The author suggests that publishers should refrain from licensing their content for small amounts and instead focus on protecting the value of their work. They should resist the temptation to partner with tech companies that have used their content without permission and offer no clear plan for supporting the news industry. The author concludes by urging publishers to focus on producing great journalism and serving their readers, rather than looking to tech companies for rescue.
Key takeaways:
- News publishers are making deals with tech firms like OpenAI to sell their journalism as training for AI models, despite past failures with tech partnerships.
- These deals are seen as settling without litigation, as these AI platforms have been using intellectual output without permission.
- News publishers are not only failing to defend their intellectual property but also trading their credibility for cash from companies that undervalue them and aim to replace them.
- The author argues that publishers should refrain from licensing their content for small amounts, protect their work, and focus on their core competency of producing great journalism instead of relying on technology companies to save the news business.