It's a shame that it took a court case to settle this, should have been common sense, that author's guild is ridiculous. On Oct 11, 2012, at 5:26 PM, NJ Lynn wrote:
> > The following news release is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA Center > (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information: > > PRNewswire > > October 11, 2012 > > Decision Will Revolutionize Blind People's Access to Books > > BALTIMORE, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation > of the Blind (NFB) today applauded a decision issued on October 10, 2012, by > the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which permits > the distribution of millions of books to blind and print-disabled people. > The ruling in Authors Guild, Inc., et al., v. HathiTrust, et al. (Case > number: No. 11-cv-6351-HB) held that providing access for students with > print disabilities constitutes a "transformative use" under the fair use > provision of the Copyright Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and > that Section 121 of the Copyright Act (the "Chafee Amendment") permits > university libraries to digitize their collections for distribution and use > by the blind. As a result, the University of Michigan will now be permitted > to make its entire 10 million volume digital collection available to all > blind Americans, revolutionizing access to digital books by the blind and > print disabled. > > The ruling is part of the court's decision to grant the NFB's and > HathiTrust's motions for summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by the > Authors Guild against the HathiTrust, a repository of several university > library collections scanned by Google, and participating universities. The > Authors Guild alleged the HathiTrust and universities violated the Copyright > Act by engaging in mass digitization of their collections. Because these > works represent the largest collection of works accessible to the blind and > print disabled, the NFB intervened in the lawsuit. > > Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: > "Access to the printed word has historically been one of the greatest > challenges faced by the blind. The landmark decision by the United States > District Court for the Southern District of New York will revolutionize > access to books for the blind. For the first time ever, blind students and > scholars will have the opportunity to participate equally in library > research. The blind, just like the sighted, will have a world of education > and information at their fingertips. The National Federation of the Blind > commends the court's decision, which constitutes a significant step toward > full and equal access to information by the blind." > > About the National Federation of the Blind > With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the > largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the > United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, > education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and > self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and > the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the > National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and > training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. > > SOURCE: National Federation of the Blind/ > http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-federation-of-the-blind-app > lauds-landmark-court-ruling-173731221.html > > > To unsubscribe from the Missouri-L list, send an email message to: > [email protected] > with the word, unsubscribe in the subject field. > > Other email lists available from MCB include: > ATI - A general discussion of adaptive technology. To join, send a blank > EMail message to: > [email protected] > Chat - A general discussion list. Just about anything goes. To Join, send a > blank EMail message to: > [email protected] > > Visit the MCB home Page at: > WWW.MoBlind.Org _______________________________________________ ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.) A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
