When professors and students utilize the Internet, course web pages, and other online learning tools, much of the material that they make use of is protected by copyright law. A blend of case law and legislation governs the use of online materials and how technology can be used in the classroom and in school-related activities, often creating…

In the twenty-first century, differences in the treatment of trade in alcoholic beverages in comparison to other commercial goods seem at odds with the federal regulation of interstate trade under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, which prohibits "differential treatment of in-state and out-of-state economic interests that…

Reviews selected proposals for revision of Canadian Copyright Act which relate to copyright exemptions, fair use, reprography, copyright societies, materials for the disabled, computerized information systems, collective works, public renting rights, paternity right, and right to authorize. Modifications in the interest of libraries are suggested.…

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada's comments on proposed changes in Canadian copyright law, and further changes implied by or caused by those revisions, are presented. The association argues first that since the proposed revisions are being revealed in stages, legislative committee work should be suspended until all of the…

The first article discusses issues relating to copyrights in America, including domestic and international organizations formed to protect copyrights, court litigation, international piracy, responsibility toward developing nations, and information technology. The second and third articles describe the Berne Convention for the Protection of…

The first half of the proceedings consists of three papers presented during the program session of a Library of Congress Network Advisory Committee (NAC) meeting. The first, a background paper by Robert L. Oakley, identifies some of the problems that modern information technology has created for the intellectual property system in the United…

This discussion of impending revisions to the Canadian Copyright Act focuses on the need for inclusion of a fair dealing provision in any revisions, defined either through legislation or the courts, and for the use of a random sampling of photocopying in libraries to establish blanket reprography fees. (Author/CLB)

This report, prepared by the Office of Technological Assessment (OTA) in response to a request from the House Committee on the Judiciary, examines the rapid and complex technological changes and trends in computer software technologies and their possible effects on the nation's intellectual property system. The three policy issues identified are:…

The development of digital content raises new issues as rapid technological developments challenge existing business models and government policies. This OECD study identifies and discusses six groups of business and public policy issues and illustrates these with existing and potential OECD Digital Content Strategies and Policies: (1) Innovation…