Commentary

Unnecessary Toughness

News groups are accusing the NFL of unsportsman-like conduct over a new rule that imposes a 45-second per day limit on clips of games or player interviews on Web sites. For video shot at team facilities, the Web site must provide links back to NFL.com and to team sites.

The American Society of Newspaper Editors and Associated Press sports editors met with NFL officials in late June to get the league to ease up on restrictions. The NFL said that any interview done away from a stadium, locker room or practice facility can remain on a site as long as editors want. The rule applies only to the time the player or coach is talking on screen; the interviewer doesn’t count. Houston Chronicle sportswriter John McClain has already made a satirical video highlighting how unworkable the time limit is for interviews.

The league is considering other possible exceptions to the 45-second rule, such as the hiring or firing of a new coach.

The NFL isn’t exactly progressive when it comes to media rights. It still has a rule going back to the 1960s that home games can’t be broadcast in the local market unless tickets are sold out 72 hours in advance.

Accustomed to receiving billions of dollars for TV broadcast rights, it’s not surprising major sports leagues aren’t big fans of fair use. But piling on restrictions for news sites won’t help the NFL expand its popularity online.

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