Recent efforts to change the teaching profession and teacher preparation include a number of innovations to use portfolio assessment, value added measures (VAM), accountability metrics and other corporate education reform ideas. These approaches may provoke considerable potential legal consequences. Traditional constitutional and civil rights…

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of copyright law as it relates to computer software. The computer industry terminology, case law, and software protection by patents and trade secret legislation are examined, and it is argued that the protection of ownership rights of computer software poses major challenges to existing U.S.…

Discusses national differences, natural justice, and protection of tangible expressions in the copyright law and tactical and practical considerations regarding the legal aspects of author compensation for library lending. Special problems for public lending rights legislation (PLR) in the U.S. are cited. Eighteen references are provided. (CHC)

The Constitution empowers Congress to protect the rights of authors. There is disagreement, however, over whether Congress may grant authors a limited monopoly on their works or may regulate authorship by permitting reasonable public access to creative works. The traditional view of expansive pre-publication rights for authors is supported by…

This paper briefly summarizes the Copyright Act recently passed by the United States Congress as it relates to graphic arts and points out that the law ignores the major problem facing that field: the lack of copyright protection for typography and typeface designs. It then explains the reasoning used for denying protection to typography and…

Reports on the time, ease, and cost of obtaining permission to use photocopied journal articles for library reserve use. Findings from correspondence with 20 journals indicated that photocopying permission is usually easy to obtain and free. Results are discussed in reference to teaching, the professional implications of the accessibility of…

August in the U.S. capital is typically quiet. Congress is in recess, and most bureaucrats choose this hot steamy month for their vacation. In a normal year, serious legislation is put off until September; in a close election year such as this one, it is put off until "after the elections." This year, with the exception of agency…

Examines ramifications of legislative recognition of concept of fair use in Copyright Act of 1976 and argues that elimination of fair use doctrine, coupled with increase in technological approaches to reporting of secondary use of copyrighted material, will benefit authors, publishers, and librarians alike. Fifteen references are cited. (EJS)

This review of the literature addresses the issue of the fair use doctrine and its application to off-air taping of news and nonnews programs broadcast by radio and television. Conclusions drawn include: a temporary arrangement has yet to be reached between copyright proprietors and educators wishing to use copyrighted works for nonprofit,…

Focuses on copyright problems associated with the duplication of audiovisual and nonprint materials, giving specific attention to illustrations, photographs, drawings and maps, slides and transparencies, audiotapes and phonorecords, films and filmstrips, videotapes and videodiscs, and audiovisual packages. A 104-item bibliography is included. (EJS)

Reviews copyright issues, fair use guidelines, and applicable principles of copyright and ownership, the rights of copyright holders, and the conditions under which copyrighted material can be used by others. Notes possible affects of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act and intellectual property issues on dental schools. (Author/DB)

Focusing on nonprint materials, this article includes a general overview of copyright and detailed analyses of particular problems relating to computer programs, databases, and electronic publishing. Unique copyright aspects for each of these formats are analyzed and explained. Ninety-four references are included. (EJS)

Presents an interview with Jack L. Copeland, President of Training Media Distributors Association on training and the copyright-piracy problem. Discusses video piracy and other unauthorized uses of materials in relation to the new copyright law. (CSS)

Reviews attempts to revise present copyright law to resolve areas of conflict concerning fair use, place of consumer of copyrighted works, and control of misuse of technology. Highlights include the Register's Report and its effect, American Library Association's response, publishing industry recommendations, Copyright Office recommendations, and…

Examines digital copyright issues for developers and users of CD-ROMs and online information systems. Offers seven copyright tips for multimedia developers and discusses the growth of copyright law, automated copyright licensing, and Internet royalty meters. A sidebar lists copyright print resources and names of corporate and legal contacts. (JMV)