School, conference Web sites using AP stories

I see this from time to time, an AP story on a college team (or conference's) Web site when there isn't anything else available to post. It happens with regular-season game stories, postseason game stories, national stories (local kid makes good on all-star team) and other kinds of stories.

My question is: Do these sites have permission to use AP copy? I find it hard to believe colleges and conferences are AP members.

 

Since most of them anymore are designed/hosted/organized by that damned CSTV/CBS College Sports interface, I believe they're able to do so because that company is a subscriber.

 

That's a good point. The few I'm talking about are not in that family, but it's probably the same sort of thing with them.