So the argument is, that ‘because Google Bot can read the content for free, then I should be allowed to do so too’? This seems like a pretty week excuse for bypassing a paywall. I think the reason we have annoyances like ‘please sign up for our news letters’ is that news sites are struggling to make money. A service like 12ft.io is only making the situation worse.
Suppose someone puts free stuff on the sidewalk and says, "provided free-of-charge to clowns; everyone else $5".
Then if I put on a clown nose and take the stuff, I'm completely in the right.
If the purveyor does not agree then they can:
1. Not put the stuff on the public sidewalk, but offer it inside their store only.
2. Have the cashier, validate that the the customer holds a clowning license issued by the state and is a member in good standing of some clowning association.
The argument is not at all anyone is entitled to the stuff no matter what, even in the face of protective measures like (1) and (2). The argument is that if some server discriminates what information it put out to the unauthenticated public according to some superficial browser client indications that are easily donned by any client, then it's perfectly fair game for anyone to manipulate those indications in order to be served any/all thus available versions of the content.
If that doesn't reflect the purveyor's intent, then they have a clear technological avenue for securing the protected content to authenticated users only.
I see it in reverse: the reason some news sites struggle to make money is their belief in a broken business model that's perpetuated by mega-corps like Google. The rules of the game are rigged; house always wins. The only way to win is to not play.
I wouldn't say this "justifies" a service like 12ft.io, but such services are inevitable.
> So the argument is, that ‘because Google Bot can read the content for free, then I should be allowed to do so too’? This seems like a pretty week excuse for bypassing a paywall. I think the reason we have annoyances like ‘please sign up for our news letters’ is that news sites are struggling to make money. A service like 12ft.io is only making the situation worse.
Yes, because I will subscribe to your site because I want to read one article on it. Next, supermarket wants to sell me a caw instead of carton of milk I came for.
It’s not my job as an individual to solve systemic issues. I’m not willing to pay for news. Usually I don’t bypass paywalls, but when I do I don’t feel bad about it
