Redlasso, once the darling of the online new clipping world is coming back to blogs after being forced to stop offering its services to bloggers in May 2008.

Redlasso has signed an agreement with Fox that will see news content from Fox’s local television stations available via Redlasso on blogs and news oriented websites. Under the deal, Fox and Redlasso will share advertising revenue from the clips, with either party able to sell the ads.

The only possible flaw is in the distribution of content. The release notes that content will be made available to bloggers, but makes no mention of the ability to upload that content as well. The distinction is important, because where similar services continually fail vs the original Redlasso is in speed; supply of clips under these deals usually results in a delay, hence the attractiveness diminishes in a fast breaking news cycle. The original offering from Redlasso triumphed because users could upload the clips often minutes after they had gone to air, and those clips would be available immediately.

While some sites have said that the news means Redlasso is back from the dead, it’s important to note that they never died, only that the public, freely available to bloggers portion of the service ceased last year. Redlasso has continued to operate as a private news clipping services operating legally on a subscription basis, as a range of other companies do.

It’s good to see Redlasso back offering a clipping service for blogs, and although the content offering is only one network, it’s a start: if any company knows how to make this work, Redlasso does.

Related posts:

1. 1Cast wants to be the new RedLasso: it isn’t yet
2. RedLasso = Fail
3. Blogs.mu offer a DIY blog network

The service, like RedLasso before it, offers clips from major news outlets that can be embedded on blogs or general news sites. Unlike RedLasso however the clips are provided by legal agreements with content providers.

It’s early days for 1Cast, and backing from Craig McCaw of Eagle River Ventures should help them grow, however it’s not RedLasso, at least not yet.

The biggest issue with 1Cast is a lack of content bloggers would want to use. Content on the site comes from AFP, AP, Reuters, CNBC and CBC, although the company is saying that “more content deals will be announced in the coming months.” Where RedLasso excelled was availability from major networks including NBC, Fox and MSNBC, particularly political clips.

There’s then the time delay factor. RedLasso allowed users to upload content and share it, so within sometimes minutes of an interview ending, someone may have uploaded it making it immediately available to users. 1Cast lacks not only for variety, but speed, having to wait until providers offer the clips. I haven’t done an indepth analysis of the delay, but if its like other “legal” content providers, the delay can often be as long as a full day, so the value proposition of pulling the clip has diminished.

Then there’s the issue of unique content. I like the general idea of the one-stop shop for this sort of content, however 1Cast’s lineup isn’t unique, as both Voxant and ClipSyndicate offer content from most of the same providers, and often more. Better still, Voxant and ClipSyndicate revenue share on the ads attached to each clip, something 1Cast doesn’t do. 1Cast says that “social networking and blogging sites now have a legitimate source of embeddable, professionally produced video news content” but that’s just plain rude to existing competitors and completely untrue.

Unlike when RedLasso first started, many content providers now offer embeds themselves, for example you can now embed Reuters videos via Reuters itself, MSNBC offers embedding, and more and more content providers are doing the same. The need for a specialized site to grab clips may provide ease of use, but it’s not longer a unique sales proposition due to clips not being available from content providers themselves, as was the case previously.

I may sound a little negative on the service, but if they can get better content deals in place they may yet be the new RedLasso, they just don’t come close today, and their PR spin is borderline fail.

No related posts.

Like RedLasso, Mygazines offers a great and highly usable catalog of media. Titles range from Cosmo Girl, Forbes and even the National Enquirer, and the layout of the site, and the ability to browse content has been well thought through. But like RedLasso, I simply ask: are they completely insane? This is an entire business based on other people’s content, a walking, talking lawsuit waiting to happen.

That the site is still up a week after launching is perhaps a miracle in itself. Post launch, the threats of lawsuits started. Jossip reported that the Magazine Publishers of America would commence legal action shortly July 31. DigitalMedia reports that Asian publishers aren’t happy, and in the UK the Periodical Publishers Association is encouraging members to sue fast and sue hard.

Jurisdiction may be the sites only short term saving grace. According to Folio, the site is registered to Salveo Limited, a U.K.-based company that sells health and beauty products, and lists its address as a post office box on the Caribbean island of Anguilla.

Mygazines will eventually fall, no matter where the owners are hiding, but in the mean time, it’s there to use. Whether you chose to visit it or not is up to you.

No related posts.

TV clipping service RedLasso has been served with a cease and desist from big media for using their content without permission.

Fox, CBS and NBC are demanding that RedLasso stop recording and distributing clips from their network, and are giving them until May 29 to stop or get hauled into court, according to Silicon Alley Insider.

RedLasso has found favor in the political and celebrity blogging spaces for quickly providing show clips from big media companies, something the companies themselves have not been successfully providing.

But here’s the thing: RedLasso has built a business based on other peoples content, and has taken the content without permission. What did they seriously think would happen? RedLasso hasn’t responded publicly yet to the C&D, but at a guess they’ll plead fair use, however fair use doesn’t apply here given the redistribution is the main function of the business.

Great business idea, complete FAIL on execution.

For a bonus round of fail visit their website using Firefox 3 RC1.

No related posts.