:30 second rule - We need some clarification: Due
mainly to the Dave Winer point this way (drive safely, Dave), the post
yesterday
regarding the reported (by the Wall Street Journal)
“agreement” Apple has with record labels allowing podcasters to include
:30 second clips of music on a podcast, has drawn several responses,
and questions. Is it possible that the reporter confused Apple’s
allowing iTunes purchasers to sample :30 seconds of a tune with this
reference to podcasting rights? Can one loop the :30 seconds? Does this
not
contradict a previous ruling that any sample of a song, no matter how
short, is infringing?

While I think the record labels should be encouraging such usage of
short clips, I’m way over my head on the legalities of this issue.

If anyone can point to a specific ruling or clarification of this
Apple/iTunes/podcaster :30 second permission on the Apple site or
elsewhere, please do so in the comments of this post.

Thanks.

Fish tale: AP news item - “Thai fishermen caught a 646-pound catfish believed to have been the world’s largest freshwater fish ever recorded, a researcher said Thursday.”

If that picture is real, it’s the most real picture I’ve ever seen that looks as if it were created in Photoshop.