Uptown

Last week, the New York Times announced that it would make its editorials and op-eds available on the Web for free. In a message to subscribers of the (now defunct) service TimesSelect, they explain their shift from access-restrained to freely available content:

"Since we launched TimesSelect, the Web has evolved into an increasingly open environment. Readers find more news in a greater number of places and interact with it in more meaningful ways. This decision enhances the free flow of New York Times reporting and analysis around the world. It will enable everyone, everywhere to read our news and opinion - as well as to share it, link to it and comment on it."

So instead of logging into TimesSelect, copying an article and then pasting it into a Blog, from now I will commit one less copyright infringement and link directly to articles on the Times website.

This comes only a few months after Prince (one of my favorite rock stars) distributed free copies of his new CD Planet Earth with a British tabloid newspaper. Much like Prince, the Times is discovering that traditional business models don't hold in this era of information ubiquity and accessibility. Hopefully many other movers and shakers will follow their lead.