You shall abide by all additional copyright notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content accessed through the Service.

2.2 The Service and its Contents are protected by copyright pursuant to U.S. and international copyright laws. You may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, reproduce (except as provided in Section 2.3 of this Agreement), create new works from, distribute, perform, display, or in any way exploit, any of the Content or the Service (including software) in whole or in part.

2.3 You may download or copy the Content and other downloadable items displayed on the Service for personal use only, provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein. Copying or storing of any Content for other than personal use is expressly prohibited without prior written permission from Boston.com or the copyright holder identified in the copyright notice contained in the Content.

2.4 Certain Content is furnished by the Associated Press and Reuters, and Boston.com will not be liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any such Content, or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof, or for any damages arising therefrom.

I may not create new works from, or distribute, display or exploit in any way, in whole or in part?

Reeeeeallly.

For the past couple of years, my reading of the Globe has been

• exclusivly online
• motivated primarily by intent to mock

So, I’ve gone from paying to read Globe advertisers print ads to not paying to view Globe advertisers online ads, to not paying and not viewing any ads. I have to applaud the underpants gnomes geniuses running the Globe. Nice job.