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Online Journalism News

Most UK online newspaper publishers not using ACAP

Posted: 18/03/08 By: Oliver Luft
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The majority of the UK's online newspapers publishers have failed to implement ACAP technology to their websites, despite it being heralded by developers as the solution to copyright wrangles between Google and online publishers.

Heavyweight backers at the World Association of Newspapers launched the system in November after twelve months of trial that included the co-operation of Agence France-Presse, Independent News & Media and Media 24.

The same day, Times Online became the first UK newspaper website to implement the technology, Independent.co.uk soon followed suit soon after but in the intervening months there has been little take up of the technology amongst online news publishers in the UK.

The ACAP technology was designed to give online publishers greater control and flexibility over the access they grant to the spidering technologies that search engines use to index web pages. Yet it was met with some heavy criticism when it was launched. Bloggers and newspaper correspondents suggested that the technology was too restrictive and producer-focused.

In the months since launch, Google representatives have spoken publicly about why the search giant believes ACAP is not needed and their refusal to use the technology. Other have also poured further scorn on the system.

Journalism.co.uk contacted the UK's leading newspaper groups to see if any had quietly implemented ACAP in the months since its launch.

Northcliffe Media and Associated Northcliffe Digital both confirmed that they were not using the technology nor had plans to implement it across Mail Online, ThisisLondon and Metro.co.uk, nor Northcliffe Media's local and 'this is' sites.

Trinity Mirror Group confirmed that it was not using the technology across its many regional newspaper websites, as did Archant and Newsquest.

A spokesperson for Johnston Press said the publisher was aware of the technology but was not currently using it.

The Guardian confirmed that it doesn't use the technology but was 'following its progress'. A similar response came from Telegraph Media.

All the news publishers contacted by Journalism.co.uk stated that they were not currently using the system on their websites.

A senior Google executive's comments last week that the search was still not interested in working with the ACAP technology prompted a swift response from Gavin O'Reilly - CEO of Independent News and Media and ACAP - accusing Google of 'glibly throwing mistruths' about the reasons for it not supporting the system.

O'Reilly added that publishers have 'come up with a practical, open and workable solution for publishers and content aggregators.'

Whatever the real reasons for Google and other major search engines refusal to take up ACAP, it remains a stark fact that few UK news publishers have - thus far - put their faith in the technology.

A spokesperson for the ACAP project told Journalism.co.uk that over the course of the next month 'a host of major publishers' would begin implementing the system.

It remains to be seen if UK interests can finally be pricked by the technology.