Google enacting new 5-click limit on Google News links

The ongoing feud between Google and big news publishers took an interesting turn tonight by way of a new Google News feature. Instead of getting free news via Google News no matter the paywall scheme in active use at the source site, publishers will now have the option to limit users with up to 5 free clicks via their new First Click Freek program. After the alotted free clicks have peen consumed, paywalls and money trolls will rear their heads. In all fairness, I’m not going to read more than five news stories from any one paper. There simply isn’t that much in a traditional large scale paper to keep me tuned in and interested that long. For the content owners, it should ease at least a few reservations they have towards online news and journalism. Honestly though, these people that run the antiquated news publishing companies need to realize content consumed online is a la carte. I can’t think of any reason why a 5-click limit is outlandish or unfair. Can you?

Sitting down like your grandpa used to and spending a good hour reading every nook and cranny of the local gazette is losing steam fast. People graze for news. Adapt or get out. Still, the real test will be pleasing News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch. Think he’ll be overjoyed with Google’s new move, or will it fall upon deaf ears and blind eyes?

[ via: TechCrunch ]