Many of us harbor an unfounded fear of copyright litigation. “Better safe than sorry” is a frequent assertion. But that attitude can keep users and creators of copyright-protected content from engaging in personal and educational activities that are unlikely to infringe copyright law. That excess caution is, consequently, contrary to the values of librarianship, teaching, … Continue reading Figuring Out Fair Use
If the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act is passed and signed by the president, the bill will greatly increase access for English speakers with print disabilities, especially in developing countries, where less than 1% of all published print content is accessible. The US will benefit as well by being able to obtain foreign-language content, especially for … Continue reading Marrakesh Treaty Closer to Reality
But much of that defense would not be possible if not for a person most librarians don’t even know: Jonathan Band, who for nearly 20 years has represented libraries on behalf of the American Library Association (ALA) and other library associations. Band is this year’s recipient of the L. Ray Patterson Copyright Award. Band wrote … Continue reading A Library Ally You Didn’t Know You Had
The task force consists of Commerce representatives from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Patent and Trademark Office, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the International Trade Administration. Formed in 2010 to “conduct a comprehensive review of the nexus between privacy policy, copyright, global free flow of information, cybersecurity, and innovation in … Continue reading Internet Policy Task Force Notes Library Copyright Concerns
Well, it’s over. On October 16, the court ruled in favor of Google, affirming a district court decision that upheld that creating a keyword search index for the massive undertaking was a fair use. However, the Authors Guild promises to appeal to the Supreme Court. One thing you might not know is that you—librarians and … Continue reading 5 Examples of the Value of Google Books’ Search Function
For those who might not know, a recap: Adobe Digital Editions is widely used software in the ebook trade for both library and commercial ebook transactions to authenticate legitimate library users, apply DRM to encrypt ebook files, and in general facilitate the ebook circulation process—such as deleting an ebook from a device after the loan … Continue reading After Privacy Glitch, the Ball Is Now in Our Court
You may have wondered whether you hold the copyright to work you’ve put many hours into creating on the job. Who holds the copyright to works created by teachers or librarians? Short answer: In general, when employees create works as a condition of employment, the copyright holder is the employer. As a school librarian or … Continue reading Copyright for Librarians and Teachers, in a Nutshell
When the Kansas Digital Library Consortium’s contract with digital-content distributor OverDrive was up for renewal last year, two issues made Kansas State Librarian Joanne Budler decide it was time to move on and transfer the ebook titles to another vendor who could offer a better deal. First, OverDrive planned to raise license fees by almost … Continue reading Threats to Digital Lending
