The AP launched an update to its AP Mobile app for the iPhone and iPod Touch today, which is now available in the Apple App Store. This is an update based on user feedback from a soft launch of version 2.0 last week.

"In the next release we will ensure that the update process is seamless, story scrolling is much more smooth, the edit button on the More screen is reinstated and that you do not lose any personally stored information," Benjamin Mosse said on the AP Mobile Blog after that launch.

Other than involving their respective Web campaigns, these two tidbits are only semantically related—you can file them both under odds and ends. While artist stages the inaugural “Intellectual Property Asshole Competition,” fans of unfortunately named and since changed Butt Hole Road have waged an Internet campaign to change the name back to the rude original.

AP versus Shepard Fairy

The AP is launching an all out assault on any use of its content that is not licensed (purchased) for use by Internet publishers and search engines. As I have said in the past, the AP is not just focusing on the blatant violators such as spam blogs or sites that quote paragraphs without attribution or link. On the contrary, the AP is specifically going after bigger mainstream blogs, Internet publications and believe it or not search engines such as Google.

Yes, the AP (Associated Press) is desperate. Yes, the AP has lost control of the news. And yes, bloggers are more and more going local with their focus. That leads to an obvious question, will bloggers eventually replace the AP and other news organizations?

One of the big debates about online news is that original sources don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Google News has recently been one of the focal points in the ongoing Associated Press finger-pointing sessions.

In case you’ve missed the kerfluffle recently, the AP is rather dissatisfied with their relationship with the Internet, and Google in particular. Google is everyone’s favorite villain these days.

The Associated Press is both angering the web and making it laugh this week. By now, I’m sure you’re familiar with the AP’s announced plans to "protect" it’s content from "misappropriation." If not, WebProNews Publisher Rich Ord has a good piece on that here.

Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re the newspaper industry. Your ranks are dwindling as even old stalwarts are dropping like flies.

The Associated Press (AP) announced this week that it’s working on a system  to "protect" its content from being "misappropriated" online. WebProNews CEO Rich Ord posted a thought-provoking piece on the subject giving some background into the situation.

The Associated Press is angry at bloggers and the rest of the Internet for that matter. It appears as if the AP is so enamored with their ability to come up with completely original material 24/7 that keeps the Internet news machine going that they think we should all pay for the privilege to read it and spread the word.

In light of the hysteria generated by the Associated Press’s plan to go after online news aggregators, Google is quick to point out any action the AP takes won’t apply to them. Why? Because Google already struck a deal with the AP.

The Associated Press has announced its plan to launch an initiative to protect news content from "misappropriation" online.

"We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under misguided legal theories," says AP Chairman Dean Singleton.

Fair use is back in the news courtesy of a New York Times article on publishers being unhappy with the use of excerpts of their content. The main focal point of the article is Henry Blodget of Silicon Alley Insider, who recently quoted a WSJ columnist.

Well, if Google (or any number of other cost-conscious corporations) isn’t going to do something about overreaching copyright enforcement, it may be up to nonprofits and legal scholars at our best law schools. First up, a pair of acronyms, next Congress for encouraging them.

“This is what it’s come to,” writes the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Fred von Lohmann. “Teenagers singing ‘Winter Wonderland’ being censored on YouTube.

Signaling that maybe nobody is willing to let this linking-and-snippet business go to court, Moreover and parent company VeriSign have settled a lawsuit filed by the Associated Press for undisclosed terms.

By the tone of the press release, though, those terms must be favorable to the plaintiff. "AP is pleased to have resolved the litigation in an amicable manner and appreciates VeriSign and Moreover’s efforts to resolve AP’s concerns," said AP Vice President and General Counsel Srinandan Kasi.

AP chairman Dean Singleton only used the words "Internet" and "websites" once each in a recent address, and "online" didn’t come up at all.  Still, Singleton’s remarks made clear that traditional newspapers are losing ground to new media.

Tom Curley said the news organization will come after anyone using its content without paying for that privilege.

A four publisher deal brings content from major news organizations to Google News and its hosting services.

A license to link to Associated Press content last August still hasn’t yielded any further developments from Google. Some say this could indicate Google was shaken down for a payoff.

From a story about AP by AP: