Using RSS Feeds For Digital Signage Content – Cautions and Benefits
Digital signage content is, and always has been at a premium and good content is worth-its-weight-in-gold. That is why RSS/XML feeds have been used for years in digital signage. The main reason why is because it’s fresh content that can update on its own when there is news, weather updates, etc.
Websites such as CNN, The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, ESPN and others provide free RSS feeds. Since these organizations are well known, having their feeds can provide name recognition and added value to your content.
The only ‘gotcha’ is these type of feeds were intended for personal use only, otherwise you are breaking the Terms of Use.
What does this mean?
If you read the Terms of Use for the RSS feeds, you will find a common piece of legal language, “for non-commercial use only”. Part of the stipulation for use of the RSS feed is you must be able to link back to the full article on the author’s website. This is not an option with most digital signage content. If you are violating the terms, the broadcaster can at any time discontinue the feed.
While it is unknown how much this in enforced, there are ‘legal’ RSS feeds available at unsubstantial fees. Using such services will help you avoid plagiarism of content that was not intended for commercial use to begin with.
