CAL endorses the Automated Content Access Protocol (ACAP)

CAL is proud to support the Automated Content Access Protocol (ACAP), an exciting tool that gives publishers greater and more simple control over who can access and use their content online.

Developed by the International Publishers' Association, the World Association of Newspapers, and the European Publishers Council - ACAP version 1 was officially launched in New York on 29 November 2007. The ‘simple, non-proprietary universal communications tool' paves the way for greater access to publisher's content, thanks to the fact that ‘permissions will be known and unambiguous'.

Put simply, by working within current and widely-held publishing and book industry standard frameworks such as Onix, ACAP is essentially the ‘sign-language' that enables internet search engines to talk to publishers websites, and exchange rights information on what can, and cannot be, indexed by their crawlers.

Through ACAP, authors and publishers can more easily manage access to their online content.  The widespread use of ACAP as a tool – leading to greater accessibility and better options for rights management – means CAL members can only benefit from this new initiative.

CAL is already taking into account the growing use of digital material, working with publishers, creators, content delivery and technology industries, developing and expanding new revenue streams for Australian content.

CAL has already converted its website to be ‘ACAP compliant', and encourages all CAL members to do the same. ACAP version 1 is free, and easy to implement. It should take no longer than 30 minutes for any experienced IT professional to convert a website and make it ACAP compliant.

CAL is a full member of the ACAP project, as is the Australian Publishers Association, Fairfax Business Media and New Limited Australia. Only with your support and through a broad adoption of the ACAP protocol will it become an international standard.

CAL considers ACAP a necessary element that will support the future of online publishing. It will not only contribute towards greatly enhancing the opportunities for CAL members, but will encourage the continued vibrancy of Australia 's creative and publishing communities.

More information on ACAP, and how it can be implemented, can be found at www.the-acap.org.

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