GET ACAP-ENABLED: Make the most of your online content

ACAP (Automated Content Access Protocol) is a non-proprietary, global permissions tool that puts content owners in control of their online content in a way that is conducive to developing new online business models, putting new, high-quality content on the net and to maximizing the benefits of the relationship with search engines.
 

 

Why publishers should implement ACAP

Gavin O'Reilly
CEO of the World Association of Newspapers


Devised by publishers in collaboration with search engines after an intensive year-long pilot in 2006-2007, ACAP is set to revolutionise the creation, dissemination, use, and protection of copyright-protected content on the worldwide web.

ACAP is destined to become the universal permissions protocol on the Internet, an open, non-proprietary standard through which content owners can communicate permissions for access and use to online intermediaries.

In the first instance, ACAP provides a framework that will allow any publisher, large or small, to express access and use policies in a language that search engines' robot "spiders" can be taught to understand. ACAP’s scope is now being extended to other business relationships and other media types including music and the audiovisual sectors. Technical work is ongoing to improve and finesse ACAP V.1.

Thanks to the enabling, open nature of ACAP, content providers will now be able to make more content available to users through the search engines, and to continue to innovate and invest in the development of business models for network publishing. With ACAP, the online publishing environment will become as rich and diverse as the offline one.

Implementation is simple, takes just a few minutes and, in its simplest form, will have no impact on the functionality of your site. At this early stage of ACAP, it is crucial that every content provider implement the protocol, display the “ACAP-enabled” logo and put out a strong message that they care about how their content is used.

After all, why should anyone else care about your content if you don’t?

Implement ACAP now. It’s your future. With ACAP, it’s secure.

Join Us

After the successful completion of the first phase of ACAP, we are delighted to announce that new membership is welcomed at an annual cost of 5,000 euros. All new members will have the right to propose new use cases to work on with the ACAP technical team and to follow the project at close hand.

Please email mark.bide@rightscom.com for more information.