The Associated Press will begin using a new copyright protection system for online users of its content, called iCopyright, Journalism.co.uk reported Thursday.

Online copyright rights service iCopyright will help to create a Web-based licensing system for AP content.

The organisation already uses a tracking service, Attributor, which finds unlicensed use of its content online, according to Journalism.co.uk.

The service will help the AP place links above and below each AP story, leading users to iCopyright, according to the company. From there, users will be able to e-mail content, request copies, purchase photos or publish the article to their own Web sites. It will also direct users through suitable licensing arrangements or payment processes for aggregating content, Journalism.co.uk reported.

“This online content reuse arrangement opens up a new source of revenue from rights, permissions and reprints of AP content while enhancing copyright protection and licensing. iCopyright makes it easier to monitor copyright compliance and to identify pirated and misappropriate stories,” said Bruce Glover, AP deputy director of business development, according to Journalism.co.uk.