Copyright is extremely complex, and it is difficult to convey its complexities in a clear and concise form. Through decades of experience, archivists developed informal best practices for dealing with copyright in the analog world; however the application of copyright in the digital environment is evolving in response to rapidly changing…

Within the context of "Cambridge University Press et al. v. Patton et al.", this article provides the rationale for the academic distribution of scholarly articles without requesting copyright permission or paying the corresponding fees. The fair use of scholarly articles is examined legally, historically, and in an economic context. This article…

Those who come in contact with students at the post-secondary level face a myriad of potential legal challenges in their interactions with students and others. All members of the academic community should be familiar with the more common legal issues and to plan accordingly to avoid future problems. This article explores FERPA in the classroom,…

Fair Dealing is the right, within limits, to reproduce a substantial amount of a copyrighted work without permission from, or payment to, the copyright owner. Its purpose is to facilitate creativity and free expression by ensuring reasonable access to existing knowledge while at the same time protecting the interests of copyright owners. It is…

Discusses findings of PUBLAW2, a European Commission follow-up study on the impact of its "Guidelines for Improving the Synergy between the Public and Private Sectors in the Information Market." Highlights include the study context; the impact of the guidelines; and issues of privacy and data protection, copyright and ownership,…

The International Federation of Library Association (IFLA) announced that Dutch scientific and German special libraries adopted electronic licensing guidelines. Emphasizes consortia and the need for libraries to stick together. Discusses general principles; access and use; storage, formats and integration; services and costs; information and use;…

The existing Copyright Act of 1976 makes it virtually impossible for distance educators to transmit audio-visual or non-dramatic, literary works to students through any medium which may be received by the general public. It is a law that perhaps unintentionally discriminates against distance learning students. Certain revisions of the law are…

This paper reviews 10 years of debate in Europe on commercial rights of access to government information, starting with the United Kingdom's innovative Government Tradable Information Guidelines of 1996 and ending with the European Commission's Draft Green Paper on Rights of Access in 1996. United States market development and commercial rights of…

Discusses policy principles that information provider companies agree upon, including the public's right of access to information; equality of access; diverse information sources; monopoly control of public information; fees for access; and public participation in decisions about access. Funding for the depository library system and new federal…